Contents

1. Safeguarding children is a shared responsibility

2. Introduction WSCB Child Protection Procedures

2.1. Membership
2.2. WSCB Chair
2.3. WSCB Scope
2.4. WSCB Functions
2.5. WSCB structure and relationship with other multi-agency forums
2.6. Legislative and guidance framework for LSCBs

3. Information sharing and confidentiality

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Agency responsibilities under the Children Act 2004
3.3 Individual / Professional responsibility
• Confidentiality
• Public interest and proportionality
• Consent
3.4 Sharing information where there are concerns about significant harm
3.5 Key questions to inform decision making
3.6 Professional guidance
3.7 Sharing Information Safely
3.8 Information Sharing Glossary

4. Recognition and response

4.1. Definitions and risk indicators
4.1.1. Physical abuse
4.1.2. Neglect – Graded Care Profile/did not attend/Child not seen
4.1.3. Sexual abuse
4.1.4. Emotional abuse
4.2. Significant Harm

5. Managing individual cases

5.1. Referral and assessment
5.1.1. Referral responses
5.1.2. Initial assessment
5.1.3. Immediate Protection
5.1.4. Strategy Meetings

5.2. Child protection enquiries
5.2.1. Duty to conduct S. 47 enquiries and Core Assessments
5.2.2. Threshold for S. 47 enquiries
5.2.3. Involving parents/carers/significant others
5.2.4. Seeing the child
5.2.5. Assessing risk
5.2.6. Emergency protection
5.2.7. S.47 enquiry outcomes/information sharing
5.2.8. S.47 Medical Acute
5.2.9. S.47 Medical SARCS (Sexual Assault Referra Centre)

5.3. Child protection conferences
5.3.1. Initial conferences
5.3.1.1. Purpose of initial conference
5.3.1.2. Convening initial conference
5.3.1.3. Timing of initial child protection conference
5.3.2. Involving children and parents / carers
5.3.2.1. Purpose of review conference
5.3.2.2. Timing of review conference
5.3.3 Looked after children and child protection conferences
5.3.3.1 Looked after children with child protection plans
5.3.3.2 Children with child protection plans who become looked after
5.3.3.3 Children with child protection plans and review conferences

5.3.4 Membership of child protection conference

5.3.5 Location, timing and safety for conferences

5.3.6 Quorate conferences

5.3.7 Involving child/ren and family members
5.3.7.1 Involving parents
5.3.7.2 Involving children
5.3.7.3 Criteria for presence of child at conference, including direct involvement
5.3.7.4 Direct involvement of a child in a conference
5.3.7.5 Indirect contributions when a child is not attending
5.3.7.6 Exclusion of family members from a conference
5.3.7.7 The absence of parents and / or children

5.3.8 Information for the conference
5.3.8.1 Childrens social care report
5.3.8.2 Information from other agencies
5.3.8.3 Information from children and families

5.3.9 Chairing the conference
5.3.9.1 Conference Chair
5.3.9.2 Chair’s responsibilities

5.3.10 Protection plan
5.3.10.1 Threshold for a child protection plan
5.3.10.2 Decision that a child needs a child protection plan
5.3.10.3 Discontinuing a child protection plan

5.3.11 Outline protection plan

5.3.12 Child does not require a protection plan

5.3.13 Dissent from the conference decision

5.3.14 Pre - birth conference
5.3.14.1 Purpose
5.3.14.2 Timing of the conference
5.3.14.3 Attendance
5.3.14.4 Pre - birth child protection plan
5.3.14.5 Timing of review conference

5.3.15 Children who are subject of a child protection plan living in another borough

5.3.16 Administrative arrangements for child protection conferences
5.3.16.1 Decision letter
5.3.16.2 Managing and providing information about a child

5.3.17 Request for a change of worker

5.3.18 Complaints by service users
5.3.18.1 Reconvened conference
5.3.18.2 Further challenge
5.3.19 Implementation of child protection plans

5.3.20 Core group
5.3.20.1 Responsibilities
5.3.20.2 Membership
5.3.20.3 Timing
5.3.21 Formulation of child protection plan
5.3.21.1 Completion of core assessment
5.3.21.2 Purpose of child protection plan
5.3.21.3 Detailed child protection plan - from the core group
5.3.21.4 Agreeing the plan with the child
5.3.21.5 Agreeing the plan with parents/carers
5.3.21.6 Agreeing the plan with agencies
5.3.21.7 Seeing the child – Core group

5.3.22 Key worker role
5.3.22.1 Seeing the child – Key Worker
5.3.22.2 Difficulties maintaining contact with the child
5.3.22.3 Case recording – key worker
5.3.22.4 Responsibility for convening conferences
5.3.22.5 Absence of the key worker

