Section 47 for a small bruise on ear

[Scotland29]

Please help!!!
My 13 month old granddaughter went to nursery with a small pea sized bruise on her ear cartilage. My son explained they didn’t know how the bruise happened and noticed it 4 days earlier. Not thinking anything of it as she keeps pulling at her ear or possibly hit it on the cot? The nursery reported the bruise and a section 47 was placed. She was taken to hospital and underwent many tests. Kept there for 6 days and mum and dad could only visit with family supervision. Granddaughter sent home but only under family supervision and members living with them. Repeat tests done today at the hospital. Child Protection Conference taking place next week.
No previous concerns, all tests come back negative. All hospital staff reported parents to be caring.
The consultant says she could not have done it to herself (mobile child) so therefore blaming the parents. She had tested positive for a virus and had a sore throat and been unwell on the day my son first noticed the bruise.
I had seen another case that was a similar story and the child had been ill and had pulled on their ear and much younger than her that caused a bruise! We had taken a video at the hospital showing her being upset and pulling at her ear.
These past few weeks have been absolute hell for all of us and I just don’t know how we can compete against a consultant that is standing by his decision that she could not have done it to herself!
Any help or advice would be much appreciated x

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Scotland29

Thank you for your two posts and welcome to the discussion board. My name is Suzy, I am an online adviser and will be replying to your two post here. I am sorry you are feeling stressed and worried. It is understandable at this difficult time.

Technically as you are a grandmother, your situation should be posted on our kinship carer’s forum. For your ease, I will respond here, (the parents forum) but can I ask that any further posts are directed to the kinship foster carers forum.

Your granddaughter had a bruise on her ear cartilage which was noticed at her nursery. This resulted in the nursery making a referral to children’s services. Her parents were aware of the bruise but did not believe it was of any significant therefore, they did not inform the nursery and when ask they were unable to explain how or why their child’s ear was bruised.

The referral led to a child protection Section 47 assessment. Your granddaughter was taken to hospital where she stayed for six days whilst tests were carried out. All tests come back negative and staff reported your granddaughter’s parents as caring.

Whilst your granddaughter was in hospital her parents were supervised when they visited. Now she has returned home, this arrangement remains in place. Family members are staying in their home and supervising contact between your granddaughter and her parents.

There have been no previous concerns regarding your granddaughter or the parenting she has received. Your granddaughter tested positive for a virus, had a sore throat and had been unwell on the day your son first noticed the bruise. You have read of a similar situation whereby as a result of this a child was ill and pulled on her ears which caused an injury. You do have a video of your granddaughter doing this during her stay at the hospital. However, the paediatric consultant’s professional opinion is that she could not have injured herself. An initial child protection conference has been booked. Please see HERE for further information and guidance regarding the child protection process.

When a child has an unexplained injury and a referral has been made to children’s services, they have a duty to undertake an assessment and to seek professional opinion. From the information provided, children’s service has followed government guidance and legislation. I have added HERE a link to information and guidance regarding the child protection process and how children’s service should be working with parents. Further, I have added
HERE
a link to Working Together to Safeguard Children. This sets out how professionals should be working together and with parents when there are safeguarding concerns. I suggest the parents cooperate with children services, to engage with the assessment and other professional imput to demonstrate they are safe and loving parents who prioritise their child’s needs above all others.

If the parents are not satisfied with the consultant’s findings, they may wish to request a second medical opinion. I have added
HERE further information and guidance regarding this process. This may be helpful to the parents should they wish to explore this route.

I hope you find the information helpful. If you have any further questions or enquiries regarding children’s services, please do come back to us here or via or other methods of communication (please see our website for further information).

Best wishes, Suzie.