Case study

Sabrina is a 4-year-old girl with extensive eczema and she needs to be fully “creamed” three times a day to control the itching. Sabrina shares a room with 2 other fostered girls and is starting to become quite shy about her body and upset by her continuously itchy, often sore and bleeding skin. She cannot put the cream on properly by herself and needs to be undressed to be able to do the job properly. Read the case study and consider the following points:

1. How can you make this more comfortable for her?
2. Where can you carry out this routine in privacy
3. How will you talk to her about the problem to make it easier to accept?
4. What will you say to other children about her condition and needs?
5. How would you record the procedure?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.