Wolverhampton’s Safeguarding Service …

1 wolverhampton s Safeguarding ServiceWolverhamptonSafeguarding children Board Policy and ProceduresiPolicy and ProceduresIntroductionThese Safeguarding children procedures have been adopted by the WolverhamptonSafeguarding children Board and are fullysupported by all partner agencies involved in the Safeguarding of and promoting the welfare ofchildren is defined within Working Together as: Protecting children from maltreatment Preventing impairment of children s healthand development Ensuring that children are growing up incircumstances consistent with the provisionof safe and effective undertaking that role so as to enable thosechildren to have optimum life chances and to enteradulthood definition clearly defines Safeguarding in holistic terms. Effective child protection isdefined as essential to the work of safeguardingand promoting the welfare of children but sets this work in the wider context of agencies andindividuals being proactive in Safeguarding andpromoting the welfare of children so the need toprotect children from harm is Safeguarding children Board arecommitted to the right of children to have theirbasic needs met, to achieve their full potential andto live in an environment where they are protectedfrom emotional, physical and sexual abuse andneglect.

2 It is recognised that most children thrivewhen their parents or carers are helped to providea good standard of care for them. Parents, carersand children will therefore be supported andencouraged to work with the agencies inWolverhampton to achieve those standards of care which enable children to be safeguarded and to achieve their full these procedures focus on childprotection it is implicit that any assessment of a child under these procedures looks at all theneeds of the child and that the needs of the childand the family will be addressed within the broadcontinuum of child in need services . It is not possible to separate the protectionof children from wider support to often the best protection for a childis achieved by the timely intervention offamily support servicesLord Laming. Victoria Climbie and Procedurescontentsi151617181818192020212 222pageIntroductionWORKING TOGETHERW olverhampton Safeguarding children BoardPolicy statementPurpose and principles of proceduresEvery Child MattersRace, ethnicity, religion and cultureShared responsibilitiesDuty to co-operateSharing informationConsent and confidentialityWorking in partnership with familiesRecruitment and selection of staffRecord keepingSupervision and supportPolicy and Procedures11234567891011 wolverhampton s Safeguarding Service2contents232323252629323233333537 pageTraining and developmentIdentification of children in need of protectionSignificant harmDefinitions of child abuse and neglectContexts of abuse and sources of stressPROCEDURES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL CASESM aking a referralInitial response to referrals.

3 Initial assessmentResponse when the children & Young People sService are already actively involved with the childStrategy DiscussionSection 47 enquiries / core assessmentConducting section 47 enquiries121314152123453 Policy and Procedures384041424343434344454949pageIm mediate protectionMedical assessmentInvestigative interviewWorking with parentsWorking with the childOutcomes of section 47 enquiries:IntroductionConcerns are not substantiateConcerns are substantiated but the child is notjudged to be at continuing risk of significant harmConcerns are substantiated and the child is judgedto be at continuing risk of significant harmCHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCES AND CHILDPROTECTION PLANSP urpose of initial child protection conferenceTimescales67891011312 wolverhampton s Safeguarding Service4contents505152545556575858595960 6263pageRequesting an initial child protection conferencePre-birth conferencesAttendance at the initial child protection conferenceParticipation of the childParticipation of those with parental responsibility /the child s carersExclusion of those with parental responsibility/the child s carersConference reports.

