S AFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN G ENERAL P RACTICE Level 3 update Maureen Gabriel Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children Ruth Hallgarten Named GP for Safeguarding Children Nicola Nelson Specialist midwife

I NTRODUCTION Children and young people make up 25% of the UK population Family doctors, GP practices and primary care teams are in the frontline, providing services to these children, young people and their families. We have a fundamental role in child protection and safeguarding RCGP 2011

G ENERAL G UIDELINES All health professionals working directly with children should ensure that safeguarding and promoting their welfare forms an integral part of all stages of the care they offer Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2013

M ANAGING OUR OWN FEELINGS ABOUT ABUSE Knowing, thinking and talking about abuse can bring up many emotions Thinking about abuse may remind us of past or current events either in our personal or professional lives It is important that we as adults and as professionals in the NHS recognise and manage our feelings so we can effectively help children and adults in need Who can help? Colleagues and Members of the Safeguarding Children Team Confidential helplines NSPCC or Samaritans

O BJECTIVES To ensure that all primary care staff work together to promote well-being and safety of child/ren and young people To ensure all primary care staff know how to access advise and support when responding to concerns about child/ren or a young person To ensure that all primary care staff are familiar with national and local policies, procedures and guidance to safeguard children

Quiz Case scenario from Nicola Nelson Specialist midwife 5 General Practice case discussions

Q UIZ Q UESTION 1 What is safeguarding?

Q UESTION 1 ANSWER Safeguarding is……… ‘ The actions that professionals and society take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm’ Working together to safeguard children March 2013

Q UIZ QUESTION 2 What is private fostering?

Q UESTION 2 ANSWER Private fostering is: Child is under 16 or under 18 if registered disabled Any nationality Parents retain parental responsibility Child is cared for by a someone who is not ‘close relative for more than 28 days A ‘close relative’ is: Aunt, Uncle, Great uncle, Great aunt, Grandparent, Sibling ( over 18 years), Step parent

H ACKNEY C HILDREN ' S S OCIAL C ARE Availability of social workers Weekdays 9am-5pm Everyday 9am-5pm 24 hour availability 7 days a week

1989 C HILDREN A CT, STATUTORY SOCIAL CARE INTERVENTION ASSESSMENTS Section 17 Threshold for a child in need The aim is to gather evidence about a child’s developmental needs and their parent’s capacity to meet these needs Includes all disabled children and any child who is unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development without the provision of services

1989 C HILDREN ’ S A CT, STATUTORY SOCIAL CARE INTERVENTION ASSESSMENTS Section 47 This is the threshold for child protection Local authorities are charged with the ‘duty’ to investigate if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found in their area, is suffering from or likely to suffer significant harm

1989 C HILDREN ’ S A CT, STATUTORY SOCIAL CARE INTERVENTION ASSESSMENTS Section 20 This is the duty to accommodate a child, either through a voluntary agreement with their parents or if over 16 with the child’s agreement No court proceedings involved Parents retain full parental responsibility Parents can remove their child from care at any time

1989 C HILDREN ’ S A CT Section 33 This is a long term care order Gives extensive powers to the local authority The court requires demonstrable evidence that the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm which is attributable to lack of adequate parental care or control Child becomes a looked after child ( 250 children in City and Hackney)

P REGNANCY AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE Nicola Nelson Specialist midwife case presentation