‘lf in doubt, don’t wait’

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 19

‘lf in doubt, don’t wait’

got to remember that we can’t condone an offence, and if it seems that a child has been assaulted, that’s a police matter.” , In cases of serious neglect, as distinct from physical abuse, the Social Welfare Department can remove the child from its parents for three days while it considers what to do for the best. In extreme cases it can make a complaint to the Court, which can issue a warrant for the child’s removal. The case then comes before the Court at the earliest opportunity. Mr Seller’s advice to anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected is: “If in doubt, get in touch.” “We don’t mind investigating,” he says, “except for the odd malicious call, and we soon sort them out. We’d sooner investigate every complaint rather than miss an important one.” He says that in these cases the department’s duty is to the child. “The child’s interest is paramount,” says Mr Seller. A new approach to dealing

with child abuse is being studied in a pilot scheme which the department started in Hamilton in March last year, together with the Departments of Health and Education. A district child abuse committee brings the expertise of specialists from a number of fields to bear on child abuse problems. Each case is the subject of a conference attended by the project social worker, and representatives of the medical, legal, and other relevant professions. A social worker attached full-time to the pilot project is to visit Christchurch soon to report on it to the department here. In the meantime, Mr Seller and Christchurch Hospital paediatrician and accident-and-emergency social workers have formed a Christchurch child abuse committee to do something similar. When a child appears with signs of nonaccidental injury, the committee considers the case and devises treatment plans for both the child and its parents.