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Recognizing and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

Agency staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse under the Child Protective Services Law. This policy explains who must report, when, the immediate report to ChildLine, the written report within 48 hours, the duty to tell the person in charge, what child abuse means, and the protections and penalties. It covers any child staff come into contact with at work, not only pediatric patients.

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About this policy
Policy number
PA-HSP-ANE-03
Version
1.0
Main rule
23 Pa.C.S. §6311
Library
Pennsylvania hospice · 60 policies
Category
Safeguarding
Sections
17

In short

  • You are a mandated reporter of child abuse. This covers any child you meet at work, not only patients.
  • If you have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse, call ChildLine yourself right away: ChildLine 1-800-932-0313 (24 hours a day, seven days a week). If a child is in danger, call 911.
  • Then tell the Administrator. Telling the Administrator does not replace your own report.
  • If you reported by phone, make the written report within 48 hours.
  • You are protected when you report in good faith. Willfully failing to report is a crime.

What's inside

17 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 (23 Pa.C.S. §6311)
  • 5. When to Report
  • 6. How to Report
  • 7. What the Report Contains
  • 8. Protections and Penalties
  • 9. Allegations Against Agency Staff
  • 10. Responsibilities
  • 11. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 12. Staff Training
  • 13. References
  • 14. Related Policies and Forms
  • 15. Approval
  • 16. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • Your nurse is visiting a grandmother and sees a toddler in the home with burns on his hands. What does she do?
  • Who in your Agency is a mandated reporter of child abuse?

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