Social workers at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre have faced threats and dangerous confrontations while attempting to protect children suspected of being abused.

The disclosure was made during Tuesday night’s National Child Protection Town Hall Meeting.

Social Services Manager at SLBMC Dr Sequoyah Survia  said referrals generally come from physicians who identify signs of possible sexual abuse, physical assault or neglect while treating children.

Hospital social workers interview children and parents separately before referring suspected cases to the Family and Social Services Division and police.

Survia said the hospital’s intervention requires collaboration among doctors, social workers, child-protection officers and law enforcement personnel until the child can be safely discharged.

However, she revealed that workers have sometimes been placed in dangerous situations.

In one case, she said, a parent pepper-sprayed members of staff inside her office. Police intervention was required.

Survia said there have also been occasions when police support requested by hospital social workers was not immediately available.

She welcomed the introduction of around-the-clock police presence at the hospital but said greater security is needed for professionals who handle sensitive child-protection cases.

The social services manager explained that child-protection workers sometimes have to take personal precautions because relatives or suspected perpetrators may attempt to follow them.

Her concerns were echoed by Director of Family and Social Services Feona Charles-Richards, who said officers within her Division have been threatened and intimidated while carrying out investigations.

Charles-Richards recounted one case in which foster parents were threatened after receiving an abused child. Social workers reportedly changed vehicles several times while moving the child to prevent the family from discovering the location of the placement.

Participants at the town hall called for trained security personnel to be permanently assigned to child-protection units and accompany social workers during potentially dangerous interventions.

They also recommended stronger legal penalties for people who assault or intimidate social workers, foster parents, witnesses and survivors.