Transcript Slide 1

Always Children First
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Non-HSE Agencies
Information Session Cascade
on
Revised Children First 2011
Roles and Responsibilities
Child Protection and Welfare Practice
Handbook
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Children First 2011
This edition of Children First
supersedes all others and should
be the only one in use.
It is the reference point for
practice detail.
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Always Children First
• We must not pass the baton
when we are concerned about a
child, we must hold that
concern together, collectively!
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Context of Information
Session
•Revision of Children First 1999 and
publication of Children First 2011
National Guidance
•Standardised implementation of
Children First
•Introduction and use of Child
Protection and Welfare Practice
Handbook
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Aims of the Information
Session
• To give an overview of Children First
Guidance 2011
• To introduce the Child Protection &
Welfare Handbook
• To promote the safety and well-being
of children
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Objectives
By the end of the session you will:
• Be briefed on Children First Guidance
2011 and the Child Protection &
Welfare Practice Handbook
• Have a clear understanding of your
Roles and Responsibilities in relation
to Child Protection and Welfare
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Differences between CF
1999 and CF Guidance 2011
• Name has changed from Guidelines to
Guidance
• Substance and principles of 1999 Guidelines
unchanged
• Content has been updated to reflect the
development of new agencies (HSE, HIQA,
DCYA) and changes in policy and legislation
since 1999
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Differences between CF 1999
and CF Guidance 2011 (2)
• Reflects recommendations from recent
reports
• Reflects the growing awareness of the
impact of ongoing neglect on children
• Revises the definitions of Child Abuse.
• The term Designated Person is changed
to Designated Liaison Person.
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Differences between CF 1999
and CF Guidance 2011 (3)
• Emphasises the role of Our Duty To Care in
guiding Child Protection policies, practices and
procedures within the community and voluntary
sectors.
• Specific guidance for developing local child
protection and welfare procedures (appendix 8 :
92).
• New Standard Report Form introduced.
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Is the Implementation of
Children First Guidance
mandatory?
• All statutory, voluntary and community
organisations working with and in direct
contact with children should have
procedures and guidelines derived from
and consistent with the current
Children First: National Guidance for
their staff and volunteers.
C.F. 2011 4.7.2
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Children First 2011 : Contents
Part I : Key Messages
Part II : Definitions and Recognition of Child
Abuse; Basis for reporting concerns;
Standard Reporting Procedures; Interagency
Cooperation.
Part III : Guidance for HSE Children and Family
Services; Other Professionals; Protocol
for An Garda Siochana-HSE Liaison.
Part IV : Special Considerations
References and Official Websites
Appendices 1 – 10.
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Part I: Aims of Children First
Guidance
Overarching aim: to promote the safety and wellbeing of children
Children First 2011 Key Messages
• Identification and reporting of child abuse
• Framework for multidisciplinary/interagency co-operation
• Highlight roles and responsibilities of the HSE and
Gardaí
• Guidance to agencies and community/voluntary
organisations
• Needs of children and families at centre
• Welfare of the child of paramount importance
C.F. 2011 1.2
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Key Principles of Best Practice in
Child Protection and Welfare
• The Welfare of children is of paramount importance.
Family support should form the basis of early
intervention.
• Children have the right to be heard, listened to and
taken seriously.
• Parents/carers have a right to respect and to be
consulted and involved in matters that concern their
family.
• Balance between protecting children and respecting
parents
• Separating children from parents as a last resort
• When working with adults, consider impact of adult’s
behaviour on child and act in the child’s best interest
C.F. 2011 1.1
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PART II: Definitions and Recognition
of Child Abuse; Basis for reporting
concerns and Standard Reporting
Procedure; Interagency Cooperation
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Neglect
• An omission, where the child suffers
significant harm or impairment of
development by being deprived of food,
clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual
stimulation, supervision and safety,
attachment to and affection from adults,
medical care.
C.F. 2011, 2.2
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Emotional Abuse
• Emotional abuse is normally to be found in
the relationship between a parent/carer
and a child rather than in a specific event
or pattern of events. It occurs when a
child’s developmental need for affection,
approval, consistency and security are not
met. Unless other forms of abuse are
present, it is rarely manifested in terms of
physical signs or symptoms.
C.F. 2011, 2.3
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Physical Abuse
• Is that which results in actual or potential
physical harm from an interaction or lack
of interaction, which is reasonably within
the control of a parent or person in a
position of responsibility, power or trust.
C.F. 2011, 2.4.1
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Sexual Abuse
• When a child is used by another person
for his or her gratification or sexual arousal
or for that of others.
C.F. 2011 2.5.1
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Welfare
A problem experienced directly by a child, or by
the family of a child, that is seen to impact
negatively on the child’s welfare or
development, which warrants assessment and
support
CP&W Practice Handbook, p.6
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Guidelines for Recognition
There are three stages in the identification
of child neglect or abuse:
1. Considering the possibility
2. Looking out for signs of neglect or abuse
3. Recording of information
C.F. 2011 2.7.1
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Points to Remember
• The severity of a sign does not necessarily
equate with the severity of the abuse.
