Child Protection History - Mokopuna Ora - Essay Writing - Nursing Assignment Help

Assignment Task:

Sample report 

The following is an example of an assessment of child protection notification. It is a report prepared by a statutory Social Worker responsible for assessing child protection concerns. Note the use of headings to clearly identify what is covered in each section, and also note how the information is organised in paragraph form. Each paragraph has a clear focus point, which is then developed and explained.  

Introduction 

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the initial assessment carried out on a report of concern(ROC) received (Ref: file name if applicable) by the Ministry of Chid Protection (pseudonym). The notified concerns relate to three boys Danny (5 years), Paul (7 years) and Mark (9 years) who were placed in the care of their grandmother by the Family Court four years ago. Recently, the children’s father moved in with the family after being drug free for twelve months and establishing fulltime employment. The community social worker  reported that the father has been hitting the children with the buckle of the belt which has left significant bruising and that on one occasion he punched the grandmother with his fist. The social worker carried out an initial investigation (based on the new ROC) and assessment using, safety and risk assessment guidelines, three house tool and Tuituia framework.   The identified risk and protective factors are used to create further intervention plan (safety plan) for the Children (mokopuna). The recommended further actions are also included in this report.  

Scenario and Child Protection History

Prior to being placed in the care of their grandmother by the Family Court four years ago, these children were the subjects of five substantiated maltreatment notifications over a two-year period. These notifications established a pattern of significant risk of emotional and physical harm due to the parents’ drug abuse, domestic violence and transient lifestyle. The father was the perpetrator named in seven domestic violence orders. The parents had a long history of substance abuse, pre-dating the birth of the children. Both parents had made several unsuccessful attempts to address their drug addictions. Substance abuse was identified as significantly contributing to the domestic violence in the relationship and inability to establish a stable living situation. Following the death of the children’s mother in a car accident, concerns about the care of the children intensified. A custody order was taken and the father agreed to place the children with their grandmother. Because he found it difficult to get his life back on track, subsequently the father decided to support the grandmother’s Family Court application to care for the children.

Investigation and Assessment Process

• The social worker carried out interviews and three house tools with all three children 

• Home visit and one on one meeting with grandmother and father 

• School visit and meeting with the school teacher (Principal)

• Section 66 report received from school, General Practitioner(GP) and police (School report, medical reports and police reports) 

•  CYRAC check on previous ROC  

• Safety and risk assessment guidelines and Tuituia framework

• Medical assessment and paediatric assessment 

The analysis and findings using Tuituia framework

Mokopuna Ora 

Interviews using three house tool with all three children revealed that the belt had been used by the father as a threat and to hit them. The children did not indicate that their father had used the buckle end of the belt. The children said they were hit with the belt regularly (every week) since the father moved home. They said they did not like to be hit and wished it would stop. The children did not disclose any violence between their father and grandmother. It was apparent to the children that the father was drinking alcohol but they did not indicate that they had seen him drunk or under the influence of drugs. The children related a number of happy family events involving the father and grandmother. All three children wished to for a happy and safe home atmosphere by spending quality time with their father. Mark and Paul shared that he did not enjoy learning at school and often get into trouble with their friends. Danny wished his father could play and read with after school. 

School representatives stated that the children’s behaviour has been difficult to manage since they commenced at the school twelve months ago. The academic report of Mark shows that he is below national standards in all three areas of reading, writing and mathematics. Similarly, Paul’s academic report also raised concerns about his academic learning. Danny’s class teacher shared that he is very keen to read books and doing maths, However, she observed that he is not receive adequate support or attention from his family. The school behaviour report evidenced that, the children have poor interpersonal skills and are sometimes aggressive to their peers. They struggle to complete some of their school work. It appears that both children (Paul and Mark) requires additional academic resource teacher support and learning plan in place at the school.  The father and grandmother have attended school events with the children. The school identified a strong attachment between the children and their grandmother and a strengthening attachment between the children and their father. 

Medical assessments and GP reports did not identify any bruising or injuries to the children but raised concern about developmental delays. A subsequent paediatric assessment confirmed that Paul and Mark have developmental delays in language skills, related to poor hearing.  This requires further intervention of treatment and therapy for both children. 

Mark, Paul and Danny identified as NZ European decent. It appears that, they are not associated with any of the religious community or involved with any local community activities.    

