Bedfordshire Local Safeguarding Children Board

1
Bedfordshire Local Safeguarding Children Board

• LSCB Inter-Agency Protocol Summary
• Procedure for Child Protection Medical Assessment
• Luton and South Mid-Beds.

2
This summary is provided to help safeguarding
children practitioners gain a quick understanding
of the protocol. The summary complements the
protocol which must still be read and understood
by all safeguarding children practitioners and
managers. The protocol itself is the source
document and must be referred to at all times.
3
Area Covered

• Luton
• South-mid Beds (Dunstable, Houghton Regis,
  Leighton Buzzard)
• Paediatricians based at Edwin Lobo Centre and
  Luton and Dunstable Hospital
• For other areas see Bedford PCT and Bedford
  Hospital Protocol

4
Type of Examination

• Forensic-medical examination involving
• History
• Examination
• Observation
• To formulate an opinion on the form and nature of
  abuse that may have occurred
• Assessment applies to all forms of abuse
  (physical, sexual, emotional, neglect)

5
Referral Process

• Mon-Fri, 0900-1700, Edwin Lobo Centre, by phone
  01582 700300
• Out of Hours LD Paediatric Team
• Police / Childrens Social Care should attend
  to brief medical team
• Health professional should inform
  parents/carers (if safe to do so), ensure child
  has attended, refer to investigating agencies
• Exams can be arranged each weekday afternoon on
  day of referral where possible

6
Consent

• Written consent will be sought from child and
  parent/carer if applicable
• If parent/carer not present, accompanying
  professional must take responsibility for consent
  and authorise examination
• For suspected sexual abuse consent to use
  colposcope will be required
• If child objects, examination will not proceed

7
Acute Sexual Assault

• Forensic retrieval should be attempted
• For children 13 or over, up to 7 days
• For children under 13, up to 72 Hours (beyond
  this, discretion should be applied)
• Joint examination under RCPCH guidelines (doctors
  with complementary skills usually Paediatrician
  and Forensic Physician)

8
Sexual Abuse and STI

• STI can be indicative of sexual abuse
• STI raises medical and CP issues
• Health protocol applies
• Where there are concerns of sexual abuse, joint
  exam with paediatrician and GU specialist
• Examination, retrieval and treatment issues must
  be resolved jointly