QTS Safeguarding and Child Protection 3

Question 1

What is 'neglect' in the context of child abuse?

Accepted Answer

The persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child's health or development

Answer

Neglect is a persistent pattern of failing to meet basic needs — physical, emotional, medical, or educational — and is the most common category of child abuse in England.

Question 2

Which agency is responsible for investigating child abuse allegations in England?

Accepted Answer

Children's Social Care (local authority)

Answer

Children's Social Care leads child abuse investigations, often working alongside the police in joint enquiries under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989.

Question 3

What is a 'Section 47 enquiry' in child protection?

Accepted Answer

An investigation by children's social care when there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering significant harm

Answer

A Section 47 enquiry is a statutory investigation under the Children Act 1989, initiated when there is reasonable cause to believe a child may be suffering significant harm.

Question 4

What does 'information sharing' in safeguarding require teachers to balance?

Accepted Answer

The right to privacy against the duty to protect children from harm

Answer

Information sharing in safeguarding requires balancing privacy rights with the overriding duty to protect children — when child welfare is at risk, this can override normal confidentiality rules.

Question 5

What is the 'threshold of significant harm' and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

It is the level of harm that triggers a statutory response — below it, early help is offered; above it, child protection procedures apply

Answer

The threshold of significant harm determines whether the state can intervene to protect a child. Below the threshold, early help is appropriate; at or above it, statutory CP procedures are activated.

QTS Practice Test

QTS Practice Test

QTS Safeguarding and Child Protection 3