Clinical Nurse Consultant Cheryl is a staunch supporter and advocate for the community’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Together with the rest of Logan Hospital’s Child Protection Unit, she aims to give children entering care the best possible chance of a safe and supported future.
Since joining the team in 2020, Cheryl has provided specialist child protection advice, support and consultation to Queensland Health staff and external partners, helping teams respond to children and families experiencing vulnerability.
“The work I find most meaningful is the advocacy work we do to ensure very vulnerable children are protected where child protection concerns mean they may not be able to live with their parents,” Cheryl said. “This work can involve supporting treating teams to collaborate with interagency partners, ensuring relevant information is shared, professional expertise is considered and care is coordinated.”
Cheryl said entering the care system could be an incredibly difficult and uncertain time for children and young people, making it particularly important they received the support and protection they needed.
More broadly, Cheryl said child protection was everyone’s responsibility.
“Every healthcare professional has a role to play in recognising when a child or family may be experiencing risk or vulnerability,” she said. “Teams across the health service can help our unit support children by completing mandatory child protection education, helping everyone build the knowledge and confidence they need to recognise concerns and respond appropriately.”
As a Child Safe Organisation, Metro South Health is also committed to keeping the wellbeing and safety of children and young people at the forefront of care across its services.
Cheryl said this was an important step for the organisation, including facilities that did not provide paediatric care, as children and young people regularly visited hospitals to see parents, grandparents and other family members.
“In my role, I aim to promote a culture where staff prioritise child safety,” she said. “This includes staff being aware of their mandatory reporting responsibilities, identifying and reducing child protection risk factors, and responding to concerns and harm in a safe, fair and child-centred way.
“Our unit also strives to ensure children feel safe and supported when they visit our clinic or when other agencies visit them during their inpatient admission.”