Child Protection Medical Assessments

CHILD PROTECTION MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS

A child protection medical assessment is a holistic paediatric review which aims to:

Identify signs of abuse or neglect,
Identify and make recommendations regarding unmet health needs
Identify other safeguarding concerns
Contributes to multiagency working to safeguard the child.

The process for undertaking CP medicals assessment in Haringey is set out in this guidance document:

MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS AND SEXUAL ABUSE

The purposes of a medical assessment where there are concerns of sexual abuse are:

To identify and meet health care needs

To provide reassurance for the child or young person and their family/ carers

It may provide forensic evidence

It may provide findings related to abuse but there are often no physical findings. A normal assessment does not mean that abuse disclosed didn’t happen.

A medical assessment is a child led process. It is a holistic assessment that can only happen with the full consent of the child/ young person. The assessment should be carefully planned, including timing of the assessment and who will be supporting the child/ young person.

The service for medical assessment when there are concerns of sexual abuse depends upon the time since the abuse:

The Havens Sexual Assault Referral centres see children within an acute time scale.

The Lighthouse in Camden sees children outside of the acute time scale.

Advice should be sought from the appropriate service described below. Early consultation with these services is important including invitation to strategy meetings.

Where the abuse is reported to have been within the last 7 days referral should be made to the Havens. If there are concerns of injury or ongoing symptoms outside of the 7 days there can also be discussion with the Havens

For children under 13 referral to the Havens is made by the police.

For children 13 and over referral to the Havens is made by the police or by the young person themselves.

Any professional can phone the Havens to ask for advice

The Havens

Havens number: 020 3299 6900

Where abuse is reported that has taken place more than 7 days previously referral should be made to the lighthouse. Referral to the lighthouse can be made by the social worker, police, health professional and for children over 13 by the young person themselves.

The Lighthouse
Light house phone number 020 3049 0010

thelighthouse.ask@nhs.net

Young people age 13 and over who decide not to go to the Havens can be seen at a sexual health clinic. Where there has been sexual assault this should be the clinic at Archway. The link below gives the opening times of the clinic. No appointment is needed.

Sexual Health (STI) Clinics For London and Surrey |CNWL Sexual Health Services