Interagency Practice in Children With Non-Organic Failure To Thrive: Is There a Gap Between Health and Social Care?

• NCJ Number: 180386
• Journal: Child Abuse Review Volume: 8 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 1999 Pages: 325-338
• Author(s): Julie Taylor; Brigid Daniel
• Editor(s): Kevin D. Browne, Margaret A. Lynch
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This paper examines recent Scottish health statistics and social service statistics on cases of children with symptoms of failure to thrive (FTT); implications are drawn for interagency practice in serving such children.

Abstract

FTT definitions used in this study are growth parameters below expected norms, failure to gain weight normally in the absence of organic disease, and failure to grow in accordance with expectations. Although there were only 10 case conferences held in Scotland as a result of FTT in 1994-95, there were 129 cases of emotional abuse, 162 cases of physical neglect, and 491 cases of physical injury (The Scottish Office, 1996). Child protection statistics for 1995-96 show only five cases of FTT. On the other hand, health statistics show a far more extensive pattern. It has been estimated that FTT accounts for between 1 percent and 5 percent of hospital admissions for young children and 5 percent of pediatric admissions to teaching hospitals (MacPhee and Schneider, 1996). Although these figures provide an incomplete account, they raise the issue of how many children who receive health care input for FTT are also referred to social care services. Unless it is certain that the vast majority of FTT cases do not involve child protection concerns, then the figures suggest that there may be a gap in service provision for some children with symptoms of FTT. This paper explores possible reasons for this gap and suggests a number of issues that might be considered within social work and health systems, including establishing early coordination between various professional agencies, with attention to the areas of expertise that each brings to the process. The authors also suggest clarifying care and response pathways for children with FTT, with attention to the routing of referrals. 1 figure, 1 table, and 68 references