Safeguarding Flashcards

What is a 'Contextual Safeguarding' approach?

Answer: Recognising that abuse and exploitation of young people can occur in contexts beyond the family (e.g., peer groups, schools, online spaces) and safeguarding responses must address these broader contexts

Contextual Safeguarding extends the focus of child protection beyond the family home to recognise and address risks in public spaces, peer groups, schools, and online environments where exploitation can occur.

What safeguarding obligation exists when a person lacking mental capacity is being placed in a care home or hospital by others?

Answer: A Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) authorisation or Court of Protection order must be in place if the placement amounts to a deprivation of liberty

Depriving a person who lacks capacity of their liberty in a care home or hospital requires legal authorisation under DoLS (or the new Liberty Protection Safeguards when implemented). This protects fundamental rights under the ECHR.

What is 'cuckooing' in the context of safeguarding?

Answer: A form of criminal exploitation where criminals take over a vulnerable person's home as a base for drug dealing or other criminal activity

Cuckooing is a form of exploitation where drug dealers and organised criminals target vulnerable individuals and take over their homes for criminal activities, often using the person's vulnerability as leverage.

Under the Children and Families Act 2014, what replaced Statement of Special Educational Needs?

Answer: Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

EHCPs replaced Statements of SEN for children and young people with special educational needs, covering education, health, and social care needs from birth to 25, improving integration across services.

What is 'trauma-informed practice' in safeguarding?

Answer: An approach that recognises the widespread impact of trauma on individuals' lives and adapts practice to avoid re-traumatisation, promoting recovery and resilience

Trauma-informed practice applies across all healthcare settings. It recognises how past adverse experiences shape behaviour and health, and seeks to provide safe, trustworthy, collaborative care that avoids re-traumatising service users.

A healthcare professional in a GP surgery sees a child who frequently misses medical appointments and presents as visibly neglected. What should they do?

Answer: Document concerns, raise with the named/designated safeguarding professional in the practice, and consider referral to children's social care if threshold is met

Repeated missed appointments and signs of neglect are safeguarding indicators requiring escalation. The professional must document, discuss with the safeguarding lead, and consider formal referral to children's social care.