Do i document this?

[Kaybeaa]

Hiya, after a bit of advice!
I currently look after a 9 month old part time. His mum is lovely and her and I get on really well and it's obvious she's besotted with her child. Anyway last Wednesday she asked me to look at a bruise on the babies back. It was just on his spine and felt squishy to touch (not a hard lump) and didn't seem to be causing him any pain. It was the first time id seen the lump as it was on a part of his body id never look at as to do so he would have to be undressed and as yet I've never had to undress him. Anyway mum was worried the lump was something serious and said she was making a doctors appointment. I sent a text earlier seeing how the appointment went and she told me that the doctor sent the child to A&E as they wanted to make sure that the child wasn't being abused! Obviously parent upset and offended but had to comply. She's actually a school deputy head so deals with safeguarding daily so understood these things have to be done but was still very upset. Anyway turns out the lump is a birthmark so they sent child home.

I'm now wondering if I need to document this? Obviously I never for one minute would assume this child been harmed in any way but had I noticed the lump id have followed procedure and mentioned it to her and gone from there, but since she noticed the lump first and I've had little to do with this, do I need to make note of it?

[Mouse]

As mum asked you to look at the bruise I think I would document it. I would make a note in the child's file noting what happened, the dates and the outcome.

[green puppy]

Agree with Mouse.

[Koala]

Yes I would keep a record too and give mum a copy and get her to sign it too as evidence that the correct procedure was followed and outcome negates any blame! It can - if nothing else - reaffirm to mum that you are professional and supportive with your documentation. And maybe next time mum is at the gp confirm that the hospital liaised with them that it was a birth mark for future reference.

But how awful that they were put through this - I would have thought the gp could have identified a birth mark and mum would have noticed it previously but I am not an expert on birthmarks so can only presume the visit to a&e was necessary, it just seems a bit drastic for everyone concerned. I can't imagine how poor mum was feeling and you too at the thought of the possibility of abuse.

Take care

[Kaybeaa]

Thanks guys I did have a feeling id have to do something but just didn't know how much. That's very helpful!

Should I just type up a brief word document about what happened etc and sign it and get parent to sign it? Will that be sufficient?

[amylouise867]

Thanks guys I did have a feeling id have to do something but just didn't know how much. That's very helpful! Should I just type up a brief word document about what happened etc and sign it and get parent to sign it? Will that be sufficient?

Personally I wouldn't.

It's a birth Mark not an injury/accident.

She has taken him to get help and has been very open about her concerns.

It doesn't matter if the doctor suspected abuse and sent her to the hospital because the outcome is - he has been seen by professionals and they have confirmed it's a Mark he has been born with.

If it WAS a bruise etc then yes definitely you would need to record it but in this situation I wouldn't personally as he is not hurt.

If you are ever in doubt though about anything my advise would always be to do it.

If I was you I would make a template that you can use for the future too - just for continuity and will save you needing to redraft them in the future.

xxx

[amylouise867]

Thanks guys I did have a feeling id have to do something but just didn't know how much. That's very helpful! Should I just type up a brief word document about what happened etc and sign it and get parent to sign it? Will that be sufficient?

You could do with 2 templates

1 for incidents
1 for child protection

Child protection form-

Childs name
Date
Time

The list of possible abuses so you can tick/highlight which one you are concerned about on this slip.
Sexual, Emotional, Physical, Neglect

Then a box to write what's happened
Mom came to tell you about Mark on back etc..

Actions to take (what needs to be done)
Mom take little one to drs and following the doctors advise on to the hospital for further examination.

Conclusion (results)
After being seen by specialists at the hospital it has been confirmed that LOs Mark is a birth Mark.

Another box to list who the forms been shared with and then signatures

File in a folder and lock the folder away in a secure location.

Hope that helps xxx

[Kaybeaa]

Thankyou Amylouise that's great x

[amylouise867]

Thankyou Amylouise that's great x

It's fine Hun no problems

Have been thinking though and not sure if an incident sheet would be more appropriate rather than child protection as it's not really a child protection issue?!

Same layout anyway just edit the part where it says about the type of suspected abuse - and get rid of this section altogether.

See what you think Hun xxx

[hectors house]

I posted about something similar a few weeks ago - I looked after a child all day, potty training him with just pants on - the dad phoned in evening to say lo's bottom bright red (he emailed me photo and it looked like he had been beaten), luckily I had the lo's big sister here all day - so although I was upset, I knew it wasn't me and I had a witness - turned out the mum had changed the washing powder (child has sensitive skin) and as his bottom had been in nappies for 3 years, it hadn't built up any resistance

I wrote it up as an incident (as it did flare up while I had him that day - but because he is now so good on the potty I hadn't had to help him or change wet pants, so I didn't see it), I mentioned the dad's phone call, subsequent e-mails where they realised what had causes it, printed off the photo and attached it and got the mum to sign the next day.