Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hi everyone just a few questions that I'm stuck on, and any help would be grateful. I doing a case study and only have these three questions left

You work at a long day achildcare centre. Over recent weeks you have become increasingly worried about the health and welfare of juno, a four year old girl in the 3-5 years room. Juno has been a client of the service for nearly three years and has always appeared a happy, healthy child who joins in developmentally appropriate activities with her friends. She has a good relationship with the carers at the centre.

When you first met Juno when you joined the centre two years ago you nebtioned to your sister that a child at the centre had the same name as the movie Juno. Your sister told you that one of her work colleagues has a daughter name Juno - you agreed it was likely to be the same child. Last year your sister told you that Juno's parents had separated. You were pleased to be able to report to your sister that Juno seemed to be doing quite well. You ask the other carers if they have noticed a change in Juno lately, since the separation. They were not aware that there had been any change innthe family's circumstances

Twelve months on and things have changed for Juno. Her mother, Ava is having chemotherapy following surgery for breast cancer. Ava is caring for Juno on her own and is findinglife very difficult. She has asked for the service's support as she is concerned that her husband may ask the family court to have Juno live with him. Your sister has invited you to dinner next week and has told you that ava will be attending. You sister thought you might be able to give Ava advice about how to help juno cope with what is going on.
You have noticed several changes with Juno over the past two months that concern you. Her clothes are dirty and rarely clean when she arrives at the centre. She has a cut on her finger that is not healing and does not appear to be being treated. Her skin is paler than usual and quite dry. She has been much less friendly with carers and other children and does not join in activity in outdoor activities. She has been unable to attend the centre for several days over recent weeks as she has had hair lice that her mother has not been able to completely control.

Matters have come to ead as another mother at the centre has come to you and said that the other mother's who use the service have been speaking and want you to advise Ava that Juno cannot return to return to the centre until the head lice problem is cleared completly. You notice JUno yesterday taking some extra fruit and hiding it in her jacket and today she was crying as several other children were teasing her about her mother being bald


The questions Im having trouble are

How would you support Juno to respond to the children who are teasing her?

Comfort her
Support her
Talk to the other children about why some people are different


What responsibility do you have in regards to the other mother's concern about head lice?

Provide a healthy and safety enviroment for the children'
Advise parents of the headlice problem in the centre
Talk to Juno's mother about the headlice and that Juno can not return till they have gone and what treatments she can use
give her head lice policy
talk to her about recieving help
make sure all areas that juno has come in contacted are clean and disinfected


What question could you ask to get a clear idea of what is going on with juno?

ask open and non invasion questions
how did you hur you finger?

not quite sure what else to ask
any help would be greatful

In the case of teasing I would talk to the class and explain (obviously find out what Juno has been told about her mothers illness first) that sometimes when some people get very sick they have to have some medicine that makes there hair fall out. Also tell them that this is a time when they need to support their friend and look out for her etc

As for the lice issue you seem to have everything there.

To find out what is happening with Juno yes asking her questions could give you some idea. Personally I would go straight to the mother and approach her and voice your concerns...saying you have seen a change in Juno and it would help you as the carer to know what is happening as you cannot help a child without any knowledge of changes at home.
Hopefully Juno's mum will open up, and then you can advise her to seek some help if it sounds like she is not coping.

I say this as I had a little boy in one of my previous centres who was a lovely placid boy and then suddenly his attitude changed ... he was answering back, biting and hitting other children, being stubborn and just very different and all this in the span of a week.
I made an appointment to see his mum (who was a single mum, which i knew)... I thought maybe she has a new man in her life and thats causing this so when I spoke to her I asked her if she had noticed the behaviour change in her child and she said yes and then I said whats changed in the last week, and she said she had a new partner who was on the scene more now. So we worked out together how to remedy the childs behaviour probs by making sure he got enough contact with his dad so he knew this new man wasnt there to replace his dad + the mum to make sure she got enough 1 on 1 time with him to so he didnt feel neglected

hope all this helps

thank you, all done, just wait for the result now and start my next one

Hi Red, I am busy with the same assignment and hope you dont mind me asking? I just wanted to check regarding the question, "Describe the ethical dilemma raised in this case?, I would say that Juno's mom loves her but is unable to take care of her?

What actions would you take in regard to your concerns for Juno? - I would keep a daily diary of what is happening with Juno, I would raise these concerns with my group leader/director as well. In my centre, its policy for the director to make the final decision as to what should happen in Juno's situation.....

Thanks so much

Hi Mel

Havent got time at the moment as I worked today and trying to get dinner and get the kids to sleep as my husband is on night shift , but as soon as I can tomorrow will post for you

Hi there, please dont worry, I know how hard it is with kids so take your time, no rush whatsoever.... I am pretty much done with my assignment but just wanted to make sure I had this correct before submitting.....

Thanks again

Hi melH

The question about what actions I would take in regards to Juno

Follow the centre's child protection policy and procedures
talk to the director about my concerns and what I have noticed
Make observations/notes, continue to observe child ( if an immediate report isn't necessary)
Gather information and remember to store information safe away from the public, in alockable and confidential
Be supported to the child
Talk to the child
Act in the best interest of the child
Talk to other agencies about assisting the family
talk to mother and suggest help
report to child protection services
hope this helps


for the ethical dilemma

i said about going to dinner with the sister and Juno's motherand the sister asking if you could give her advice
as this could cause a conflict of interest and cause you to overstep your professional bundaries plus being provided with outside information(2nd hand) is an ethical dilemma as it burrs professional boundaries

Hi red, yes it does thanks so much for your help.

I' currently working on my juno case study as well and one question I' m having trouble with. What would guide you in determining how to respond to various issues that relate to Juno.

I though what would guide me in a response to juno is that have been noticing change of character, and behaviour that have never seen from juno. Clothes not being clean, taking food and hiding it, a cut on her finger that doesn't seem to be tendered too.
I'm I answering this question right would love some help

Yes, I think you're on the right track with your response...

From the scenario I'd also include:

Juno's parents had separated.
Ava is having chemotherapy following surgery for breast cancer
Ava is caring for Juno on her own

Hope this helps,

,
L.A

Thanks for your help. There one other question how could you ensure that you maintain professional boundaries with Juno and family. The answer I was going to use was about not going to dinner and not give out advice. But I feel that is the same answer as the ethical dilemma.

Thank you so much, I have another question if you don't mind. How could I ensure that I maintain a professional boundaries with juno and family?

I was going down the track of not going to the dinner, and not giving advise on what to do as this is second hand information, but this is the same answer I gave for the ethical dilemma. Just stuck as to how to answer right

hi im also stuck on this one as well, my question is "what would guide you in determining to respond to the various issues that relate to juno ?"