Scotland Child Committee Purpose Social Work Essay

Scotland Child Committee Purpose cordial Work EssayThe North East of Scotland Child tribute Committee (NESCPC) has produced this take chances estimate example in response to an identified shoot for a Pan Grampian arise.This frame function is for use by each in all old agencies located within Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray with the aim of ensuring that there is a consistency of chthonic radixing and approach to take a chance judgment across all sectors.The cloth is written with the additional understanding that all practitioners have a responsibility to arrest that they atomic number 18 familiar with and follow their own organisations shaver protection procedures. These should all get in touch to the everywherearching NESCPC Guidelines and give advice on who to contact, how to take immediate action and how concerns should be recorded.BackgroundSeveral models of try taxment exist but be non utilise in a systematic way be pay back they atomic number 18 not thought to be comprehensive enough to be used in all situations (Scottish governance Effective Approach to chance Assessment in Social Work an international literature revaluation (2007).To enable greater consistency and conformity across Scotland, the Scottish Executive (2005) proposed a programme of diverge getting it Right For Every Child, incorporating the information work undertaken on an Integrated Assessment Planning and transcription Framework (IAF). This is based on requirements to gain a thorough understanding ofthe develop psychogenic demand of a clawthe capacity of a raise/c argonr to respond appropriately to those demandsthe impact of the wider family and wider environmental factors on eliciting capacity and on the baby birds needsThis Framework emphasises the need to treat appraisal as a move rather than an event. In evaluating the assessment and inventionning a response, practitioners are expected to consider the totality of the babys maturation an d any unmet needs rather than focusing too narrowly on a need for protection.This approach should make sure thatChildren get the help they need when they need itHelp is appropriate, proportionate and timelyAgencies work together to ensure a co-ordinated and unified response to meeting the shavers needsThe proposal is used to allot in place arrangements to manage chance and to co-ordinate help for the churl or offspring psycheThe envision is based on assessment and analysis of the frys domain, including the perils, needs and resilience factors.What is peril Assessment? adventure Assessment is a frequently used term without practitioners always being agnise about what is meant.Risk assessment is merely the description of good methodical practice to hazardy situations (Jones, 1998).Risk Assessment is a critical element of the integrated assessment process pulling together, as it does the identified strengths within a family as well as those areas of concern or attempt t hat need to be addressed. It is a complex, constant and dynamic process, which involves the gathering and weighting of relevant information to help make decisions about the family strengths, needs and associated finds and figure for necessary interventions. Good systematic assessment confirms what may have happened, how this may affect the immediate and in store(predicate) safety of the baby bird or spring chicken someone, places this in consideration and informs what needs to be done. Risk assessments washstand in like manner be used to predict the escalation of the positioning deportment as well as the individuals motivation for deepen. Assessing stake is not an exact science prediction involves prob qualification and thus some errors are inevitable.Basic Principles when assessing risk.The public assistance of the squirt is paramount.Risk assessment should be based on sound evidence and analysisRisk assessment tools should inform rather than replace lord sentime ntAll professionals complicated in risk assessment should have a common language of risk and common understanding of information overlap to inform assessmentRisk assessment is influenced by professionals own someoneal and professional values, experiences, achievements and friendshipThe judgement and experience of practitioners needs to be transparent in assessmentNo tool, procedure or framework whoremaster adequately deem for and predict human deportmentEffective communication and information manduction is crucial to protecting electric shaverrenChildren, younker plurality and family views should be sought, tiltened to and recorded with clear evidence of their involvement in decision making where possible.A good risk assessment process should elicit and highlight both commonalities and differences in professional and family perspectivesGood risk assessment requires the best possible working relationship in the midst of worker and family membersAll staff essential alwa ys be alert and aware to situations where children may be at risk and address any capableness concerns through their own fashions child protection polity / NESCPC child protection guidance.Risk Assessment FrameworkThis framework is adapted from the work undertaken by Jane Aldgate and Wendy Ross (A magisterial Practice Model for Assessing and Managing Risk, 2007) and is structured in 9 different stagesUsing the SHANNARI well-being indicators (Safe, Well, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Respected, Responsible and Included).2. Getting the child and familys perspectives on risk.Drawing on evidence from research and development literature about the train of risk and its likely impact on any individual child.4. Assessing the likely recurrence of injury.5. Looking at immediate and long-term risks in the stage setting of My World triangle.Using the Resilience Matrix to snap the