Dudley Safeguarding Children Board ‘ Working Together to Keep Children & Young People Safe ’ INTER-AGENCY BRIEFINGS Safeguarding Children Procedures Christine Ballinger Chair of Policy & Procedures Sub-Committee Dudley Safeguarding Children Board ‘ Working Together to Keep Children & Young People Safe ’ INTER-AGENCY BRIEFINGS Safeguarding Children Procedures Christine Ballinger Chair of Policy & Procedures Sub-Committee

Safeguarding children and young people is everyone’s responsibility  The procedures:  concern all children and young people aged under 18 years, and unborn children  are addressed to all organisations, agencies and individuals who work with children and young people and their families in Dudley - and those working in Adult Services whose work has a bearing on the welfare of children and young people  aim to translate government legislation and guidance into practical procedures and advice to support everyone working with children, young people and their families  set out how agencies will work together to protect children and young people from harm and safeguard and promote their welfare.  set out how agencies will work together to protect children and young people from harm and safeguard and promote their welfare.

Principles and Legislation They are based on:  Working Together 2006 and the Children Act 1989  Supplementary WT guidance – Child Prostitution, Fabricated and Induced Illness and Abuse Linked to a Belief in Spirit Possession  New duties about wellbeing and welfare introduced by the Children Act 2004  The “Every Child Matters” programme including “What to do if ……”,  The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, and  any other government guidance which impacts on the safety and well- being of children

Using the procedures (1)  The procedures are intended to be used as a directory, with professionals accessing the section they need as appropriate. This requires that all staff are sufficiently familiar with the document to know where to look  Aids to this are:  A detailed contents page  Easy electronic access on the DSCB website  Cross references and hyperlinks between sections  Helpful electronic links to external websites  A summary guide for professionals

Using the Procedures (2)  Part A - Core Child Protection Procedures which must be followed in all cases  Part B - Additional Procedures which must be followed in specified circumstances  Part C - Procedures relating to children in special circumstances which are designed to help practitioners implement Parts A and B  Part D - Reference and Protocols

Definitions of Abuse (1) Physical Abuse may involve hitting shaking throwing poisoning burning scalding drowning suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of or deliberately induces illness in a child may involve hitting shaking throwing poisoning burning scalding drowning suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of or deliberately induces illness in a child

Definitions of Abuse (2) Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child though it may occur alone

Definitions of Abuse (3) Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact including penetrative ( e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex ) or non- penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Definitions of Abuse (4) Neglect Is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs,likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health and development. Neglect may also occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance misuse. Once a child is born neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter including exclusion from home or abandonment, failing to protect a child from physical harm or emotional harm or danger, failure to ensure adequate supervision including the use of adequate care-takers or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

The Preface is new  It sets the procedures in the context of the Outcomes Framework – particularly “stay safe”  It should be read in conjunction with  Appendix “C” Roles and responsibilities, and  Appendix “D” Statutory Framework

Roles and Responsibilites  Significantly expanded – children are best safeguarded when there is clarity and understanding between different agencies about roles and responsibilities (Chief Inspectors Safeguarding Report)  Updated in accordance with new legislation and guidance and signposts to relevant sections in the procedures  It sets out:  The responsibilities shared by all agencies and professionals  The responsibilities of individual agencies

DSCB Working Together Protocol Section 1 has been updated and sets child protection in the context of  the wider safeguarding agenda  Integrated working and early intervention  A continuum of support - the CAF, Information Sharing, the Assessment Framework for Children in Need, Looked After Services  It should be read in conjunction with Appendix B on “Information Sharing”

Part A – Core Child Protection Procedures (1) Referral and Investigation processes updated to reflect  Step up and step down from the CAF  New Investigation Protocol between the Police and Children’s Social Care (Appendix F)  Updated guidance on medical photographs and Blood Born Viruses (also Section 19)  Should be read in conjunction with  updated Appendix A “Recognising Significant Harm”  Special circumstances in Part C

