Is this a child in need or a child in need of protection? (case study scenario)

[Sonak]

Y is nearly five years old and soon be leaving nursery in order to go to school.

She's attended nursery for three years. When she started, Y's mother told you that she had successfully completed a drug rehab programme.

Y had been a quiet, reserved that preferred to observe than play. Y has developed into an articulate child who enjoys taking the lead and in initiating group play. Your observations are that Y often takes on a responsible supervisory role but becomes very distressed when she feels children aren't listening to her.

Y loves stories being read to her and creates tales involving herself & her one year old brother.

In the last three months you have noted Y retreating from play and spending great amounts of time watching. Recently she has begun to burst into tears if any child approaches her to play & noticed that she appears anxious about time and constantly asks 'what time is it now?'

You have noticed that some of the girls refuse to sit next to her at circle time saying to her 'you smell of wee'. Yasmin's mum has said that Y has begun to wet herself on the way to nursery and that she can't afford to wash so many clothes.

You've noticed that Y is not eating her lunch and other children have complained that she puts some of her dinner in her pockets and that they are not allowed to do so. Yesterday you witnessed this and gently asked about it & she got upset.

The next morning another child's mother tells you that Y's mother is 'back on the game'. During circle time Y tells everyone her mummy is 'kind of a doctor', she adds 'my brother isn't really sick & my mummy says I'm a nurse'. I have to lick my finger & put brown on his tongue. It really works. He's goes quiet for ages'. But it makes mum very lazy.

What are your first actions as a nursery practitioner/manager? What do you think Social

[Mamjet]

Maybe 'Y' is becoming withdrawn because you're spying on her like a hawk?

[Sonak]

Sorry at the end of this post the other question was
What do you think Social Services should do?

[Mamjet]

Tell you to mind your own business?

[froggequene]

The first thing the nursery manager or whoever is in charge will have to do is call the Child Protection Team at the Local Authority to seek advice.

Given the difficulties that the family has had in the past, it's very likely they've had a social worker, or may still have one - if the social worker is known to the nursery, the nursery manager might want to have a quiet word with the social worker as well.

The nursery manager & staff should also have been making notes about the dates & times of any incidents that have taken place.

If you want more help with this, you should really ring your Local Authority yourself & ask to speak to the Child Protection Team or Social Services - they'll be able to explain to you what legislation they operate under & what should happen in this scenario.

[amonty1144]

It is likely that this is a child in need of protecton, the nursery situation should have it's own written child prtoection procedures, you would intiiate them, usually by telling your manager. If they do nothing, then it is your duty to infomr your local socia services department, have regard to "It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright".

On receipt of the referral, social services should intiaite their child protection procedures and at the end of an investigation (possibly joint with the police, due to the drugs angle), they may request a child protection case conference, at which you or other nursery representative should attend.

Anything else , just ask.

If you were in Scotland, you could seek a referral to the Children's Reporter.

[diamonds78]

Good Idea mamjet, lets just let this go, hey so what if we think a child is being given drugs and being abused, hey its only another child of a messed up mum!! Get over yourself!
What if this was a member of your family! of course it should be reported and followed up.
It may turn out to be nothing but brushing it off wont help this little child who is obviously distressed.
Im a mother and have a son in daycare and would like to think that the staff i pay a handsome fee to, were qualified enough to realise when a kids got serious problems

[Mamjet]

Oh no! Why leave it to professional staff when the original poster can do all the snooping and jumping to conclusions for them.
No doubt uf this was Nazi Germany she'd be on this messageboard reporting Y for being a 'non-aryan'. Seig Heil!

[Sonak]

Thank you froggequene, amonty1144 & dimonds78 for your replys which have been a great help.
Its good to know that we have individuals like you guys with intellectual thinking, thanks again

[natalie_1982]

Did I read that correctly that you heard Y say she puts brown her younger brother's tongue to keep him quiet? Shouldn't you be calling the police (as well as social services and CPT) before the kid overdoses or has a bad batch?

[bensmum]

Your nursery should have a designated Child Protection Officer and presumably staff would have undergone Child Protection training. I would have thought the first point of contact would be this manager as they should have had the necessary training to deal with situations like this.

[Lil O'lady]

Mamjet - if this is a real scenario (and please god it isn't) this is a child at risk of harm or even death. If a dog was being neglected and you knew of it, I am sure you would not see it as nazi to report the abuse and act to prevent it.

[Mamjet]

Children aren't dogs.

[Sonak]

Everyone has given me good & intellectual info on this case scenario, but mamjet I'm lost - I think your commenting on the wrong post as u have no idea what your talking about..........this type of discussion is not joke, but your comments have exactly stated this!

[B00]

I really hope this is a scenario and not a reality, it's heartbreaking to think that it could be.

If I was faced with it as a reality, I'd definitely contact the social services, If anything happened to that little girl or her brother I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least make some sort of effort to try to help them. I'd rather my suspicions were investigated and discounted by the relevant bodies than doing nothing.

[katerich48]

Sonak... I really don't think you should hesitate over this...There are too many red flags coming up..A childs security/wellbeing are at stake. How would you feel if you did nothing and the worste case scenario happened? Please ignore Mamjet who obviously has not got a clue, thank God not everyone is like her(?) and there are some caring people out there..

[Sonak]

Thanks Boo & Katerich48 - I will take your comments on board. P.S. this case scenario is part of my child protection module that I'm doing do don't worry its not real - they just want to know how you would respond as a professional to a situation like this, thanks again.

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Jesus Christ! Call Child Protection First Response Team - Under 8s at your Local Council. Yes, you could be wrong but dont go taking the risk.

Good Luck and well observed. You are doing yoru job properly by taking care of this child who is in your care whilst at nursery.

Katie. x

[B00]

rofl donnakebab- did you read sonak's last reply there? ^^^

It's not real! And I for one am really glad it's not too.

[natalie_1982]

Does that mean we just did your coursework for you? Shouldn't you know how to respond as a professional and not be on here asking random people what they would do (I for one am not a professional!).

Flippin 'eck woman! You could have told us sooner! I've been waiting to see the poor child on the news!

[mycats]

why are you asking random people online, with no experience or education on the law (probably) the answers to your coursework modules???