risks, strengths, restrictive factors and vulnerabilities.7. Weighing the balance of that evidence and maki ng decisions.8. Constructing a externalise and taking appropriate action.9. Management of Risk1. Using the SHANARRI well-being indicatorsThe Scottish Executive (2004) complyd a vision for Scotlands Children. They should beSafe heavyActiveNurturedAchievingRespectedResponsibleIncludedUsing these SHANARRI indicators, professionals consider the childs holistic needs. In any assessment professionals should ask themselves the following cite questionsWhat is getting in the way of this child being safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, respected, responsible and include?Why do I think that this child is not safe?What have I observed, heard, or identified from the childs history that causes concern? ar there factors that indicate risk of of import impairment present and is the callosity of factors enough to warrant immediate action?What prat I do?What can my agency do?Do I need to share / gather information to construct a plan to protect this child?What additional help may I fi nd from saucy(prenominal) agencies?2. Getting the child and familys perspectives on the risk.The involvement and partnership with children, teenage people and their families is integral and meaty to successful risk assessment and management. Information is incomplete and a good understanding of the risks of violate and needs of the children cannot be reached without families perspectives on the risks to their childrens difficulties. An indeterminate and transparent approach that actively involves all entangled, including the children and families is of clear benefit in thatChildren, young people and families can understand why sharing information with professionals is necessaryChildren and families can help practitioners distinguish what information is significantEveryone who needs to can take part in making decisions about how to help a childEveryone contributes to finding out whether a plan has made a authoritative difference to a child or familyProfessionals behave ethica lly towards familiesEven in cases where compulsory action is necessary, research has shown better outcomes for children by working collaboratively with parents.3. Drawing on evidence from research and developmental literature about the level of risk and its likely impact on any individual child.Risks need to be seen in the wider context of wretched and long term risks to childrens wellbeing and development. Core factors can be identified in relation to detestation or scorn but these should not be used as predictors for online and future exclaim without being considered in the context of the childs own nature and environment.In all cases of child insult, parenting capacity should alike be considered and this involves taking account of historical information as well as assessing the here and now. custodial factors need to be weighed up against risk factors and vulnerability to determine the level of risk to the individual child or young psyche and the likelihood of future di stress. The factors should be used as a intimacy base to underpin much detailed assessments of strengths and pressures based on the My World triangle. (See Section 5).Factors to be considered(This list is not complete but is a general guide). Adapted from City of Edinburgh Risk Taking insurance and Guidance (2004).Consideration of significant harm (link to Safety Threshold considerations, Section 3 NESCPC guidelines for further explanation) oc authoritative injury/harm is severe the more severe an injury, the greater the impairment for the child/young soulfulness and the greater the likelihood of reoccurrencePattern of harm is escalating if harm has been increasing in severity and frequency over time, it is more likely that without effective intervention the child/young person go forth be importantly harmPattern of harm is continuing the more often harm has occurred in the quondam(prenominal) the more likely it is to occur in the futureThe parent or care-giver has made a thre at to cause respectable harm to the child/young person such threats may cause significant activated harm and may reflect maternal(p) inability to cope with stress, the greater the stress for a person with caring responsibilities, the greater the likelihood of future bodily and activated harm to the child/young personSexual abuse is say and the perpetrator continues to have access to the child/young person if the alleged perpetrator has unlimited access to the child/young person, there is an change magnitude likelihood of further harmChronic neglect is identified serious harm may occur through neglect, such as inadequate supervision, failure to attend to medical needs and failure to nurturePrevious history of abuse or neglect if a person with parental responsibility has previously harmed a child or young person, there is a greater likelihood of re-occurrenceThe use of past history in assessing current functioning is critical.Factors relating to the child or young personPhysic al harm to a child under 12 months very young children are more vulnerable due to their age and dependency.Any physical harm to a child under 12 months should be considered serious and the risk assessment should not focus solely on the action and any resultant harm, but rather that the parent has used physical action against a very young child. This could be as a result of parenting skill deficits or high stress levels.Child is unprotected the risk assessment must consider parental willingness and ability to protect the young child.Children aged 0-5 years are unable to protect themselves, as are children with certain learning disabilities and physical impairments. Children, who are premature, have low birth weight, learning disability, physical or sensory disability and display behavioural problems