Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation Command SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & INNAPPROPRIATE...

Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation CommandChild Abuse Investigation Command

SAFEGUARDING CHILDRENSAFEGUARDING CHILDREN& INNAPPROPRIATE CHASTISEMENT& INNAPPROPRIATE CHASTISEMENT

DS Vicky Washington DS Vicky Washington DC Tina PearceDC Tina Pearce

Partnership TeamPartnership Teamvicky.washington@met.police.ukvicky.washington@met.police.uktina.pearce@met.pnn.police.uktina.pearce@met.pnn.police.uk

020 7161 3851/3813020 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 CrueltyIf 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?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 NeedS17 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 1989S47 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: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 Children have a right to be protected from harmprotected 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.

Para 2.24.24

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.

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;

CobitaTelephone 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

Para 2.24.25

Faith organisations can seek advice on child protection issues from the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS).