Child abuse guidelines to be presented to Minister soon

Detailed guidelines for professionals, sports leaders and others who suspect a child is being abused are almost complete, six…

Detailed guidelines for professionals, sports leaders and others who suspect a child is being abused are almost complete, six months after the original deadline set for the task.

They were drawn up by a committee appointed by the Minister of State for Children, Mr Frank Fahey, and chaired by Ms Maureen Lynott.

It is understood that the guidelines will, in effect, constitute a manual, with separate sections for doctors, teachers, youth leaders and other people who may encounter child abuse.

One source said that when the guidelines have been published, no professional or official will ever be able to say that they did not know what to do on encountering possible abuse.

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Despite the late arrival of the guidelines, the chairwoman, Ms Lynott, has won praise in the childcare field for her adroitness in bringing the committee's work to a conclusion without major disputes.

When the committee was set up there had been fears that it would become bogged down in disagreements over mandatory reporting, which was mentioned in its terms of reference but which some committee members oppose.

Sources say the guidelines which have been produced can be used virtually unchanged, whether or not it is made mandatory for professionals to implement them.

The Government recently promised to publish a White Paper on the issue of mandatory reporting.

The child-abuse guidelines will also place a new emphasis on physical and emotional abuse and neglect. Some social workers have been concerned that the emphasis by the media and public on sexual abuse has reduced awareness of other forms of abuse of children.

Chronic neglect can damage the mental, physical and social development of children and physical and emotional abuse can also be devastating.

The completed guidelines are due to be presented to Mr Fahey this month.

When they have been officially adopted it is expected that training will be arranged for the various professional and voluntary groups on how to implement them.

Some bodies are also understood to have postponed completing guidelines of their own until they see the national guidelines.