Transcript Child Protection Assessments DC Ann Stuart Policy Officer

Metropolitan Police
Child Abuse Investigation Command
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
& INNAPPROPRIATE CHASTISEMENT
DS Vicky Washington
DC Tina Pearce
Partnership Team
[email protected]
[email protected]
020 7161 3851/3813
WE AIM TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS
When is chastisement inappropriate?
 What is child abuse?
 What is child protection?
 How does this affect me as a parent?
 How does this affect me as a faith
leader / teacher?

Parents want the best for their children
and to protect them from harm.
As children grow and develop, there are times when it is
appropriate to discipline them.
Consider ;
 How do I discipline my child(ren)?
 How do others discipline my child(ren)?
 How does it make my child feel?
Lawful Chastisement - Section 58 Childrens Act
2004

IT IS ILLEGAL TO HIT A CHILD - a defence of
“reasonable punishment” exists when charged with
common assault

There is no defence of reasonable punishment for
acts of GBH, ABH and CRUELTY
Assault
“Any intentional or reckless act which causes a person
to apprehend immediate unlawful force or personal
violence”
 Common Assault
 Actual Bodily Harm (ABH)
 Grevious Bodily Harm (GBH)
Smacking or otherwise physically chastising a child is
an assault
Criminal offences may be committed when there are
injuries such as

Grazes
 Scratches
 Abrasions
 Minor bruising
 Swelling / reddening of the skin
 Superficial cuts
The use of implements (belts, slippers, canes, tree
branches), strikes to the head / face, multiple strikes
are NOT considered reasonable
Child Cruelty
If a person of 16 years who has responsibility for a child or young person
under 16 WILFULLY;

Assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons, exposes him/her, or causes or
procures him/her to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned, or
exposed

In a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to
health, that person is guilty of a misdemeanour
What is child abuse and neglect?
All ill treatment of children
Causing harm
 Failing to prevent harm

Harm = “ill treatment or the impairment of health and development”
Health= physical or mental health
Development= physical, intellectual, emotional, social or
behavioural development
There are four categories of abuse, which
often overlap
Emotional
Physical
Sexual
Neglect
Emotional

Telling a child they are worthless, unloved, inadequate, undervalued

Making them feel excluded, ashamed, humiliated

Telling them you expect more of them than they able to do (given their
age and ability)

Causing a child to feel frightened or in danger (threats of violence
towards them, or exposing them to violence between others - e.g.
domestic violence)

Exploitation / corruption
Physical

Hitting - (Strike, thump, slap, knock, beat, punch,
smack)
 Shaking
 Throwing
 Biting
 Burning / scalding
 Drowning
 Suffocating
 Poisoning
Sexual

Forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual
activities

Involving a child in looking at sexual acts (penetrative and non
penetrative)

Encouraging a child to behave in sexually inappropriate ways
Neglect
Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic and / or
psychological needs, likely to result in the serious
impairment of the child’s health and development


Failure to provide adequate food, shelter or clothing
Failure to protect from physical harm or danger
Failure to access medical care or treatment

Failure to meet child’s basic emotional needs

WHAT IS CHILD PROTECTION?
Thresholds of Assessment
CAF – Common Assessment Framework
 S17 – Child in Need (CIN)
 S47 – Local Authority Duty to Investigate
(Significant Harm)

Children act 1989
S17 Child In Need
General duty for Local Authority (LA) to provide
services appropriate to those children's needs:



The child is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or
to have the opportunity of achieving or
maintaining a reasonable standard of health or
development without the provision of services
by a LA
The child’s health and development is likely to
be significantly impaired or further impaired,
without provisions of children's social care
The child is disabled
S47 Children Act 1989
Is basically where significant
harm or likelihood of significant
harm is suspected and requires
investigation either jointly or by
single agency
What is Significant Harm:
 Severity
of ill treatment
 Duration and frequency of abuse and
neglect
 Presence or degree of threat, coercion,
sadism, bizarre or unusual elements.
 Sometimes a single traumatic event may
constitute significant harm
 Compilation of events, both acute and long
standing, significantly impacting on their
physical and psychological development.
Children have a right to be
protected from harm
•
Parents have a right to expect that organisations to which
they entrust their children are diligent
•
Awareness of health and safety issues
•
Some professionals might lack knowledge training and
experience
•
Statutory authorities should engage community and faith
organisations to ensure that all children are protected
from harm
What to do if you suspect your child is
being mistreated outside of the home
REPORT CONCERNS TO
POLICE OR SOCIAL SERVICES
Faith communities should ensure that all
staff and volunteers who have regular
contact with children:
Have been checked for suitability in working
with children and understand the extent and
limits of the volunteer role;

Should have a named safeguarding officer
who will have the knowledge and skills to
support other staff and work closely with
statutory agencies.

Have access to training opportunities to promote their
knowledge;

Know how to report any concerns about possible
abuse or neglect; procedures in place.

Are aware of the possibility of child abuse and
neglect;

Are vigilant about their own actions so they cannot be
misinterpreted.
Para 2.24.24
Organisational Responsibility
The London Safeguarding Children Board has produced
a document entitled
"Competence Still Matters: Safeguarding
training for all employees and volunteers"
This is a guide to the responsibilities of all organisations
and identifies the training requirements for each
group;
www.londonscb.gov.uk/training subgroup
Access Training in Tower
Hamlets
For free advice and training for voluntary and
community organisation in Tower Hamlets
contact;
Cobita
Telephone 0207 364 2218
What to do if you suspect that a child
is at risk

Clarify what exactly the child is saying

Do not give undertakings of confidentiality

Be aware that recordings of incident might be used in
court proceedings

You must contact children's social care or the police
directly if you think the child is at risk of immediate
harm
 Faith
organisations can seek
advice on child protection issues
from the Churches’ Child Protection
Advisory Service (CCPAS).
Para 2.24.25