Skip to content

Child Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Reporting

Requires every staff member who has cause to suspect that any child is abused, neglected or dependent, or has died as the result of maltreatment, to report it to the county department of social services where the child lives or is found, and, when the child has been the victim of a violent offense, a sexual offense or misdemeanor child abuse, also to local law enforcement, immediately. The duty applies to every child staff see in their work, not only to patients.

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
NC-HH-SG-03
Version
1.0
Main rule
G.S. 7B-301
Library
North Carolina home health · 57 policies
Category
Safeguarding
Sections
15

In short

  • If you suspect any child is abused, neglected or dependent, you must report it to the county department of social services where the child lives or is found.
  • This covers every child you see at work, not only patients: brothers, sisters and visitors too.
  • If a child is in danger, call 911. Report immediately and before the end of your shift (Agency standard).
  • If the child was the victim of a violent offense, a sexual offense or misdemeanor child abuse, also report immediately to local law enforcement.
  • Do not question the child in detail or confront the parents. Write down the time of each report and who you spoke to, and tell your supervisor the same day.
  • Telling your supervisor does not replace your own report. Failing to report can be a crime in North Carolina.

What's inside

15 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (G.S. 7B-301; G.S. 14-318.6)
  • 5. Signs to Watch For
  • 6. What Staff Do
  • 7. Documentation, Privacy and Follow-Up
  • 8. Responsibilities
  • 9. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 10. Staff Training
  • 11. References
  • 12. Related Policies and Forms
  • 13. Approval
  • 14. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • Your nurse visits a pediatric patient and notices the patient’s younger sister has burn marks. What does she do?
  • To whom do staff report in North Carolina, and is there a statewide hotline?

See Cura Core with your agency's name on it.

Choose your state and type of agency, buy your Policy Pack online and get your sign-in by email. Already a customer? Sign in to your portal.

Get startedSign in