The Child Protection Service Unit [CPSU] is committed to evaluating the most complex and serious cases of child abuse from around the province. We evaluate most of the children we see in the Child & Family Clinic, a specially designed confidential clinic area on the hospital site. 

The unit is staffed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of pediatricians, social workers, clerical staff, a nurse, psychologists and a part-time psychiatrist.

The Child Protection Service Unit pediatricians provide a medical consultation and assessment for the most serious cases in BC Children's Hospital. In this capacity, the unit pediatricians also consult with other physicians faced with emergency cases of child abuse throughout the province. 

Before a clinical referral, the unit social worker gathers relevant information. During the clinic visit, the specialists take a full medical and social history. The child is examined by the unit pediatrician and a medical report is prepared. The unit social worker provides crisis counseling to the parents and may refer the child and family for appropriate services in the community. 

In the most serious cases, a child may be referred to one of our unit psychologists or psychiatrist for further assessment. They prepare a report with recommendations for ongoing treatment in the community. The Child Protection Service Unit social workers consult with professionals throughout the province on child protection issues. These professionals include police, social workers, physicians, community health nurses and therapists.