Presenter: Robyn Miller, Det. Snr. Sgt Tom Nairn Dr Anne Smith, A/Prof. Lionel Lubitz, A/Prof Lyn Gillam, Anna Butlinski, Sharni Fitzpatrick, Judith Sloan and Sarah Connolly
Synopsis:Children who are vulnerable or at risk are seen across all areas of RCH. Supporting vulnerable families is an important aspect of paediatric practice. Unfortunately some children present with suspected non accidental injuries each year. These children require careful medical and psychosocial assessment; and coordinated care. Statutory investigation involving police and child protection is a necessary part of this care. The importance of multidisciplinary and interagency collaboration is well documented in the literature and is highlighted again and again in child death inquiries. In today’s Grand Round, data on children admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit with suspected non accidental injuries will be presented to provide contextual background to this discussion.
This will be followed by a panel discussion involving senior medical, nursing, police, child protection and social work representatives. This discussion will highlight the different perspectives, training and roles of key stakeholders in the area of child protection. To ensure a lively and balanced debate, the panel will be chaired by Assoc. Prof. Lynn Gillam.
Speakers:
Robyn Miller is a social worker and family therapist with over 30 years experience in the field. She has worked in the public and private sectors as a therapist, clinical supervisor, consultant, lecturer and trainer for a range of organisations, and academic institutions.
Det. Snr. Sgt Tom Nairn has been a member of Victoria Police for the past twenty years. Tom currently works with the Sexual Crimes Squad and has close links to the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team project (SOCIT).
Dr. Anne Smith trained as a general and community paediatrician and she also has a Master of Forensic Medicine. She is the Director of the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service, a team of medical professionals who provide forensic care for abused and vulnerable under 18 year old Victorians.
Assoc. Prof. Lionel Lubitz is a consultant paediatrician with a long standing involvement in managing patients with physical and psychosocial conditions. He is a parent, a grandparent and plays in a rock band.
Assoc. Prof. Lyn Gillam is a clinical ethicist. She is the Academic Director of the Children’s Bioethics Centre, an initiative of the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, in partnership with MCRI and the University of Melbourne.
Anna Butlinski worked as a clinical nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital for 12 years. After developing an interest in research, she became the Research Coordinator in Intensive Care for seven years.
Sharni Fitzpatrick is Nurse Unit Manager of the Cockatoo ward which provides care for Neuroscience, Metabolic, Gastroenterology and Endocrinology patients.
Judith Sloan is the Chief Social Worker at RCH. Judith brings over 30 years experience in working within health services to ensure children presenting as abused or at risk of physical and sexual abuse received the care and coordinated system response they need.
Sarah Connolly is a senior social worker with portfolio responsibility for Vulnerable Children. Sarah has worked with vulnerable children in various roles for the past ten years.
Grand Round presented on 18 July 2012