Child Abuse and Neglect: Case Study Analysis, Intervention Strategies

This report presents a detailed analysis of a child abuse case, focusing on the challenges faced by a young girl named Maisie who experiences neglect and emotional distress due to her parents' conflicts. The report is divided into two parts. The first part provides a brief overview of the case, identifies actual and potential problems, and outlines intervention strategies a school nurse can employ, including contacting parents, involving social workers, and providing information about assistance programs. It also discusses methods for evaluating the success of these interventions. The second part defines child abuse and neglect, explores the role of a school nurse in mandatory reporting, and identifies situations where a child is at risk of significant harm. The report emphasizes the importance of protecting children and ensuring their well-being through early intervention and collaboration between school nurses, parents, and social services.

Assignment

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
PART ONE......................................................................................................................................3
1 Brief overview of case study....................................................................................................3
2. Identification of one actual and potential problem..................................................................3
The way nurse can provide intervention to her and its parent.....................................................3
3 Rationales.................................................................................................................................4
4 Identified methods for evaluation success of intervention.......................................................4
PART TWO.....................................................................................................................................4
Definition of child abuse, neglect and potential harm.................................................................4
Role of school nurse in process of Mandatory reporting.............................................................5
Various situations at which child at risk of significant harm......................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Child abuse can be termed as action of parents that have resulted in serious emotional or
physical harm, exploitation and sexual abuse to child. For specific professional group mandatory
report is legal requirements to report reasonable belief of child abuse to child protection
authorities for safety of child. In the case study Maisie is girl that very often does not have lunch
to eat and asleep under tree instead of playing with other students. This report has two parts and
first one includes brief explanations about case study that is actual problem and one potential
problem and the way nurse can provide intervention to support Maisie and her parents. Second
part is about understanding of child abuse and neglect and role of school nurse in process of
Mandatory reporting.
MAIN BODY
PART ONE
1 Brief overview of case study
It is case study of Masie that is much tired, not intake much food and nutrition that is
helpful for its health and wellness. All children were playing but Maisie was sleeping so one day
lunch time disco was set up and asked that how she has been then she suddenly started crying
stating that mum and dad fight and she think they will break soon (Jameel and Shah, (2020)). So,
all such neglect and child abuse have affected on health and well being of Maisie.
2. Identification of one actual and potential problem
 From analysis and discussion of above case study it can be said that Maisie
actually facing problem of getting upset at home, feeling tired, inactive and not
liking to eat much food for better health. Less physical activity, nutrition intake
can lead to poor health of Maisie thus proper care need to be provided to her for
better future.
 On the other hand potential problem is she had been neglected that have lead to
mental stress, less sleep so instead of playing with other students she like to have
asleep (Dahllöf and et.la., (2016)). Therefore, these are two main potential and
actual problem which have been faced by Maisie.
The way nurse can provide intervention to her and its parent
There are certain key strategies or intervention which could be used by school nurse in
order to provide support to its and her parents. Thus some of them are illustrated below:

Contacting with parents: The first and foremost steps which needs to be taken by school nurse
is to contact with her parents in order to know about environment of home and informed them
about impact of such on health and well- being of their daughter (Briggs and Hawkins, (2020)).
It also needs to informed parents about the way child neglect have contributed in mental stress,
less intake of nutrition or poor health.
Asking community nurse or social worker: Another intervention which could be used by nurse
is asking social worker to regularly visit home of Maisie in order to know that whether proper
care and treatment is provided to her.
Information about assistance program: At last parents of child needs to provide knowledge
about various assistance program so that they can provide better care and treatment to her child
for better future (Chaudhary and Singh, (2018)).
3 Rationales
It can be stated that various intervention were goods as by contacting with parent School
nurse is able to get knowledge of home environment that is child abuse or neglect faced by her
thus why she is not able to take proper sleep. Is duty of social worker to ensure health and well
being of individuals that are living in society so school nurse by taking help of them can easily
resolved problem of Maisie (Deb, (2018)). Assistance program helps in increasing knowledge
among parents the way they have to behave at home so that no stress or negative impact can be
on child health.
4 Identified methods for evaluation success of intervention
For first intervention success can be measured by evaluating whether Maisie is more
attentive in class or not. Better outcome of social worker can be evaluated on the basis of eating
and sleep habit of Maisie. Assistance program outcome can be analysed by seeing the way it
played with other student in recess time or reduced in mental stress (Maguire-Jack and
Showalter, K., (2016)).
PART TWO
Definition of child abuse, neglect and potential harm
Child abuse and neglect can be explained as when parents failed to act in specific
manner which caused injury, emotional harm or potential risk to health and well being of
children. Physical abuse, exploitation and emotional are some of the child maltreatment that are
suffered by children that are potential harm for their better health (Laurens, (2018)). Child abuse