Part A – Core Child Protection Procedures (2) Child Protection Conferences and Protection Plans updated to reflect  Demise of the Child Protection Register – replaced with a Record of Child Protection Plans  New recording requirements – under development  Specific target for circulating Conference recommendations – 1 day  New participation policy (Appendix M)

Part B – Additional Child Protection Procedures (1) Children and families who move between Local Authorities  Updated protocol (Section 10) Managing allegations against people who work with children and young people (Section 11)  Significant changes  Lower threshold of harm applies to “suitability” as well as abuse  New roles of LADO and Senior/Officer Manager  Need to review HR procedures  Vetting and Barring Scheme on the way  Detailed procedures for different settings

Part B – Additional Child Protection Procedures (2) Investigating Complex Abuse (Section 12)  significantly expanded using information from ‘Complex Child Abuse investigations: Inter-Agency Issues, HO and DH 2002 ’  New DCFS protocol for managing serious incidents Safe Employment (Section 13)  Significant changes  Reflects the findings of the Bichard Inquiry Report, 2004 and the new government guidance, Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education, 2006  Safe Working Practice Guidance (Appendix M)  LSCB’s required to provide model polices / good practice examples

Part B – Additional Child Protection Procedures (3) Responding to Unexpected Child Deaths (Section 15)  New Regional SUDI Protocol Managing the Risk Posed by Known Adults (Section 16)  Significant changes  Schedule 4 replaces Schedule 1  New Regional Protocol (Appendix J)  Updated MAPPA arrangements

Part C – Children in Special Circumstances (1)  Abuse by CYP (S18) - New Section on Assessment Planning Meetings  Blood Born Viruses (S19) Replaces HIV  Safeguarding Children From Abroad (S20) – Updated – cross referenced to sexual exploitation(S34) and trafficking (S39)  Safeguarding Children who Live Away from Home (S21) – New  Abuse of Disabled Children (S22) – new information on “intermediaries”  Domestic Abuse (S23) – Updated to reflect new policies  Fabricated and Induced Illness (S24) – no change  Female Genital Mutilation (S25) – updated  Forced Marriage (S 26) – updated  Historical Abuse (S27) – new  New Technologies (S28) – significantly updated  Missing (S29) – updated  Parental Learning Disability (S30) - significantly updated

Part C – Children in Special Circumstances (2)  Mental Illness of a Parent or Carer (S31) – updated – Dudley’s visiting policy at Appendix Q  Psychiatric Care for CYP (S32) – new  Parental Substance Misuse (S33) – significantly updated  Child Sexual Exploitation (S34) – significantly updated – replaces Child Prostitution  Safeguarding Sexually Active Young People (S35) – new  Abuse Linked to Belief in Spirit Possession or Witchcraft (S36) - new Racial Harrassment (S37) – no change  Child Protection Concerns during Pregnancy (S38) – new, replaces Pre-Birth Risk Assessments  Safeguarding Trafficked Children (S39) – new  Honour Based Violence (S40) – new  Bullying (S 41) - new

Part D – Reference  Recognising Significant Harm (App A) – replaces Signs and Symptoms  Information Sharing (App B) – new – replaces Confidentiality and Consent  Agency Responsibilities (App C) – significantly updated  Statutory Respsonsibilities (App D) – significantly updated  DSCB Terms of Reference (App E) - updated  Protocol on S47 Enquiries (App F) – new  Questionnaires and Scales (App I) – new  PPRC Protocol (App J) - new  Licensing Act Protocol (App L) - new  Safe Working Practices (App M) – new  Professional Conflict Resolution (App N) – new  MOD Contacts (App O) – new  Children’s Participation (App P) – new  Children visiting Dudley Mental Health Settings (App Q) – new  Photography Guidelines (App R) – new  Voluntary Sector Safeguarding Framework (App S) - new  Protocol with Ofsted (App T) – significantly updated

Under Development  New Child Death Review Processes – rapid response and Overview Panel  Review of children who move between LA areas  Updating Sports Policies  Finalising Photography Policy  Missing From Home