4 Social Worker s reportMedical reportOther professionalsChairing the conferenceDecisions and recommendationsChild protection conference records and distributionComplaints / representations3456789101112135 Policy and Procedures63656668707071717273757980page The key workerThe core groupThe child protection planRecording that a child is subject to a child protection planMovement of children :Movement within WolverhamptonMovement out of WolverhamptonMovement into WolverhamptonChildren who go missingChild protection review conferencesDiscontinuing the child protection planROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIESI ntroductionChildren & Young People s Service14151617181920412 wolverhampton s Safeguarding Service6contents818282828283838384858686 8787pageEducation ServicesYouth and Community ServicesConnexionsAdult ServicesCulture and Leisure ServicesHealth services :Designated and named professionalsHospitalsProtocol for referral between children & YoungPeople s Service and consultant paediatricians atNew Cross HospitalCommunity health servicesMental health servicesAllied health professionsAmbulance servicesNHS Direct3456787 Policy and Procedures8788888889909091919192929297pa geDay care servicesCarers looking after children away from homeHousing authorities and social landlordsPolice ServicesYouth Justice ServicesProbation ServicesPrison ServicesCourt and Legal ServicesChildren and Family Court Advisory and Support ServiceVoluntary and private sector organisationVolunteerNSPCCA rmed ServicesPROTECTING children IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCESI ntroduction910111213141516171819202151 wolverhampton s Safeguarding Service8contents981021021021021031041041 05106106107109pageAllegations against a professional, professional carer or volunteer.

5 Foster homes in WolverhamptonChildren from wolverhampton placed in fosterhomes outside WolverhamptonPrivate, voluntary or public authority residential careDay and residential schools maintained by WolverhamptonIndependent day and residential schoolsChildren being cared for by dayChildren in custodyChildren in hospitalVolunteersPrivate foster careChildren with disabilitiesAbuse by children and Young People23459 Policy and Procedures111112112113115116117118119120 121122122123125pageAbuse by a strangerAbuse by extended family and friendsOrganised abuseDomestic violence (See 122 Domestic violence)Parental mental illnessParental learning disabilityParental substance misuseAdults who pose a risk to childrenMulti-agency public protection arrangements:Process for public protection panelsDisclosure of information about sex offendersMulti-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC)Domestic violence (See 113 Domestic violence)Sexually active children and young peopleSexually exploited children6789101112131415161718 wolverhampton s Safeguarding Service10contents12612712712913013013013 1132132132132133135135pageMissing children and familiesChildren who self harmInduced or fabricated illness:Use of covert video surveillanceBullyingRacismFemale genital mutilationForced marriageHonour crimesPossession and witchcraftMigrant children .

6 Unaccompanied asylum seeking childrenChild victims of traffickingChildren in temporary accommodationVisits by children to high security hospitals, prisons and young offender institutions19202122232425262728293011 Policy and Procedures141151157159169171175178181183 185192193pageAPPENDICESL egal frameworkInformation sharingInformation sharing flow chartsSigns and symptoms of child abuse and neglectTimescalesGuide to medical assessmentsGuide to investigative interviewsAssessments and enquiries ten pitfalls and how to avoid themThe Common Assessment Framework and theAssessment FrameworkWolverhampton children & Young People s Serviceguide to recording in child protection casesChild deaths and serious case reviewsPrinciples for working in partnershipWorking with sexually active young people under the age of 18 protocol612345678910111213 wolverhampton s Safeguarding Service12contents20420721421621822022122 5227253257261275303pageWolverhampton protocol for adults identified as posing a risk or potential risk to childrenList of the major offences that might be committed against childrenProvision of therapy for children involved in

7 Court proceedingsCriminal injuries compensationChild pornography and the internetVictim enquiry unitVisits by children to psychiatric patientsComplaints / representations about inter agency child protection conferencesMulti-agency glossary of termsContact informationACTIONS FROM SERIOUS CASE REVIEWSOTHER RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURESSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATIONDOCUMENTATION1415161718192021 222378910one15 Policy and ProceduresWolverhampton SafeguardingChildren POLICY The wolverhampton Safeguarding ChildrenBoard is a multi agency forum for developing,monitoring and reviewing safeguardingpolicies and practice and for preventing theimpairment of children s health Board is committed to: The United Nations charter on therights of child/ren The safety and protection of all children in wolverhampton The support of children through multi-agency services and planning. A child-centred approach Working in partnership with those withparental responsibility and with carers Anti-discriminatory practice andsensitivity to age, race, religion, culture,gender, disability and sexual orientation Taking account of wolverhampton s multi-cultural society when consideringresources, protection and The wolverhampton Safeguarding ChildrenBoard will:- Ensure the effectiveness of the work of each Board partner in relation tosafeguarding and promoting thewelfare of children Co-ordinate strategic planning for safe-guarding and promoting the welfare of the children of wolverhampton Develop and monitor policies andprocedures for the implementation ofthe strategies in respect of safeguardingand the promotion of welfare Promote and uphold standards of good practice Actively support practitioners operatingin the field of Safeguarding and thepromotion of welfare through providingclear policy and procedural guidance.