is type of act that caused mental or physical injury to child whereas child neglect refers to
leaving child alone, less intervention or failure to provide sufficient food, clothes and other
necessary items to child for its better health and well being. Back eyes, lack of confidence,
interaction and less physical activities or social relationship stated that it is being neglected or
abused. Various consequences or effects of child abuse or neglect can be illustrated as follows:
Emotional scare: It can be said that most of the children that are abused or neglected feel
deeply pain or hurt from inside that may lead to low self esteemed, confidence level and inactive
performance. It also find difficult to trust someone or experienced loneliness, hated such as
Maisie also does not like to have fun and enjoyment with others due to being neglected within
home.
Physical scars: Child abuse and neglect can also have physical effects on child such as health
problem or undernourishment like in case of Maisie is not having proper food that resulted in
poor intake of nutrition (Palusci, (2017)). Thus, it indirectly impact on development of child and
mental status such as maisie is also suffering from mental stress that have lead to lack of sleep
and nutrition intake.
Psychological Consequences: There are various other negative impacts of child abuse and
neglect such as malnutrition that lead to delay in developments, less emotional stability and poor
social skills. So it is similar consequence which have been faced by Maisie such as lack of
nutrition, social relationship and lack of attention in class that can helped in enhancing its
knowledge.
Impact on future well – being: It have been founded from research that children that are
facing neglect, abuse most have lower education, dependent more on drug and alcohol. Long
term neglect or abuse can caused consequences of depression or child may be forced to commit
suicide. Such as If maisie parent’s keeps on fighting which each others then she would think that
no one is there to take care of her further it would lead to depression and loneliness or mental
health issues.
Socialisation skills: Another impact of child abuse and neglect can be on socialisation skills for
examples in case of Maisie it has avoid to being social with other students. She tries to avoid
playing, having fun and enjoyment in recess time that lead to less socialisation skills and more
negative impact on health of children.

Role of school nurse in process of Mandatory reporting
Most important role of school nurse is to provide direct care to students so that they can
be protected from various harms and injuries. It is also responsible for providing safe and secure
environment to children so that they can grow, learn and develop their skills and talents for
bright future. It also screen or review health and well being of particular students in order to
ensure their health and safety (Mandatory reporting, (2020)).
Mandatory report helps in identifying several case that are related to child neglect and
abuse thus their main aim is to protect children from such abuse and assist families the way they
can provide care to them. There are various roles played by school nurse which can be related to
case study of maisie such as prevention of child abuse, protecting children and mandatory
reports.
Mandatory report: School nurse helps in maintaining record for children that are suffering
from various health issues so that proper care strategies can be formulated for betterment of
children. It can also be stated that school nurse by making use of various legislation prescribed
in mandatory report is able to ensure health and safety of child (Mandatory reporting of child
abuse and neglect, (2020)). It is duty of school nurse to report for child abuse or being neglected
within 48 hours after first suspect on being child neglected by its parents.
It is duty of school nurse to make report individually without orderly some one other to make
report for benefit of child. It is duty of school nurse to make report to child protection services,
state agency which has licence of facilities to handle case of abuse or being neglected or any
policy department.
Preventing child abuse: It also takes various steps to prevent students from abuse or being
neglected such as school nurse of Maisie have ensured that parents does not ignore her in any
case so that it can feel as crucial part of their life. School nurse should informed parents that they
should not make use of abuse words in front of child because it creates negative impact on
behaviour and health of child.
Protecting child: Nurse is also responsible for ensuring that full protection is provided such as
proper nutrition, daily food and healthy environment in the home (Palusci, (2017)). School nurse
also ensure that any kind of physical and emotional harm should not hurt or depressed child like
Maisie in the case study.