• Neglect is as potentially fatal as physical abuse.
• Experiencing recurring low-level abuse may
cause serious and long-term harm.
• Child abuse is not restricted to any socioeconomic group, gender or culture.
• Challenging behaviour by a child or young
person should not render them liable to abuse.
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Points to Remember
• Exposure to domestic violence is detrimental to
children’s physical, emotional and psychological
well-being.
• It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between
indicators of child abuse and other adversities
suffered by children and families
• Neglectful families may be difficult to engage.
• Families where neglect and abuse are prevalent
may go to considerable lengths to deceive
professionals.
C.F. 2011 2.10
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Basis for Reporting Concerns &
Standard Reporting Procedure
The HSE Children and Family Services should always be
informed when a person has reasonable grounds for
concern that a child may have been, is being or is at risk of
being abused or neglected.
Child protection concerns should be supported by evidence
that indicates the possibility of abuse or neglect.
A concern about a potential risk to children posed by a
specific person, even if the children are unidentifiable, should
also be communicated to the HSE Children and Family
Services.
Any reasonable concern or suspicion of abuse or neglect
must elicit a response.
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Sharing Child Protection
Concerns
• It is the responsibility of all agencies
working with children and for the public to
recognise child protection concerns and
share these with the agencies responsible
for assessing or investigating them, not to
determine whether the child protection
concerns are evidenced or not.
C.F. 2011 3.7.2
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What Constitutes Reasonable
Grounds for Concern?
• An injury or behaviour that is consistent both with abuse and
an innocent explanation, but where there are corroborative
indicators supporting the concern that it may be a case of
abuse.
• Consistent indication over a period of time that a child is
suffering from emotional or physical neglect.
• Admission or indication by someone of an alleged abuse.
• A specific indication from a child that he or she was abused.
• An account from a person who saw the child being abused.
• Evidence (e.g. injury or behaviour) that is consistent with
abuse and unlikely to have been caused in any other way.
CP&W Practice Handbook 2.3
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Retrospective Disclosures by
Adults
• Establish whether any current risk to any child who may
be in contact with alleged abuser
• If any risk is deemed to exist to a child who may be in
contact with an alleged abuser, the counselor /health
professional should report the allegation to the HSE
Children and Family Services without delay.
C.F. 2011, 3.6
• A concern about a potential risk to children posed by a
specific person, even if the children are unidentifiable
should be communicated to the HSE Children and
Family Services
C.F. 2011, 3.2.4
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Confidentiality
• Information shared on need to know basis
• No undertakings regarding secrecy
• The provision of information to the statutory
agencies for the protection of a child is not a
breach of confidentiality or data protection
• Organisations should have a written Policy
C.F. 2011, 3.9
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Reckless Endangerment of
Children
Section 176 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 introduced the criminal
charge of reckless endangerment of children. It states:
‘A person, having authority or control over a child or abuser, who
intentionally or recklessly endangers a child by –
(a) causing or permitting any child to be placed or left in a situation which
creates a substantial risk to the child of being a victim of serious harm
or sexual abuse, or
(b) failing to take reasonable steps to protect a child from such a risk
while knowing that the child is in such a situation, is guilty of an
offence.’
The penalty for a person found guilty of this offence is a fine (no upper
limit) and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
C.F. 2011, 3.2.7
See Appendix 7 for a full list of legislation
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Interagency Cooperation
No one profession has all the skills, knowledge or
resources to meet all the requirements of an individual
case
Effective interagency cooperation has a number of
benefits including:
• Ensuring provision of a comprehensive response to all
concerns about children by the pooling of resources and
skills, from initial enquiry to assessment and case
management, including early identification and
prevention.
• Avoiding gaps in the service response especially in
cases where information would otherwise remain
concealed or unknown
• Providing mutual support for professionals in complex
cases
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Roles and Responsibilities:
Non-HSE Agencies (1)
• Obligation to provide children with the highest possible
standard of care and safeguard them from abuse;
• Develop procedures and guidelines derived from and
consistent with Children First: National Guidance 2011
(see appendix 8);
• Take account of the guidance in Our Duty To Care
(2002) in the development of child protection policies,
procedures, and practices;
• Completed local guidelines should be forwarded to the
HSE as a matter of good practice.
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Roles and Responsibilities:
Non-HSE Agencies (2)
Agencies have a corporate duty and responsibility to
safeguard children by :
• Promoting the general welfare, health, development and
safety of children;
• Adopting a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting
and selecting staff and volunteers;
• Developing guidance and procedures for staff who may
have reasonable grounds for concern that should not
deviate from Children First Guidance 2011. It is the
responsibility of the Board of Directors or
Management to ensure that such policies are in
place and are operating effectively.
