Child Protection

Please be prepared to discuss the following questions in class:

Can a local authority obtain a care order in any of the following circumstances?

A child of six months has suffered brain damage as a result of being shaken. It cannot be proved which of the two parents shook her: each denies liability. Would your answer be different if the child had spent several hours each day being looked after by an aunt? If the aunt has a child could this too be made the subject of a care order?

A child of 3 is not developing either socially or intellectually. The evidence is that he is receiving inadequate stimulation from parents of very low intelligence.

A girl of 11 is not attending school. Her parents object to her attending a mixed school and this is the only school the LEA can offer.

Twins of 6 who are asthmatic. The parents are chain-smokers and, though constantly warned, refuse to desist from smoking in the children’s presence.

A child of 9 who lives on junk food and weighs twice the average for a child of his age; and a girl of 7 who is showing symptoms of anorexia nervosa.