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Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust UCL Institute of Child Health
 

Centre for Evidence-Based Child Health

Child abuse: research and policy documents

The following collection of documents were put together from literature found for the  HTA sponsored project: Accuracy of screening procedures for non-accidental injury in children: systematic review and modelling of clinical effectiveness.  The searches undertaken for this systematic review revealed many relevant documents from a variety of disparate sources.  Therefore we have bought together the key documents in the tables below for ease of use by other researchers and practitioners interested in this area.

UK Documents

 Title  Author  Summary
 Working Together 2006 (PDF, 1.0 MB) Department for Education and Skills, UK Statutory guidance written for UK practitioners and managers who provide services for children or who have specific safeguarding responsibilities (replaces Working Together, 1999).
Children Act 2004   UK legislation Builds on the 1989 Children Act. Sections 11 to 13 are particularly relevant to safeguarding. Legislates for  co-operation between and within agencies (sections 10), use of databases (section 12), creation of LCSB (section 13) and widens organisations responsible for safeguarding (section 11). See also Statutory Guidance under section 11 of the Children's Act which is aimed at helping Chief Executives and Senior Managers implement changes to meet requirements of the Children Act 2004
Every Child Matters, 2003 (PDF, 819 KB) Department for Education and Skills, UK A Green paper written in response to the Victoria Climbié inquiry. Outlines the government’s commitment to early identification and intervention before serious problems arise. Outlines ways this will be achieved:information sharing, the Common Assessment Framework, implementation of child protection procedures and accountability. Summary of Every Child Matters, 2003 (PDF, 111 KB)
The Victoria Climbié Inquiry, 2003 (PDF, 1.0 MB)  Lord Laming Independent statutory investigation into the death of Victoria Climbié’s from abuse. Report identifies systematic failures and assesses employee conduct in agencies that had conatct with Victoria. Makes statutory recommendations for improvements. Summary and recommendations (PDF, 314 KB)
It’s Everyone’s Job to Make Sure I am alright, 2002 (PDF, 2.0 MB) Scottish Executive An audit and review of child protection practices in agencies in Scotland following the death of Kennedy McFarlane from intention injury in 2000. Includes a case sample audit, views and opinions from children, young people and practitioners and research findings.
Children Act 1989  UK legislation Makes safeguarding children a statutory duty for Local Authorities and defines children in need and at risk of or suffering (significant) harm (section 17). Makes all agencies responsible for contributing to child protection investigations (section 47) and gives police protection rights (section 46)

Research on Child Protection Systems UK

 Title  Author  Summary
Costs and Outcomes in Children's Social Care, 2007 (PDF, 659 KB) Beecham J, Sinclair I An overview of research findings from 14 studies. Assesses the distribution of cost within children and family services, outcomes and the cost effectiveness of interventions.
Evaluating the Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professional Guidance and Implementation in 2005-6 (PDF, 743 KB) Brandon M, Howe A, Salter C, Warren C, Black J A study commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, UK to assess how the CAF and Lead Professional system was working in 12 trial areas across England. Based on interviews with practitioners and managers (does not include interviews with children and families)
Assessing Children’s Needs and Circumstances Cleaver H, Walker S, Meadows P A study exploring the affects of the Assessment Framework and assessment records on social work and practice in other agencies. Based on 24 councils in England. Includes an audit of referrals and investigations and further action and interviews with practitioners, children and their families (no electronic copy available)

Non-UK Documents

 Title  Author  Summary
NIS-3, 2006 U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences The third national study on child abuse and neglect in the US which reports case characteristics of cases of child abuse and neglect known to professionals and those reported to CPS. Results from NIS-3 (1993) are compared with those from NIS-2 (1986) and NIS-1 (1980) (No electronic copy available)
Canadian incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect: Major Findings, 2003 (PDF, 2.0 MB) Trocme N, Tourigny M, MacLaurin B, Fallon B A study of the characteristics of children and families investigated by Canadian child welfare agency.
Moving Towards Effective Child Maltreatment Prevention Strategies in Europe, 2002 (Word document, 372 KB) Kooijman,Klaas, Wattam, Corinne A case audit of child protection referrals to agencies in 8 European countries over 12 months and discussion of interventions to prevent and reduce maltreatment.

Medical Documents

 Title  Author  Summary
Child Protection Companion 2006 (PDF, 609 KB) Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health A guide for medical practitioners, aimed mainly at paediatricians. Includes professional responsibilities, definition and recognition of abuse and good practice.
Safeguarding children and young people, 2006 (PDF, 190 KB) Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health A document outlining required levels of child protection training for staff and job descriptions for named and designated child protection staff and expert witnesses. Also of interest is the RCPCH survey which reports that paediatricians are deterred from Child Protection work. 
'Keep me safe': The Royal College of General Practitioners strategy for child protection, 2005 (PDF, 218 KB) The Royal College of General Practitioners A document aimed to inform GPs about the prevalence and signs of abuse and their role in detection. Includes discussion of GPs current traditional disengagement from child protection.
Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines on Child Physical Abuse and Neglect, 1999 (PDF, 75 KB) American Medical Association A document outlining signs suspicious of abuse, reporting responsibilities and guidance on examination and its documentation

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This page was last reviewed on 24 February 09 11:29

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