5.3.23 Childrens social care – first line manager role

5.3.24 Difficulties in implementing the child protection plan

5.3.25 Interventions and services


6. Serious case reviews

6.1. Initiating a review
6.2. The review process
6.3. Overview reports and implementation of recommendations
6.4. Local case review

7. Organised and complex abuse

7.1. Understanding organised and complex abuse
7.2. Planning the strategy
7.3. Investigation process
7.3.1. Membership
7.3.2. Management

8. Allegations against staff and/or volunteers

8.1. Threshold
8.2. Process and planning the strategy
8.3. Outcomes

9. Risk management of known offenders

9.1. MAPPA
9.1.1. Principles
9.1.2. Identifying MAPPA eligible offenders
9.1.3. Assessment of Risk of Serious Harm
9.1.4. Information sharing
9.1.5. Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

10.1 Children / young people in contact with the youth justice system
10.1.1 Children and young people in custody
10.1.2 Abuse by children and young people

11. Domestic Violence Abuse

12. Violent extremism

‘Exposure to, or involvement with, groups or individuals who condone violence as a means to a political end is a particular risk for some children. Children and young people can be drawn into violence themselves or they can be exposed to messages if a family member is involved in an extremist group

13. Training

14. Appendices

14.1. Information sharing – Professional Guidance
Social workers

Doctors

Nurses - The Nursing and Midwifery Council has produced a code of professional conduct which has similar themes relating to the sharing of information without consent, including in relation to child protection.

Other health staff - Most professional bodies of those professions allied to health have issued similar guidance for their members. Where in doubt, staff should discuss any concerns relating to the sharing of information concerning the welbeing of a child with the designated doctors or nurses or consult the Caldicott guardian for advice.

Police - The National Centre for Policing Excellence developed for the ACPOs ‘Investigating Child Abuse and Safeguarding Children’ which provides guidance as does ‘Information Sharing – a Practitioners Guide by the DfES.

Education staff - Both the Children Act 1989 (S 27) and the Education Act 2002 require and allow teaching staff to share relevant information relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

14.2. Wigan Information Sharing Protocol


14.3. Recognition and Response – Specific Circumstances

Looked after children - “Revelations of the widespread abuse and neglect of children living away from home have done much to raise awareness of the particular vulnerability of such children living away from home. Many of these revelations have focussed on sexual abuse, but physical and emotional abuse and neglect – including peer abuse, bullying and substance misuse are equally a threat in institutional settings.”
WSCB expects all agencies providing care for any children living away from home, in any circumstances, to take all reasonable steps to safeguard and promote their welfare, and to have clear and unambiguous procedures for reporting/referring concerns to the appropriate agencies. These will be investigated in accordance with local procedures relating to s47 inquiries, and, where appropriate, to those relating to the investigation of allegations made against those working with children. Member agencies will also need to give consideration to invoking their own professional abuse procedures, as regardless of the outcome of any external investigation they may need to invoke disciplinary procedures for actions identified as being in breach of policy or procedures. Children who go missing should be reported as outlined in the section which follows on ‘Missing Children and Families.’

Female genital mutilation (FGM) FGM is a collective term for procedures which include the removal of all or part of the external female genitalia, for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985. Under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 it is now also an offence for UK nationals or permanent residents to carry this out abroad or to aid, abet, counsel or procure carrying out this procedure abroad, even in countries where the procedure is legal.
While our first aim must be to work with parents, families and communities to prevent FGM from being carried out, all staff should be aware of relevant risk factors and respond as they would with any concern that a child may have suffered, or be at risk of suffering, significant harm, treating the concern as an exceptionally high priority if they have any suspicion that the child is at imminent risk of the procedure being conducted here or of their being sent abroad.

Sexual Exploitation

Children who have been trafficked “Trafficking in people involves a collection of crimes, spanning a variety of countries and involving an increasing number of victims – resulting in considerable suffering for those trafficked. It includes the exploitation of children through force, coercion, threat and the use of deception and human rights abuses such as debt bondage, deprivation of liberty and lack of control over one’s labour. Exploitation occurs through prostitution and other types of sexual exploitation, and through labour exploitation. It includes the movement of people across borders and also the movement and exploitation of people within borders.” Concerns relating to the possibility that a child has been trafficked should be referred to the Police or Children’s Services and trigger a strategy meeting to analyse the level of immediate risk / need and agree a way forward for appropriate enquiries / interventions to be made. Once a full assessment of needs has been completed, WSCB would expect a care plan to be developed to meet their immediate needs, and reduce the possibility of further harm or future exploitation, regardless of their immigration status.

