Safe Children

High probability of NAI:

• Take a thorough history for child abuse and neglect.
• Consider completing a HEADSS assessment.
• Document all injuries on a body map.

Immediate safety risk:

Risk assessment:
Physical violence has increased in severity or frequency
Separated (or tried to) from (the abuser) in the last year
Abuser has threatened to harm or kill
Abuser has threatened with a weapon
Abuser has has access to a gun
Abuser has attempted to strangle or choke
Abuser has threatened to commit suicide
Abuser uses alcohol or drugs
Child has thought about hurting themselves because of the abuse
Child has thought about/tried to commit suicide

Keep child safe and report to police if:

• The child has been severely abused or injured as a result of the abuse
• There is known or suspected non accidental injury
• The child has been sexually abused
• There is immediate danger of death or harm (e.g: physical safety from alleged abuser, suicidality)
• Abuse has occurred and is likely to escalate or reoccur
• The child/ren is/are home alone, and there are safety concerns i.e. because of the age of the child(ren), the ability of the child(ren) to protect him/herself, or parent cannot be located
• There is immediate risk to the child, or the environment to which the child is returning is unsafe
• Your safety is compromised.

Consider risk factors and safety concerns raised in answers to questions. In an emergency Call Police 111. You do not need permission.

Notify CYF.

No abuse disclosed and no concerns or suspicions

• Treat injuries or presenting problem.
• Follow up as appropriate.

Concerns about the child's care:

• Consult as appropriate. Document concerns and actions taken.
• Discuss concerns with parents/caregivers if safe to do so.
• Refer to an agency for social support, parenting skills, Well Child Services.
• Consider adding recall and/or alert to caregiver's notes.
• Follow up with agency.

Disclosure, concerns or suspicions that child abuse and/or neglect is a possibility:

If abuse has been disclosed or you have concerns or suspicions that child abuse and/or neglect is a possibility, ALWAYS CONSULT:

• Do not make decisions on your own.
• Consultation must occur at least once and in a timely manner and should continue throughout the process.

Sexual abuse against the child has been disclosed or is suspected:

• Discuss mandatory reporting policy

  “From what you have told me, I am concerned about the safety of your children. We have a mandatory reporting policy in this Practice. This means that when we have concerns about children’s safety, we need to talk with people who are experts in this area.”

  “We realise that this is very upsetting for you, and we want to make it very clear that no-one is jumping to any conclusions. However, we do have a responsibility to check things out, to make sure everything is OK for you and your children”.

Other people living with the abuser:

Some questions to consider:

• "Where were the other child(ren) when the abuse was happening?”
• “Have the other child(ren) heard or seen the abuse?”
• “Have the other child(ren) attempted to intervene in the abuse? Have they been hurt?”
• “Do you feel unable to protect them from the abuse?”
• "Has the abuser ever removed or threatened to remove the children from your care?"
• "Where are the other children at the moment?"

Additional notes:

Record name, DOB and relationship to the patient/abuser of any other person at risk:

If:

• anybody has physically abused the children, or
• children have current injuries due to the abuse, or
• patient is in immediate danger and there are children aged 2 and under in the home

Documentation:

Consider using Medtech's drawing tool to record a body injury map and/or save camera images.

Perpetrator's name and relationship to patient/caregiver:

Notes:

Add 'FVRE' alert

Actions taken:

Contact details: