Child protection guide: Chemnitz.de

Leitfaden Kinderschutz - damit es Kindern gut geht

Child protection issues have become increasingly important to society as a whole in recent years. There is a consensus in society, politics and among experts that it is the parents' duty to look after their children, but also their duty to do so responsibly. Young children and infants in particular are dependent on parents fulfilling this duty of care. In difficult living conditions for the family (e.g. young parenthood, lack of family resources, unemployment, low levels of education and vocational training, financial hardship or mental illness), children are quickly overlooked and represent an additional source of stress. If parents are not given any opportunities for relief in these escalating and difficult life situations, the child's welfare may be jeopardised.

Endangerment of a child's welfare is defined as forms of action or omission that foreseeably lead to or harbour a high risk of significant physical or mental impairment of the child and its development.

To provide guidance on what to do if there are indications that a child's welfare is at risk, the Early Intervention Network, together with its various partners and the Chemnitz Youth Welfare Office, has developed a Child Protection Guide. It is primarily aimed at professionals from youth welfare organisations and people who are entrusted with the care of minors in a professional context.

If you have witnessed a risk to a child's welfare in your private environment, you will soon find information on further steps here.

Flowchart Child Protection Guide [105 KB]

The signs that children and young people's lives are at risk can be as varied as the forms of risk themselves:

neglect
physical violence
emotional abuse,
domestic violence,
sexual abuse,
inadequate protection against dangers from third parties.

The dangers can be found inside and outside the family. Sometimes children/young people only show symptoms of the impairment after a delay.

Very few effects allow a clear conclusion to be drawn about the form of child endangerment experienced.

The conspicuous observations may relate to the outward appearance or behaviour of the child or young person. The behaviour of the carers in general or towards the child or young person may be alarming or the family situation may seem inappropriate or disturbing. You can record your observations in the documentation forms provided for risk assessment by age group. (Download area on the right)

If a specialist from the organisation or a person entrusted with the care of a child or young person perceives indications that the welfare of a child or young person may be at risk, they should immediately seek a discussion with their manager or a member of staff to assess the indications, which should be documented.