are more liable to abuse and neglect.The child/young person presents as fearful of the parent or care-giver or other member of the business firm a child/young person presenting as fearfu l, withdrawn or distressed can indicate harm or likely harm.The child/young person is engaging in self-harm, substance misuse, dangerous intimate behaviour or other at risk behaviours such behaviour can be indicators of past or current abuse or harm.Factors relating to the parent or care-giverThe parent or care-giver has caused significant harm to any child/young person in the past through physical or intimate abuse once a person has been a perpetrator of an incident of maltreatment there is an extendd likelihood that this behaviour will re-occur.The parent or care-givers explanation of the current harm/injury is contradictory or the harm is minimised this may indicate denial or minimisation. Where a parent or care-giver fails to adopt their contribution to the problem, there is a higher likelihood of future significant harm.The parent or care-givers behaviour is violent or out of control people who resort to violence in any context are more likely to use violent means with a chi ld or young person.The parent or care-giver is unable or unwilling to protect the child/young person ability to protect the child/young person may be significantly impaired due to mental illness, physical or learning disability, domestic violence, attachment to, or dependence on (psychological or financial) the perpetrator.The parent or care-giver is experiencing a high degree of stress the greater the stress for a parent or care-giver, the greater the likelihood of future harm to the child or young person. Stress factors include mendicancy and other financial issues, physical or emotional isolation, health issues, disability, the behaviour of the child/young person, finale of a child or other family member, divorce/separation, and large numbers of children.The parent or care-giver has phantasmagorical expectations of the child/young person and acts in a negative way towards the child/young person this can be linked to a overlook of knowledge of child development and poor parent ing skills. Parents or care-givers who do not understand normal developmental milestones may make demands which do not gybe the child/young persons cognitive, developmental or physical ability.The parent or care-giver has poor care-giving relationship with the child/young person a care-giver who is insensitive to the child or young person may essay little interest in the child/young persons wellbeing and may not meet their emotional needs.Indicators of poor care-giving include repeated requests for substitute placement for the child/young person.The parent or care-giver has a substance misuse problem. Parental substance misuse can lead to poor supervision, chronic neglect and inability to meet basic needs through lack of money, harmful responses to the child/young person through altered consciousness, risk of harm from others through inability to protect the child/young person.The parent or care-giver refuses access to the child/young person in these circumstances it is possible t hat the parent or care-giver wishes to avoid further appraisal of the well-being of the child. Highly mobile families decrease the opportunity for effective intervention, which may increase the likelihood of further harm to the child/young person.The parent or care-giver is young a parent or care-giver under 21 years may be more likely to harm the child through immaturity, lack of parenting knowledge, poor judgement and inability to tolerate stress.The parents or care-givers themselves experienced puerility neglect or abuse however caution has to be exercised here parenting skills are frequently larn/modelled but later positive experiences can counteract an individuals own childhood experiences.Factors relating to the EnvironmentThe physical and affable environment is chaotic, hazardous and unsafe a chaotic, unhygienic and non-safe environment can pose a risk to the child/young person through flick to bacteria/disease or through exposure to hazards such as drug paraphernalia, uns ecured chemicals, medication or alcohol.Conversely, an environment with overly sanitised conditions, where the childs needs are not recognised or prioritised is also harmful.4. Assessing the likely recurrence of harm.When assessing how safe a child is consideration must be given to likelihood of recurrence of any previous harm.Factors for considerationThe severity of the harm (How serious was it? How long did it continue? How often?)In what form was the abuse / harm?Did the abuse have any accompanying neglect or psychological maltreatment?Sadistic acts?Was there any denial? This could include absence of acknowledgement, lack of co-operation, inability to form a partnership and absence of outreach.Are there issues with parental mental health? This could include personality disorder, learning disabilities associated with mental illness, psychosis, and substance/alcohol misuse.These also link to consideration of additional family stress factors, the degree of social live available to the family, the age of the children and number of children and the parents own history of abuse. Other agencies may be able to add additional knowledge and expertise to inform an effective risk assessment.Looking at immediate and long-term risks in the context of the My World triangle.The Assessment TriangleBeing healthy Everyday care and helpLearning and achieving retentivity me safeBeing able to communicate Being there for meConfidence in who I am Play, encouragement and funLearning to be responsible Guidance, supporting me to make the right choicesBecoming independent, looking at after myself Knowing what is going to happen and whenEnjoying family andFriends Understanding my familys background and