8 Investigate every unexpected deathwhich occurs in childhood Carry out the tasks outlined in national guidance by means of anannual programme of work through its Business Plan Publish an Annual Report on a multi-agency basis Present, discuss and take account of national and local The constituent members of theWolverhampton Safeguarding children Boardrecognise that the key features of effectivearrangements to safeguard and promote thewelfare of children are: Senior management commitment tothe importance of Safeguarding andpromoting children s welfare Clear priorities for Safeguarding andpromoting the welfare of childrenexplicitly stated in strategic policydocuments Clear policy and procedural guidanceon Safeguarding and promotingchildren s welfareWorking TogetherWolverhampton s Safeguarding Service16 Clear lines of accountability for work on Safeguarding and promoting thewelfare of children Consideration of the need to safeguard and promote children s welfare in allservice developments procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff andvolunteers and appropriate complaints and whistle blowing procedures Listening to the views of children and young people Staff training and development insafeguarding and promoting thewelfare of children Safe recruitment practices Effective information sharing Effective inter agency PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES OF Anyone who has contact with children maybecome concerned

9 About their well-being orsafety and consequently needs to know: The principles contained in Working Together to Safeguard Children2006 and the Framework for theAssessment of children in Need and their Families; Relevant sections of legislationgoverning services to children The children Act 1989, children Act2004 and Education Act 2002 What services are available locally, and how to gain access to them; What sources of advice or expertise areavailable, who to contact, and how; What is in the Safeguarding proceduresand their own internal agencyprocedures; When and how to make a referral tothe children & Young People s Achieving good outcomes for children aboutwhom there are child welfare concernsrequires all those with responsibility forassessment and the provision of services towork together according to an agreed plan ofaction. Effective collaborative working requiresprofessionals and agencies to be clear about: Their roles and responsibilities forsafeguarding and promoting thewelfare of children ; The purpose of their activity, whatdecisions are required at each stage of the process and what are theintended outcomes for the child and their family members; The legislative basis for the work; The protocols and procedures to be followed, including the way in which information will be shared across professional boundaries and within agencies, and be recorded; Which agency, team or professional has lead responsibility, and the precise roles of everyone else who is involved, including the way in which the children and other familymembers will be involved.

10 17 Policy and procedures Any timescales set down in Regulationsor Guidance which govern thecompletion of assessments, making ofplans and timing of These procedures produced by theWolverhampton Safeguarding children Boardare intended to ensure effective inter-agencycommunication and Safeguarding practiceand to provide a framework within whichsafeguarding decisions may be made by allthose whose work brings them into contactwith EVERY CHILD The five Every Child Matters outcomes forchildren and young people are that theyshould: Be healthy:-Physically healthy-Mentally and emotionally healthy-Sexually healthy-Healthy lifestyles-Choose not to take illegal drugs Stay safe:-Safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation-Safe from accidental injury and death-Safe from bullying and discrimination-Safe from crime and antisocialbehaviour-Have security, stability and are cared for Enjoy and achieve:-Ready for School-Attend and enjoy school-Achieve stretching national educational standards at primary school-Achieve personal and socialdevelopment and enjoy recreation-Achieve stretching educationalstandards at secondary school Make a positive contribution:-Engage in decision making and support the community andenvironment-Engage in law abiding and positivebehaviour in and out of school-Develop positive relationships andchoose not to bully or discriminate-Develop self confidence and successfully deal with significant life changes and challenges-Develop enterprising behaviour Achieve economic well-being:-Engage in further education,employment or training on leavingschool-Ready for employment-Live in decent homes and sustainable communities-Access to transport and material goods-Live in households free from low To achieve these outcomes, support servicesfor