Fabricated or induced illness Health staff may be the first to recognise or become concerned that a child is a victim of fabricated or induced illness through their direct observation or by medical test which suggest a discrepancy between reported symptoms and results. Social workers, teachers and other professionals working with a child and/or their family may also become uneasy by what they see or are told. As with other indicators of abuse, it will often be the discrepancy between what you are told and what you observe, or changes in a child when away from their carers, which would raise concerns.
Both the Dept of Health (Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced, 2002) and The Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (Fabricated or Induced Illness, 2001) have issued guidance which the staff of relevant partner agencies should familiarise themselves with. Referrals should be made to Children’s Services to trigger a strategy meeting, which will include the Police and relevant Health professionals, to analyse the level of immediate risk / need and agree a way forward for appropriate enquiries / interventions to be made

Abuse of disabled children It is now widely recognised that disabled children are at increased risk of abuse and that multiple disabilities increases that risk. This can be for a number of reasons including their:
having fewer outside contacts receiving intimate personal care, possible from a number of carers being unable to avoid or resist abuse having difficulty in telling others being inhibited about telling for fear of losing services not knowing that actions are abusive
WSCB expects all partner agencies to ensure their staff are aware of this increased risk, and to have taken all necessary steps to build safeguards for disabled children into their working practices. This should, where appropriate and relevant, include:
helping disabled children make their wishes and feelings known in respect to their care and treatment ensuring they know how to raise concerns and to whom they may safely do so providing guidelines and training for staff on possible additional indicators of abuse, and on good practice when working with disabled children.


Children living with parents/carers with mental health difficulties While many parents with on-going mental health problems are able to care for their children satisfactorily, there will be others whose own ill health will have negative impacts on their ability to meet the health and development needs of their children. Where staff from partner agencies believe this is possible, they should immediately refer to Children’s Services.
Experience around the country has shown that it is essential for social workers and health staff from both adult services and child care services, and colleagues from education work together to ensure the child’s safety and development are not compromised and appropriate plans and safeguards are put in place. WSCB expects arrangements to be put into place to ensure referrals are being made to address any possible risk and to trigger appropriate support mechanisms as deemed necessary.

Children living with parents who misuse substances It is estimated by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that between 2 and 3 percent of children under the age of 16 in England and Wales are children of problem drug users. They also concluded that parental drug misuse can and does cause harm to children at every age, from conception to adulthood, including physical and emotional abuse and neglect.
In families where drug and/or alcohol abuse is present, it is essential that partner agencies share information to better assess risk and work together, and with those specialist addiction agencies, in order to minimise any negative impact on the safety and health and development of children.
WSCB expects that work with parents and families, by any agency where substance misuse is recognised, to demonstrate that the needs and safety of children is taken into account and appropriate inter-agency assessment and support is put in place.

Child abuse linked to spiritual or religious beliefs
“The number of known cases of child abuse linked to accusations of ‘possession’ or ‘witchcraft’ is small, but children involved can suffer damage to their physical and mental health, capacity to learn, ability to form relationships and self-esteem.”
However, the number of children physically, emotionally and sexually abused by people in the context of more recognised religious belief systems is now more widely recognised leading to established faith communities beginning to put safeguards into place to minimise risk.
Concerns relating to the possible abuse of a child within the context of a faith setting or community should be referred to the Police or Children’s Services and trigger a strategy meeting to analyse the level of immediate risk / need and agree a way forward for appropriate enquiries / interventions to be made

Missing children or families “Local agencies and professionals should bear in mind, when working with children and families where there are outstanding concerns about the children’s safety and welfare (including concerns about an unborn child) that a series of missed appointments may indicate that the family has moved out of the area or overseas.”
This same consideration should apply whether there is unexplained non-attendance at school, missed appointments or a number of abortive home visits.
Referrals should be made to Children’s Services and brought to the attention of the ‘key worker’ if one is in place. This will trigger a strategy meeting involving the Police and all other relevant agencies such as Health and Education, and departments, such as legal services (if the child is subject to an order.) With regard to a child going missing, from either their family or from an alternative residence including an institution, consideration should be given to the possibility that they could be at risk of sexual exploitation and a rigorous investigation conducted, led by the Police. There is always a reason why a child goes missing and a missing child should be considered a child at risk.

Forced marriages and Honour based violence “A forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the full consent of both parties and where duress is a factor.” These are distinct from ‘arranged marriages’ in which there is consent given by both parties.
Since 2004 these have come under the definition of ‘domestic violence’ and any suggestion of a child being threatened in relation to a forced marriage should immediately be referred to the Police and Children’s Social Care for action. An immediate strategy meeting will usually be required, especially where risk exist that the child is going to be sent overseas.
Honour based crimes can include abduction and homicide and “All those involved should bear in mind that mediation as a response to forced marriage can be extremely dangerous.”

Young People Homeless
Vulnerable Families
Travelling Families
Working with sexually active young people (under 18)
‘Safe sleeping’ position statement
Escalation Policy
Safeguarding in Commissioning
CAF
Flow charts from ‘What to do if You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused

Flow chart 1: Referral
Flow chart 2: What happens following initial assessment?
Flow chart 3: What happens after the strategy discussion?
Flowchart 4: What happens after the child protection, including the review process?