The Child Protection Service Unit provides expert medical assessments for children in cases of suspected physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and serious neglect.
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.