Problem
Mack (3 years) attends childcare five days per week. Mack has a 2-year-old brother, Adrian. Mack has no contact with their father however, Adrian, sees their father intermittently. Mack's mother, Alice, lives with Alice's current partner, Jian.
The family are also known to a number of community support agencies who regularly assist with food and clothing for the children.
Mack tends to assume a protective role with Adrian. Mack is very self-sufficient and often takes whatever food Mack can find in the house for them both. At childcare, Mack tends to be a loner. Mack finds it difficult to share and likes to spend time doing puzzles, drawing, playing with construction sets, and looking at books. Adrian also attends the centre and Mack insists on checking on Adrian several times a day.
It is 9:45 am and Mack and Adrian arrive at the centre with Jian. The children are wearing the same clothes they have worn for the previous two days. Adrian's nappy is soaking, and his pants are wet. Adrian is bathed and changed and Kim (Adrian's Educator) notes that he has quite severe nappy rash. It is a warm day and Mack is wearing a long-sleeved top and jeans. Mack is persuaded to remove their top and put on a T-shirt. Kim notices that Mack has bruises of different colours on both of his upper arms. He also has a purple-reddish bruise on his forehead.
Several of the staff later comment to the Director that the children 'would be better off without Alice and Jian'. The Director acknowledges that the situation is very stressful and reminds the team that they must act in an ethical manner. It is not up to the team to judge the family, but only to advocate for the best interests of the children. The Director reminds staff not to discuss the incident with other parents.
Staff follow the Director's instruction but continue to discuss the incident amongst themselves without regard for their whereabouts or who is around when holding these discussions. One staff member continues to remark "it would be so much easier if we only had to work with the children and didn't have to think about the parents." Many of the remaining staff laugh at this and agree.
• Reflect on the relevant scenario. Identify how you could work collaboratively with relevant agencies to ensure maximum effectiveness of report.