A) Case Studies Student instructions · Answer the following questions. · Your responses may be recorded or presented in a written format. Written responses for each answer should be approximately 200...

A)

Case Studies

Student instructions

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Answer the following questions.

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Your responses may be recorded or presented in a written format. Written responses for each answer should be approximately 200 words in length. The written responses may be presented in narrative or bullet point format.

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To help answer questions accurately you may refer to child protection legislation in your state or territory, the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics, your organisation’s child protection policies and procedures, your position description and duty of care responsibilities, or other sources of information such as professional readings and the course textbooks.

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If applicable, ensure you acknowledge and cite your sources accordingly. This is important whether you use your own words or use the author’s own words.

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When referring to organisational policies and procedures or position descriptions please submit with your assessment to support your answer.

Case study 1

Tamara is a four year old girl who has attended your service for three years.

Tamara’s mother is a firm believer in alternative medicine and has had her homoeopathically immunised. Tamara rarely attends in clean clothes and doesn’t possess a schoolbag, lunchbox or drink bottle. Her morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are sent in a plastic shopping bag and usually consists of fruit, yoghurt that is out of date, unwashed and unpeeled vegetables such as carrots and pre-packaged “organic” biscuits.

At meal times you have observed her trying to grab the other children’s food to eat and you have begun providing her with food from the service’s kitchen to supplement her diet. Her hair is rarely washed or brushed and on some mornings she has been brought into the service in her pyjamas. On these occasions her mother has declared that Tamara wanted to have “pyjama day” today and she couldn’t be bothered arguing with her.

During the course of this past year you have noticed the Tamara has been falling behind in both her expressive and receptive language skills. She appears to be “lost” at times in the classroom and is having trouble following directions.

Over the last couple of weeks she has started acting aggressively towards the other girls, especially when they are interacting in home corner. Tamara often tugs at her ears and complains that her ears are hurting her. You suggest to her mother that it might be worthwhile having Tamara’s ears and hearing checked because you suspect that she may be experiencing problems with an ear infection or ‘glue’ ear.

Her mother agrees to do this straight away, but fails to make an appointment with a doctor. Instead, she visits a ‘healer’ who has prescribed ‘ear candling’ to resolve Tamara’s ear problems.

1.

What type(s) of abuse or neglect do you think might be occurring?

2.

Use the table below, or similar, to list the indicators of abuse or neglect for the type identified.

3.

Who, in your service, would you discuss your concerns with?

4.

How could you work with Tamara’s family to resolve the issues relating to her hygiene, health and diet? (Describe 3 strategies).

5.

What external agencies or services could you contact to support Tamara and her family? (Identity 3 government or non-government agencies or services)

Case study 2

Ace is a 3 year old boy who has attended your service two days per week since he was 9 months old. You have always observed Ace to be a very bright and happy child who is affectionate with both the children and educators at the service.

Recently, Ace, has become very clingy with his mother when she leaves the service, grabbing her legs and crying for her to take him with her. Ace’s mother is bewildered at this change in his behaviour as he previously used to wake up each morning asking, “Kindy today?” and expressing delight when she confirmed it was a kindy day. She also stated that he doesn’t like going anywhere without her and turned on such a fit when she went to go to the hairdressers last week that she ended up taking him with her.

Although toilet trained for the last six months, Ace has started to have ‘accidents’ and refuses to use the toilet. His mother has reported to you that he is chronically constipated and that it hurts him to empty his bowels, so she has put him back in nappies.

One day, while you are outside cleaning out the guinea pig cage, Ace comes and stands next to you and watches. He sits on your lap and you start to talk about the guinea pigs and what pets you would like to own. In the course of your conversation, Ace tells you that he doesn’t want to go to his grandmother’s house anymore, even though she has chickens. He tells you that his uncle makes him pat his bunny every time he goes there and that he doesn’t like it. You ask him if the bunny scratches him or bites him, and Ace tells you that it can’t, but it really hurts him. This doesn’t seem to make sense, so you get a piece of paper and have Ace draw you a picture of the bunny. Ace draws a picture of a man’s genitalia surrounded by pubic hair and tells you “That’s the bunny”.

1.

What type(s) of abuse or neglect do you think might be occurring?

2.

Use the table below, or similar, to list the indicators of abuse or neglect for the type identified.

3.

Who, in your service, would you discuss your concerns with?

4.

Who wouldn’t you tell about your concerns?

5.

Describe how you would respond to Ace during his disclosure. Ensure your response is in accordance with your work role and organisational policies and procedures.

6.

Identify the actions you would take in dealing with the disclosure, and that ultimately work towards protecting Ace’s rights. Ensure the steps are in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, and your state or territory’s reporting process.

7.

How would you continue to support Ace and maintain his trust?

Case study 3

Grace is a two year old girl who has recently enrolled in your service. She is an extremely quiet child who has no siblings at home. Her parents separated shortly before she started attending the service and you have yet to meet her father. As the weeks go by you attempt to draw Grace out of her shell, but she remains distant and withdrawn. Her favourite thing to do is to sit in book corner and leaf through the books. When you present her with play dough or toys, she merely stares at them blankly, as though she doesn’t know how to utilise a toy.

Grace has such a bad stutter when she talks that it is almost impossible to understand her. The only time that you see Grace exhibit any form of strong emotion is when the children raise their voices at each other. When this occurs she will cover her ears with her hands and cry uncontrollably.

You have noted that Grace doesn’t appear to have any separation anxiety from her mother, and shows no overt joy at her mother’s arrival to collect her in the afternoons. When you raise your concerns about Grace’s lack of social and play skills, Grace’s mother just shrugs her shoulders and says that she’s stupid. When Grace is in her mother’s presence she never speaks or makes eye contact with her.

1.

What type(s) of abuse or neglect do you think might be occurring?

2.

Use the table below, or similar, to list the indicators of abuse or neglect for the type identified.

3.

What type of support might Grace need to overcome the effects of the abuse?

4.

List the steps, or draw a diagram outlining the steps, you would need to take to make a report. Ensure the steps are consistent with your state or territory reporting process and your service’s child protection policies and procedures.

5.

Even if you are not a mandatory reporter, what principle of law requires you to make a report and why?

Case study 4

Jon has been working at the education and care service where you work for the past 2 years. He is a very popular educator amongst the children and families and is often described as “a big kid”.

You recently notice that he has been spending regular time alone with a few of the older children in a separate quiet area. You often overhear giggling from the area and when they resurface they do not say anything other than “shhhhh”.

Jon tends to be a little secretive and seems to enjoy his time alone with the small group of children. He moves the children into the quiet area without fuss, and tends to sit with the children where they are not clearly visible to others.

1.

What should you do?

2.

Do you need to act now or should you continue to monitor the situation?

3.

Should you talk with Jon about this, to explain that it doesn’t look professional?

4.

Who, in your service, would you discuss your concerns with?

5.

What ethical and nurturing practices do you think Jon should be implementing to establish and maintain professional boundaries with the children at the service? Briefly outline 3 practices.