Support the Rights and Safety of Children and Young People

1. Paula may feel she is stupid, worthless and alone. Paula may feel like running away to escape what she is going through because she believes no one understands what she is going through or that no one will believe her story. Paula may feel sometimes killing herself is another way out. She is probably scared what her father would do to her if she told someone or what everyone else would think of her. Paula more than likely believes it her fault, no one will believe her, no one will understand, she feel all alone and she just wants to feel like a normal teenager.

2. – Self- destructive behaviour e.g. drug dependency, suicide attempts and self- mutilation. Anorexia or over- eating
Sexual knowledge or behaviour inappropriate for the child’s age Bruising or bleeding in genital area

Bruising to the breasts, bottom, lower abdomen or thighs
Adolescent pregnancy
Persistent running away from home
¾. – use a calm, reassuring voice
Give support to the child by demonstrating that you believe their story Provide comfort, verbally and agreed appropriate physical contact Do not express negative suggestions such as judgement, doubt or shock Be honest

Be professional as possible
Let them talk at their own pace, no interruptions, silence
Make notes that are relevant to the situation
Tell the child it’s not their fault and they did the right thing by tell someone Tell them it is never okay for adults to harm children
Let them know what happens now
Inform people who can help assist the child
Tell them it’s okay to be concerned about what will happen

5. Paula may become pregnant, she may run away from home, she may harm
herself or attempt to commit suicide, Paula may turn to alcohol and or drugs, Abuse may to her to hurting her father or other people and she may also turn to abuse later in life and do it to someone else.

6. a) – find a private place to talk
– Tell Anna it’s okay and none of this is her fault
– let Anna talk at her own pace, do not interrupt or be judgemental – Ask questions to clarify information
– use a calm, reassuring voice and talk at the child’s development level – tell Anna you believe her story
– keep emotions under control
– offer support
– take note during if its okay with the Anna if not after the disclosure 

B) – Don’t ask questions that may make Anna feel guilty or inadequate – try and find proof of Anna’s story
– don’t say you won’t tell anyone or that everything will be okay now – don’t express doubt, judgement or shock
– don’t draw conclusions, engage others in discussion or accuse parents – don’t tell people that don’t need to know Anna’s disclosure only people that can help Anna. – don’t talk about your personal feelings about Anna’s story in front of her 

7. – Anna need’s immediate help, talk to someone that can help her – She needs support
– Anna needs someone she can trust and talk too

8. In this case study there are 3 forms of abuse. Sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse.

9. The children’s rights in this case study are that by law we have to provide Anna and Paula with the freedom and opportunities to express their views and that by law must consider their views in a meaningful way. Anna and Paula have the right to participate in decision making about their future.

This means that Anna and Paula must be given where possible the opportunity to express their views freely and those views are taken into consideration when decisions about their future are being made. There for organisations that work with children and young people need to listen to what children and young people say and taking their views into account in design, development and delivery of services and policies.

10. I would talk to the supervisor again but express my views and concerns strongly. I would talk to her about ethics and that you cannot ignore indicators of risk of harm as well as by law you have to obey the child’s rights and consider their views or stories seriously and in a meaningful way. I would hold off on the report but closely monitoring Anna and privately say to her that she can talk to me about anything anytime. I would look for indicators of risk of harm and if I did see signs I would then talk to Anna about it and if need be from there take things to the supervisor again and then formally make a report.

11. Monitor Anna closely look for and signs she is being harmed, I would continue talking to Anna and building trust between each other and when I believe I’ve seen or heard enough I would discuss the situation strongly to my supervisor then make a decision from there.

12. Go over the evidence you have and the recordings you made, multiple times until you’re highly satisfied that you have a strong case to take to your supervisor. You always have to take every allegation seriously and examine it thoroughly before taking it further.