Kaitiaki Mokopuna 

The father acknowledged using the belt on the children but denied ever using the buckle. He demonstrated how he “cracks” the belt in front of the children as a deterrent to them, in an attempt to modify their behaviour. He stated that he also smacks the children as punishment and instructs them to kneel with their nose against the wall until told to stop. He refused to discuss the incident in which he allegedly punched his mother. He also disclosed that he struggles to control his emotion especially anger issues. He stated that he has not recommenced drug-taking, though has a beer most days. The father also expressed his willingness to engage with support services to improve his parenting skills. It appears that the father spends evening times with his friends at the local club. 

The grandmother acknowledged her son’s disciplinary techniques as described above. She did not appear to have any concerns about him using such techniques. She described struggling to manage the children’s behaviour since they were placed in her custody. The grandmother reluctantly acknowledged that her son had punched her. The children were not at home at the time of the incident and there have been no other similar incidents, though they do argue at times. The grandmother demonstrated little understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, describing the incident as her fault because she had told her son that she did not like one of his friends. She acknowledged that her son was drunk at the time of the incident. He has only been drunk on this one occasion and she does not believe he is taking illicit drugs. She advised that he has not missed a day of work since moving in with her and she wants him to remain living with her and the children. She sees her son as an important support for her and the children. Grandmother shared that they do not have much contacts with extended whanau(family) members. 

Protective factors:

• All three children have strong attachment with their grandmother and strengthening attachment with their father.

• The father and grandmother have an established link with the school.

• The father is willing to engage with support services. 

• The children’s developmental delays have been identified and assessed 

• The grandmother reluctantly agreed, to participate in the Family Intervention Service.

• The school is willing to support the children and family. 

Risk factors: 

The children display difficult behaviours, poor social skills and developmental delays. Grief experienced by the children over the death of their mother has not been addressed. There are previous child protection notifications relating to the children:

• • Physical abuse and domestic violence experienced by the children. 

  • It is evident that the grandmother and father are struggling to manage the children’s behaviour and have few ideas about how to do so without resorting to physical and demeaning punishments

  • Father’s lack of willingness to acknowledge or discuss the domestic violence between himself and his mother the social worker. 

  • The father’s previous record of domestic violence, including protection orders.

  • The grandmother’s limited understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence (including blaming herself for a violent incident) and lack of willingness to acknowledge the domestic violence incident. 

  • Grandmother’s reluctance to engage with support services. 

  • Previous five ROCs over a two-year period and the history of protection order against the father. 

• The father’s past drug addictions and current alcohol use after a period of abstinence

Further Action Plan based on the initial assessment

• Safety plan has been created, discussed and dually signed by the family and the Ministry.

• Referral has been made for Man alive programme, Triple P and family therapy for father and          grandmother. 

• Referral has been made for substance abuse counselling for the father

• Referral has been made for Children’s trauma counselling

•  School has arranged resource teacher for Paul and Mark 

• In the process of referring Paul and Mark for further medical treatment and therapy for their hearing problems. 

• Whanau hui to be organised on 20th of April 2018.  

Conclusion 

The social worker assessed the situation and believes that the current disciplinary techniques are not appropriate and if continued could adversely impact on the children's emotional wellbeing. It is assessed that unless the use of excessive and inappropriate discipline is reduced, there is significant likelihood of the children experiencing physical and emotional harm in the future. There is also a risk of significant emotional harm if the children were to witness domestic violence between their grandmother and father.

Supports are required to address these concerns and enable the grandmother and father to provide a safe environment for the children. It is considered that continued intervention by the school, Family Intervention Service, Child Therapy Services and the Substance Abuse Counselling Program will meet these needs.

This Nursing Assignment has been solved by our Nursing Experts at My Uni Paper. Our Assignment Writing Experts are efficient to provide a fresh solution to this question. We are serving more than 10000+ Students in Australia, UK & US by helping them to score HD in their academics. Our Experts are well trained to follow all marking rubrics & referencing style.

Be it a used or new solution, the quality of the work submitted by our assignment experts remains unhampered. You may continue to expect the same or even better quality with the used and new assignment solution files respectively. There’s one thing to be noticed that you could choose one between the two and acquire an HD either way. You could choose a new assignment solution file to get yourself an exclusive, plagiarism (with free Turnitin file), expert quality assignment or order an old solution file that was considered worthy of the highest distinction.