Transcript Suspicion, Disclosure and Discovery

Welcome
Suspicion, Disclosure and
Discovery
Helen Edwards
Independent Safeguarding
Advisor
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Aims
to provide Information about national
and local thinking and direction for
learning from case reviews
to raise awareness and challenge to
build individuals confidence to take
action in safeguarding systems and
processes
Safeguarding in Context
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Saville 214 reported crimes. 1955 was the first
reported incident, the last reported offence was 2009.
80% of children who experienced childhood abuse
had attempted disclosure before they were 18 years
old.
500,000 children in the UK are abused or maltreated
at home each year, but only one in 9 are known to
child protection services. “How safe are our
children?” NSPCC 2013
Over 60 Serious Case Reviews published in 2013
Safeguarding Adults
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Rise nationally in the number of
Safeguarding Adult Referrals
Year on Year increase in Safeguarding
investigations in registered care settings
Raised awareness ‘the Saville effect’
Focus on standards in care
Media interest in the vulnerability of
adults with Learning disabilities
National trends in Safeguarding
children
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Neglect is usually present
60% of mothers were under 21 at birth of first
child
Disabled children feature in 12% of cases
10% of children were subject to a child
protection plan
Only 42% were receiving a service from
childrens social care
A knowledge of child development is
essential for front line workers
Child Sexual Exploitation
The issues:
Risk factors = vulnerability
 Confusion around sexual activity and
the issue of consent
 Child sexual exploitation and risk-taking
behaviour
 Disclosure of sexual exploitation
Lessons for improving practice
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Identifying and assessing child sexual
exploitation
Interventions
Identifying and dealing with perpetrators
Parental Substance Misuse
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Assessments
Rule of Optimism
Communicating with parents
Interventions
Domestic Violence
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High Risk Factors:
Mental Health Problems
Substance misuse
History of violence
Young parents
Lack of take up of serivces
Different cultural norms
Learning for improved practice
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Understanding the roles of men in the family
Seeing the mother alone - text messages are
a risk
Avoiding an over-reliance on the mothers
ability to protect their children
Seeing the bigger picture
Maintaining healthy scepticism - diguised
compliance
Talking about Domestic Violence between
agencies
People who’s first language is
not English
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Imbalance of power
Lack of confidential space
Children involvemnet in adult topics
Social isolation
Misreading of indicators of abuse
Learning for improved practice
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Awareness of language issues
Recording first language
Written Communication
Use of interpreters
Common themes in
Safeguarding Adults
Transition from Children to Adult
Services – Protection planning
 The need for robust risk assessments
particularly where services are refused.
 Knowing what risk looks like
 Understanding of Mental Capacity
 Raising Standards of Care
41 Adult 
Serious
Case Reviews
around the country analysed by Steve Clay Safeguarding
Follow
upfromactions
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Adult Partnership Board Manager Hull
Learning for improved practice
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Identifying Risk factors in transition
Working together across child and adult
services
Risk assessments are multi agency and
include contingency plans
Use clear the Mental Capacity Act
Learning for improved practice
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Know what good care looks like
Reporting concerns
Confidence to challenge
Creative solutions to supporting those
who self neglect
Overlaps and Learning
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Mental Health Investigations
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Domestic Homicide reviews
Delilah and the Wizard of Oz…
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Why, why, why….
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Because, because, because….