beliefsSupport from School Work opportunitiesfamily, friends and for my familyother people Enough moneyLocal re man-made lakes BelongingComfortable andsafe housingAn important article of faith underpinning the evidence-based planning in Getting it Right for Every Child is that there are many positive and negative influences in the worldeach child experiences. Each child is unique and will fight differently to these influences but all children will react to what is going on in different move of the familyand the wider world in which they are growing up. This is why recent thinking in child development urges that we take a look at all the different influences in a childswhole world when assessing childrens development. This is called a childs ecologyand is encapsulated in the My World triangle.Each domain of the My World triangle provides a source of evidence that enable a full developmental holistic assessment of any individual child. The domains can be used to identify strengths and pressures, which balance risk and protective factors.6. Using the Resilience Matrix to analyse the risks, strengths, protective factors and vulnerabilities.The Resilience Vulnerablity MatrixAs defined by Daniel and Wassell, (2002).RESILIENCENormal development under difficult cond itions eg.secure attachment, outgoing temperament, sociability, problem solving skills.High Support / Low extend toPROTECTIVE milieuFactors in the childs environment acting as buffer to the negative effects of adverse experience.ADVERSITY emotional state events / circumstances posing a threat to healthy development eg. loss, abuse, neglect.Low Support / HighConcernVULNERABILITYThose characteristics of the child, their family circle and wider community which dexterity threaten or challenge healthy development eg. disability, racism, lack of or poor attachment.Low Support / High ConcernFamilies assessed to be in this category are the most worrying.Low Concern / High Support.Families in this group have a network of support and are generally more able to cope with advice and guidance from standard services.Resilience includes the protective factors that are features of the child or their world that might counteract identified risks or a predisposition to risk such asEmotional maturity and social awareness.Evidenced personal safety skills (including knowledge of sources of help). rigid self esteem.Evidence of strong attachment.Evidence of protective gravids.Evidence of support networks (supportive peers / relationships).Demonstrable capacity for change by caregivers and the sustained acceptance of the need to change to protect their child.Evidence of openness and willingness to co-operate and accept professional intervention.Protective factors do not in themselves negate high risks, so these need to be cross-referred with apiece identified high risks and vulnerabilities.Vulnerabilities are any known characteristic or factors in respect of the child that might predispose them to risk of harm. Examples of these includeAge.Prematurity.Learning difficulties or additional support needs.Physical disability. colloquy difficulties / impairment.Isolation.Frequent episodes in public or substitute care.Frequent episodes of running away.Conduct disorder.Mental health probl ems.Substance dependence / misuse.Self-harm and suicide attempts.Other high risk behaviours.The more vulnerabilities present (or the more serious one single vulnerability is) then the greater the predisposition to risk of harm. The presence of vulnerability in itself is neither conclusive nor predictive. These must be set alongside identified risk factors to be mighty understood as part of an assessment process.7.Weighing the balance of that evidence and making decisions.Decisions now need to be made about what to do to address the needs relating to the childs safety. These decisions lead to a plan to protect the child. This plan should also address the childs broader developmental needs.Stages of decision-makingData gatheringWeigh relative significanceAssessment of current situationCircumstances which may alter childs welfareProspects for changeCriteria for gauging effectivenessTimescale proposedChilds plan (child in need plan, child protection plan or care plan, depending on the status of the child).What Factors Reduce the Effectiveness of Risk Assessment?Poor integrated working practices between agencies and individuals.Lack of holistic assessment.Inadequate knowledge of signs, symptoms and child protection processes.Information that has not been share. encumbrance in interpreting, or understanding, the information that is available.Difficulty in identifying what is significant.Difficulty in distinguishing fact from opinion.Difficulty in establishing linkage across available evidence.Working from assumptions rather than evidence. over confidence in the certainty of an assessment.A loss of objectivity.Making Effective Risk AssessmentsAssess all areas of potential riskDefine the concern, abuse or neglectGrade the risksIdentify factors that may increase risk of harmConsider the nature of the risk its duration / severitySet out and agree time scales for the assessment to be carried outSpecifically document the identified risk factorsGather key information an d evidenceHas all the required information been gathered?Assess the strengths in the situation sustain if any risk reducing factors exist?Build a detailed family history and chronology of key events/concernsAssess the motivation, capacity and prospects for change?What risk is associated with intervention?Be aware of potential sources of errorIdentify the need for specialist supportsPlan your key interventions.Constructing a plan and taking appropriate action.Constructing the childs plan is a thorough part of the Getting it Right for Every Child (Scottish Executive, 2005) initiative. This specifies that