Child Protections and Safeguarding-Case Study

1.2 - Explain child protection within the wider concept of safeguarding children and young people.

For this week I wrote on the article “The “Discovery” of Child Abuse”, by Stephen Pfohl. I chose this article because I found the title to be interesting. The subject of child abuse is ages old and a view upon it from an outdated article made it all the more appealing for me to examine. It has always been something that has gone unstated due to the social constraints of not interfering in the rearing of someone else’s children. It is not surprising to see that a 1970’s look at it would discuss the origin points of abuse and how it has come to people’ s attention more so throughout the years. Children are the future of the world and as such need to be treated like it. When you start to take a child down a dark path at an early age, there is

D2-Justify responses where child maltreatment or abuse is suspected or confirmed, referring to current legislation and policies.

Child Protection aims at prevention and reactions in relation to exploitation, violence, and abuse against children. Children obtain protection against activities such as sexual exploitation, labor, trafficking, and harmful traditional practices. Most children are vulnerable to these abuses hence require much protection for full growth and development.

Section 47 states that Local Authorities have a 'duty to investigate' if there are any allegations of a child suffering or if there would be a reasonable cause to suspect any child suffering or if a professional thought it was likely a child was going to come to any harm. Section 17 states services to 'safeguard and promote the welfare of the child' particularly if the child is known to be in need of care.

In order to ensure the safety of the children and young people in our care there are a number of policies, procedures and practices that must be adhered to.

Children develop and learn best when they form good relationships with the adults in their care and when their individual needs are met. We must ensure that we keep all the children safe and secure when they are at the setting. We do this by following all policies and procedures including safety and safeguarding.

Decision made by an agency with Statutory Child Protection Powers (Police, LA or NSPCC) that emergency action may be necessary to safeguard child

9. Describe the role and responsibilities of the different organisations that may be involved when a child or young person has been abused or harmed.

Safeguarding involves everything a setting does, including their procedures and policies etc, to ensure children are kept safe and healthy, and that the risk of them coming to harm or being involved in an accident, is minimised.

Unit 69 – Understand safeguarding of children and young people for those working in the adult sector (Level 5)

Physical abuse is when a child is physically hurt . Hitting, beating, throwing, shaking are all physical abuse.

“Abuse is still seriously under reported. I was told by leading British social worker that when they hold training courses for employees, they find that a third of the females and slightly less of the males come forward to talk about their childhood experiences of being abused. Over ninety percent of parents as some time hit their children – and some people hit them several times a week – so there is a great deal of emotional hurt, fear and physical pain in the world today” (Davis 251). For this reason alone it makes perfect sense why violent crime rates are so frighteningly high.

Safeguarding children and young people is everybody’s responsibility.   It should be a concern of the whole community and all public services, not just ones providing directly to children and young people.

Children and young people are vulnerable in nature. As their journey of life is in initial stages of development. They lack experience to understand and handle certain situations. Their lives can be severely affected by the risk, danger and fear from unknown or from people who are considered closest. If they are not taken care during their childhood, they may suffer from difficult young age and adulthood.