There are various list of occupation in mandatory reporting legislation that define
individuals that needs to mandated to report case related to child abuse and neglected. People
that have to make mandated report on frequents basis are mostly that deals with children such as
teachers, care practitioners, nurse or doctor. Therefore nurse that deals with child care only have
to make mandatory reports in order to record health and well being condition of various children
in society.
The report is made on health condition of child and all factors that have contributed in poor
health of child like Maisie due to regular fights of her parents feels less trust and confident about
relationships. It should include what child have experienced in past that is physical accidents or
injuries that have impacted negatively on health condition of people. Professional worker that
offers health care services, children services or welfare education services needs to prepared
mandatory reports on frequent basis. There are various support or protection have been given to
mandatory reporters to disclose the fact about various health problem or issue faced by children
(Jameel and Shah, (2020)). Yes, collaboration is required to protect children from being
neglected and abuse such as School teachers need to collaborate with social workers and parents
for better health of Maisie. School nurse by collaborating with social workers can ensure proper
home environment is provided to child that helps in enhancing its learning skills and capabilities.
Various situations at which child at risk of significant harm
Significant harm can be refereed as potential threat that can caused harm to health and
well being of children or mental health issue. Factors that have been considered by nurse as Red
flag are regularly fight between her parents that caused threat in her mind that they will leave
each other soon. At the same time there is much neglect of parents regarding food or lunch
which have contributed in lack of nutrition, poor health condition of maisie. Improper intake of
food has resulted in loss of weight and condition of depression or high mental status. If such
situation continue for longer time frame than she would never ever is able to connect, trust or
build relationship with others (Chaudhary and Singh (2018)). It could also lead to more mental
stress, disconnection with other students, lack of learning and attention with classroom thus
indirectly will affects on future and career of her. Maisie is always found asleep under tree in
recess time instead of playing with various students that show that it has less social relationship
skills and confidence level or feeling of loneliness. Less attention in class and depression can
forced or motivate child or Maisie to take steps such as suicide as it have feeling there their

parents does not have time to spend with her to play, have fun or entertainments. So, it can be
stated that it can also lead to death or serious health problem in long term therefore nurse, social
workers and parents needs to work together to provide support to child for development and
growth (Maguire-Jack and Showalter, (2016)).
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from above report that child abuse and neglect have adverse or
negative, harmful effects on mental and physical health of child. School nurse plays important
role in understanding various problems, issued faced by child such as Maisie that have resulted
in depression, mental stress, poor sleep and eating habit. It can also be concluded from above
analysis that mandatory report consist of legal laws which would helps in identifying similar
child abuse and neglect case so that effective solution can be made for all of them.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Briggs, F. & Hawkins, R., (2020). Child protection: A guide for teachers and child care
professionals. Routledge.
Chaudhary, S. & Singh, V., (2018). Child abuse and neglect-A review. Journal of
PEARLDENT, 9(2). pp.1-5.
Dahllöf, G., Kvist, T., Rønneberg, A. and Uldum, B., (2016). Definition of child abuse and
neglect. Pediatric Dentistry: A Clinical Approach, p.362.
Deb, S., (2018). Legislative and Social Measures for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
In An Empirical Investigation into Child Abuse and Neglect in India (pp. 41-59).
Springer, Singapore.

Jameel, S. N & Shah, S. A., (2020). Child Abuse and Neglect. In Addressing Multicultural
Needs in School Guidance and Counseling (pp. 107-135). IGI Global.
Laurens, J., (2018). Mandatory reporting: My story. Medicus, 58(11). p.39.
Maguire-Jack, K & Showalter, K., (2016). The protective effect of neighborhood social cohesion
in child abuse and neglect. Child abuse & neglect, 52. pp.29-37.
Palusci, V .J., (2017). Epidemiology, disability, child abuse, and neglect. International Journal
of Child Health and Human Development, 10(3). pp.227-246.
Online
Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect, (2020), [Online]. Available through: <
https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/mandatory-reporting-child-abuse-and-neglect >.
Mandatory reporting, (2020), [Online]. Available through:
<https://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mandatory-reporting>.