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Roles and Responsibilities:
Non-HSE Agencies (3)
• Identifying a designated liaison person (DLP)
to act as liaison with outside agencies and a
resource for staff and volunteers who has child
protection and welfare concerns;
• The appointed DLP is responsible for reporting
allegations or concerns of child abuse to the
HSE Children and Family service or An Garda
Síochána;
• Ensuring clear written procedures on the action
to be taken if allegations of abuse against
employees/ volunteers are received (see
appendix 9);
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Roles and Responsibilities:
Non-HSE Agencies (4)
• Raising awareness about potential risks to
children’s safety and welfare;
• Developing effective procedures for responding
to accidents and complaints;
• Ensuring clear procedures in relation to record
keeping of child protection and welfare concerns
are in place, operating effectively and records
securely stored;
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Roles and Responsibilities:
Non-HSE Agencies (5)
• Organisations that administer services through a
number of different units should standardise
recording procedures throughout the organisation;
• All agencies dealing with children must have a
written policy of cooperating with the HSE Children
and Family Services on the sharing of their records
where a child welfare or protection issue arises
• Training in child protection and welfare must be an
integral part of the plans in all agencies. A
percentage of the annual budget in each agency
should be explicitly committed to child protection
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training.
Response to persons
reporting concerns
• Other professionals involved should be
kept updated and informed about the
outcomes of any enquiry or investigation
into the reported concern, where this is
appropriate to their professional
care/treatment of the child or the
performance of their own duties and within
the normal limits of confidentiality.
C.F. 2011 5.16.2
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Part III: Guidance for Other
Professionals
Non-HSE Agencies with which the child and/or
parents/carers have contact may have relevant information
to contribute to the assessment of a child protection and
welfare case.
(C.F. 2011, 5.2.6)
Professionals in voluntary agencies…are in a good position
to observe a child and his or her relationship with
parents/carers. It may be appropriate for a professional
from one of these organisations to pursue the enquiry
jointly with, or on behalf of, the HSE Children and Family
Services
(C.F. 2011, 5.14.4)
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Part IV: Special Considerations
Especially Vulnerable Children
•
•
•
•
•
•
Children in residential settings
Children in Care
Children who are Homeless
Children with disabilities
Separated children seeking asylum
Children being trafficked
• Other identified risk factors include the age of the child
CP&W Practice Handbook 3.2.1
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Key Messages For Practice
• No single agency or professional can work in
isolation to keep a child safe: It’s everyone's
responsibility
• Share concerns and information with relevant
professionals: you may hold key information
• Wherever you work: be aware of the possibility
of child abuse
• Keep the focus on the child: don't get distracted
by adult problems
• If in doubt, discuss concerns with line manager/
supervisor/designated person in your agency
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
• Aide to delivering accountable, consistent
and transparent practice
• Complement Children First 2011
• Companion to Children First, policies,
procedures and legislation
• Deliver accountable practice
• Quick reference book for front-line practice
• Sets out key issues for different stages
• Evidence-based
Foreword Gordon Jeyes, National Director CFS
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
Five Sections
•
•
•
•
•
•
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Appendices
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
• Section 1: For everybody whose work brings them into
direct or indirect contact with children and their families.
It provides a Glossary of Terms frequently used in child
protection and welfare practice, as well as the definitions
of the four types of child abuse. There is a more detailed
chapter on child neglect since this is the most common
type of child abuse and is also the most reported
concern to the HSE Children and Family Services.
• Section 2
• Section 3
• Section 4
• Section 5
• Appendices
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
• Section 1
• Section 2: For all allied professionals and volunteers
whose work brings them into direct or indirect contact
with children and their families. what to do if you are
worried about a child, your roles and responsibilities,
how to refer your concerns and your involvement after
you have made a referral
• Section 3
• Section 4
• Section 5
• Appendices
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3: For key Social Work staff of the HSE
Children and Family Services. This section aims to
provide a practical resource in identifying, assessing and
responding to risk. It gives an overview of the child
protection process, highlights known risk factors in child
protection work and outlines key triggers to consider
when carrying out assessments.
• Section 4
• Section 5
• Appendices
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
•
•
•
•
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4: Provides more information around support
and guidance for Social Work staff, including
supervision, continuous professional development and
training, managing allegations, complaints and how to
make a protected disclosure.
• Section 5
• Appendices
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
•
•
•
•
•
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5: Resources include national contacts for the
HSE Children and Family Services and a list of
References used to inform the Practice Handbook.
• Appendices
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Child Protection and Welfare
Practice Handbook 2011
•
•
•
•
•
•
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Appendices Six appendices provide additional
information and resources for practice.
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Next Steps
• Review and amend accordingly existing
child protection policies, procedures and
practices to ensure consistency with the
Revised Children First Guidance
• Director/Management/DLP Cascade
briefings to all staff and volunteers
• Embedding of Children First Guidance
2011 is a continuous process
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Where can I get more
Information?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Children First
Our Duty to Care
Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook
Standard Reporting form
FAQ sheets and
Information on Advice, Guidance and Support
Are all available to access at
www.hse.ie/go/childrenfirst
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“Children grow to fill the space
we create for them, and if it is
big they grow tall”
Jonathan Sacks
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Thank you
Questions
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