NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN, SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
Publishers:
Social Care Institute for Excellence, NSPCC
Publication year:
2016
Place of publication:
London
Briefing paper which looks at the issue of professionals not making a child protection referral to children’s social care after observing bruising in non-mobile babies. It is one of a series 14 briefings looking at difficult issues in inter-professional communication and decision-making in children’s safeguarding identified from 38 Serious Case Reviews, with added information gathered from three multi-agency ‘summits’. Drawing on the analysis of the serious case review reports, it identifies some reasons why this might occur, including: a lack of understanding of child protection procedures, a lack of professional curiosity and ‘respectful scepticism’ about explanations for bruising, and second opinions not being sought from more experienced clinicians. It provides solutions suggested by summit participants and contains a set of self-assessment questions to support managers and practitioners to tackle similar issues in their own local area.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Briefing paper which looks at the issue of professionals not making a child protection referral to children’s social care after observing bruising in non-mobile babies. It is one of a series 14 briefings looking at difficult issues in inter-professional communication and decision-making in children’s safeguarding identified from 38 Serious Case Reviews, with added information gathered from three multi-agency ‘summits’. Drawing on the analysis of the serious case review reports, it identifies some reasons why this might occur, including: a lack of understanding of child protection procedures, a lack of professional curiosity and ‘respectful scepticism’ about explanations for bruising, and second opinions not being sought from more experienced clinicians. It provides solutions suggested by summit participants and contains a set of self-assessment questions to support managers and practitioners to tackle similar issues in their own local area.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
referral, childrens social care, injuries, general practitioners, interagency cooperation, serious case reviews, decision making, child protection;
Baby V died at four months old, after being admitted to hospital following a respiratory arrest at home. She was found to have multiple injuries at the time of death, including a healed rib fracture. The family was not known to social services, and all dealings by the GPs (which were frequent), health visitors and midwives with the parents or the older child were not deemed to be out of the ordinary. Baby V had visited the GP with facial bruising shortly before her death. Father was found responsible for causing the injuries and convicted. The review highlights opportunities to identify risk at nursery school, through the health visitor, relatives and their GP and out of hours GP service. Key themes from the review include: a review of protocol and policy for dealing with bruising
(Original abstract)
Baby V died at four months old, after being admitted to hospital following a respiratory arrest at home. She was found to have multiple injuries at the time of death, including a healed rib fracture. The family was not known to social services, and all dealings by the GPs (which were frequent), health visitors and midwives with the parents or the older child were not deemed to be out of the ordinary. Baby V had visited the GP with facial bruising shortly before her death. Father was found responsible for causing the injuries and convicted. The review highlights opportunities to identify risk at nursery school, through the health visitor, relatives and their GP and out of hours GP service. Key themes from the review include: a review of protocol and policy for dealing with bruising in children who are not independently mobile; a review child protection training in organisations; the need respectful scepticism to ensure staff that the confidence to challenge what they are told in the interests of child safety; and to improve communication between GPs, health visitors and midwives.
(Original abstract)
Subject terms:
babies, serious case reviews, death, injuries, child abuse, health professionals, interprofessional relations, general practitioners, health visitors;