there will be a plan for a child in any case where it is thought to be helpful. This can be in both a single agency and a multi-agency context. The assessment of risk and the management of risk is bodied into the childs plan. This also includes an analysis of the child or young persons circumstances based on the My World triangle and should coverHow the child or young person is grow ing and developing (including their health, education, physical and mental development, behaviour and social skills).What the child or young person needs from the people who look after him / her, including the strengths and risks involvedThe strengths and pressures of the child or young persons wider world of family friends and community andAssessment of risk, detailingThe kind of risk involvedWhat is likely to trigger harmful behaviour andIn what circumstances the behaviour is most likely to happen.The plan should note risk low, medium or high as well as the impact of the child or young person on others. (Guidance on the Child or Young Persons Plan, Scottish Executive. 2007, knave 13).The plan should address key questionsWhat is to be done?Who is to do it?How will we know if there are improvements?The Childs Plan should be monitored and reviewed and amended as need, circumstances and risks change. (Scottish Executive, 2007).Child Protection Case Conferences play a key role in th e management of risk. A Child Protection Case Conference will be arranged, where it appears that there may be risk of significant harm to children within a household and there is a need to share and assess information to decide whether the childs name needs to be placed on the Child Protection Register and be subject to a Child Protection Plan. (Link to Part 4 NESCPC guidelines)9. Principles for Risk ManagementThere is a need to ensure that the on-going shared planManages the riskPuts the decisions into a recorded form that clearly shows how and why decisions were reached.Makes the risk management an ongoing process that links with all areas of agreed and informed professional practice and expertise.Ensures that the decisions made have actions with named persons, clear timescales and review dates.Ensures that any agreed timescales can be reduced if new risks / needs become apparent.Ensures that new risk assessments and analysis inform reviews.Lessons from crucial Case Reviews.Sig nificant Case Reviews repeatedly describe specimen signs that agencies have failed to react to which have should acted as indicators that children and young people at risk of serious harm. Examples includeChildren and young people who may be hidden from view are unavailable when professionals visit the family or are prevented from attending school or nursery.Parents who do not co-operate with services fail to take their children to habit health appointments and discourage professionals from visiting.Parents who are consistently hostile and aggressive to professionals and may threaten violence.Children and young people, who are in emotional or physical distress, but may be unable to verbalise this. Children and young people who are in physical pain (from an injury) may be told to sit or stand in a certain way when professionals visit the family or may hide injuries from view.Children and young people who have gone missing / run away (with or without their families).Workers should a dopt an enquiring and investigative approach to risk assessment and not rely on parents or carers statements alone. Further corroboration of statements and challenging of parental views and perceptions is essential if to effectively determine the risk to the child or young person.Interventions should not be delayed until the limit of an assessment, but they have to be carried out in accordance with what is required to ensure the child or young persons safety, taking account of any indications of accelerated risks and warning signs. The type and level of intervention, irrespective of when it is made, must always be proportionate to the circumstances and risks faced by the child.Workers should pay particular concern to the prescript of optimism. Many significant case reviews have illustrated that practitioners views can be strongly influenced by factors such as seeing indicators of progress or apparent compliance and co-operation. This does not, however, always mean that the child o r young person is safe and such factors need to be balanced against the overall balance of evidence and factual risks.It is essential that those exercising professional judgement in relation to child protection take account of all multi-agency skills and expertise. This is of particular importance in relation to understanding of child development and the impact of child abuse and/or neglect on children and young people, both in the immediate and long term. therefore whilst immediate safety provisions have to be put in place, consideration must also be given to the longer term outcomes as a result of abuse or neglect.Significant case reviews highlight the importance of communication between all agencies that work either directly, or indirectly with children and/or their families.Thus it is imperative thatAdult services MUST ALWAYS consider any potential risks for any child linked to their adult clients.Childrens services MUST ALWAYS ascertain whether any adult services may be invol ved with their child clients.All services MUST ALWAYS ensure there is effective communication where there are concerns about the protection of a child.Concerns relating to actual or potential harm should neer be ignored and are an indication that immediate intervention might be needed to ensure the protection of the child from future harm. Decisions to protect children and young people should never be delayed and where applicable, emergency measures should be considered. (see Part 3 of NESCPC Guidelines).