Mandatory reporting between legal requirements and personal interpretations: Community healthcare professionals’ reporting of child maltreatment

Nouman, Hani; Alfandari, Ravit; Enosh, Guy; Dolev, Lilach; Daskal-Weichhendler, Hagit

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104261

Cited by 30 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…There are certain considerations that affect a practitioner’s decision to report to CPS when faced with suspected child maltreatment. Practitioners often do not report based on legislative standards but as a response to subjective perceptions and emotions (Kuruppu et al 2020 ; Nouman et al 2020 ). Students, in particular may be swayed by their emotional responses to case material more than practitioners (Tufford et al 2019 ; Fleming et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Students, in particular may be swayed by their emotional responses to case material more than practitioners (Tufford et al 2019 ; Fleming et al 2015 ). In addition, prior negative experiences with CPS and bias against the effectiveness of CPS often act as a deterrent to involve the child welfare system and contribute to a prioritization of self-addressing the maltreatment concerns through a combination of education, support, and outside resources (Tufford and Morton 2018 ; Nouman et al 2020 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Practitioners may fear potentially legal and violent repercussions for reporting (Nouman et al 2020 ; Pietrantonio et al 2013 ), not recognize abuse and neglect (Tufford et al 2015 ), and have insufficient knowledge of reporting procedures (World Health Organization 2013 ). The professional judgment involved in the decision to report child maltreatment can be a subjective, moral stance (Regehr et al 2010) and students will often consider mitigating factors beyond the abuse such as the perpetrator’s age, marital status, substance use, and history of violence (Smith 2006 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The professional judgment involved in the decision to report child maltreatment can be a subjective, moral stance (Regehr et al 2010) and students will often consider mitigating factors beyond the abuse such as the perpetrator’s age, marital status, substance use, and history of violence (Smith 2006 ). The loss of the therapeutic relationship serves as an additional influential factor (Tufford et al 2019 ) as well as the level of engagement between the family and other helping professionals such as previous practitioners or social service agencies (Nouman et al 2020 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although practitioners are more likely to report as the severity of the maltreatment increases, practitioners can also normalize the presented behaviors and delay reporting based on their subjective judgements of what constitutes severe discipline. In these situations, reporting to CPS is often considered a last result (Nouman et al 2020 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Decision-Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation

et al. 2021

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Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect highlights the challenges between the ethical and legal obligations of social workers and the need to maintain the therapeutic relationship with the client. The ability to bridge this tension is paramount to ensure continued psychosocial treatment and the well-being of children. This paper discusses a study to determine the decision-making factors of social work students and practitioners when facing a suspicion of child abuse and neglect, how they justify their decision to report or not report to child protection services, and the current and future relationship repair strategies used with simulated clients during an objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE). Nineteen BSW, MSW, and experienced practitioners (N = 19) underwent an OSCE with one of two child maltreatment vignettes, physical abuse or neglect. Fisher’s exact test was used to examine participants’ historical and current reporting behaviors. Independent samples T-tests, Cohen’s D, and qualitative content analysis was used to examine participants’ decision making and relationship repair strategies when faced with suspected child abuse and neglect. Results showed that six participants discussed the duty to report during the OSCE while 13 participants did not. Participants’ who discussed and did not discuss the duty to report during the OSCE articulated clear reasons for their decision and identified relationship repair strategies in working with the client. A sub-group of participants who identified the child maltreatment but did not discuss the duty to report, provided more tentative and complex reasons for their inaction and next steps in working with the client. All participants demonstrated a degree of competence and critical reflection in the OSCE, with integration for future learning. These findings are discussed and implications for future practice are offered.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Decision-Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation

et al. 2021

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Child Maltreatment: To Report or Not to Report? It’s More Complex than That

Vollmer-Sandholm,

Myhre,

Albæk

et al. 2024

Int. Journal on Child Malt.

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Child maltreatment (CM) is a widespread problem, contributing to health and societal difficulties often throughout the lifespan. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) who see potential warning signs for CM are responsible for protecting the child from future harm, which may involve alerting the authorities. The decision-making is challenging as unwarranted reporting may lead to mistrust and not benefit the child. We sought to explore what factors might influence HCPs’ decisions to report suspected CM in a Norwegian sample. Using a cross-sectional survey among HCPs in Norwegian hospitals with pediatric wards, we presented five case vignettes describing different probabilities of CM and variables assessing experience, knowledge, and confidence. A total of 382 HCPs completed the survey. Despite recognizing warning signs for CM in the case vignettes, a large proportion were reluctant to report to authorities. Recognition of CM and expressed willingness to report four or all five of the case vignettes (high reporters) was associated with the profession, knowledge, experience, and confidence in handling CM cases. Expressed confidence in performing physical examinations for physical or sexual abuse and talking with parents about abuse was significantly associated with high reporting (OR 2.3 to 17.8). Qualitative data further supported the role of self-efficacy. In summary, reporting to the authorities is an important but complex aspect in cases of suspected CM, but many HCPs relate that they fail to do so. This study indicates reporting suspicion of CM is correlated with self-efficacy and knowledge among HCPs, which should inform educational, social, and policy decisions.

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Management of Suspicions of Child Maltreatment at Child and Family Clinics: A Mixed-Methods Study

Midtsund,

Valla,

Lukasse

et al. 2024

Int. Journal on Child Malt.

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This study investigated Norwegian public health nurses working in child and family health clinics’ decision-making practices concerning child maltreatment. A one-phase convergent mixed-method design was utilized, with quantitative and qualitative data concurrently collected and separately analyzed from a questionnaire that included patient vignettes. These vignettes described three potential child maltreatment scenarios to assess public health nurses’ competence and clinical decision-making processes. A total of 554 public health nurses participated in the study conducted from October 24 to December 31, 2022. Findings reveal a high level of recognition of child maltreatment among public health nurses. However, despite their self-perceived confidence, the qualitative data underscore the complexity and uncertainty inherent in their assessment process. The most supported management approaches involved further exploration of the situation. Few public health nurses would file a report of concerns to Child Protective Services or report the police despite their level of concerns. The findings underscore the necessity for additional training and support to enhance public health nurses’ confidence and competence in reporting suspected child maltreatment cases, as well as the need for increased information exchange regarding the procedures and services provided by the child if Child Protective Service is involved.

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Mandatory reporting between legal requirements and personal interpretations: Community healthcare professionals’ reporting of child maltreatment

Cited by 30 publications

References 28 publications

Decision-Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation

Decision-Making and Relationship Competence When Reporting Suspected Physical Abuse and Child Neglect: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation

Child Maltreatment: To Report or Not to Report? It’s More Complex than That

Management of Suspicions of Child Maltreatment at Child and Family Clinics: A Mixed-Methods Study

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