Explain an inflicted immersion scald and the safeguarding plan to a non-offending parent — OSCE

Candidate instructions

You are the paediatric registrar in the emergency department. The father of an eighteen-month-old boy with a scald to both feet has ten minutes with you. The burn pattern — symmetrical, sharp upper margin, no splash marks — is not consistent with the cup-of-tea history the child's mother gave, and your consultant has initiated the safeguarding pathway. The child will be admitted to a place of safety. Explain to the father, in plain language and without accusation: (1) that the burn pattern does not fit the story and what that means; (2) why the team must run the safeguarding assessment in parallel with treating the burn; (3) what a strategy discussion and admission to a place of safety mean; and (4) that the team will support him and his son through the process. Invite his questions, acknowledge his fear, and check understanding. Do not name a perpetrator or accuse the mother; do not use jargon. ^[7]