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Listen
PROTECTING CHILDREN - A SHARED RESPONSIBIITY
Appendix 9: Checklist for responding when a child discloses abuse 7
1. Only ask enough questions to gain basic information.
2. Take the allegation seriously and support - do not interrogate!
3. Use open ended questions. (O)
4. Do not use leading questions (L)
Examples of questioning
When | When did it happen?
Did it happen last night? | O
L |
Where | Where did it happen?
Did he/she come into your bedroom? | O
L |
Who | Who did it?
Was it Daddy / Peter / the babysitter? | O
L |
What | What happened?
Did such and such happen? | O
L |
How
Why | Avoid if possible. These questions require a judgement by the child and may also induce self recrimination. | |
5. Remember:
- keep the questions open ended
- do not prompt or suggest to obtain the answer you think you want to hear
- record, sign and date disclosure or concern on the same day
- if producing the record by computer - print paper copy and sign and date. Do not save copy to hard disk
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