| Popis: |
Aim To establish the main reasons children are referred for ‘neglect medicals’ and whether through these we are identifying additional unmet needs previously unrecognised and unaddressed in their social care/early help management plan. Method Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment but not a common indication for a child protection medical. The number of ‘neglect medicals’ conducted locally has increased, but we see nowhere near the number of children who are subject to neglect child protection plans. There is the impression that the request for these medicals comes once social care have been involved for some time, often when evidence is required for care proceedings. It is possible that there is an opportunity for earlier identification (and management) of needs. All ‘neglect medical’ reports for children examined at a tertiary children’s hospital within a six month time period (1/05/2018–31/10/2019) were reviewed. Follow up medicals and those where neglect was not the primary reason for referral were excluded. Results Of the 31 reports reviewed, 16 (52%) of children were referred for concerns of physical neglect however there were often concerns regarding other unmet health needs. Following ‘neglect medicals’, new concerns regarding physical neglect were identified in 16 (52%), emotional neglect in 6 (19%), medical neglect in 6 (19%), supervision in 5 (16%), nutritional in 4 (13%) and educational neglect in 3 (9.6%) of children. For 11 (35%) children, referrals were made for ongoing care. One child was admitted acutely. The legal status changed for 16 of the 24 children already known to social care. Conclusion It is clear that although the majority of assessments done were for physical neglect, other categories of childhood neglect coexist. There is evidence to support further referrals by social care for assessment of children where there are concerns of neglect. Through early identification and intervention, the cumulative harmful effects of neglect can be minimised. This could be achieved via lowering the threshold for neglect medical assessments. |
