1. Essentials of Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children Team
Remember
Housekeeping inc. fire, toilets
Timing of breaks
Signing attendance sheet
CP ‘health warning’
Handouts
Show ACPC/LSCB procedures
Part 1 9:15 – 10:45
Part 2 11:15 – 12:30
Part 3 1:30 – 3:00

2. Objectives of session You will be able to: recall categories of abuse
recall the risk factors
document safeguarding/child protection concerns, inform the relevant staff and agencies as necessary
make effective referrals to Children's Services
contribute to the multi-agency assessment
share confidential information appropriately
REASSESS risks to children

3. Increase sensitivity to potential signs of abuse
Explore the processes of domestic abuse and the social and psychological impact
Increase confidence in asking the questions and responding to domestic abuse
Victoria was seen
Changed children act (2004) and other legislation to recognise vulnerabilities and risk factors in children and instigated the working together process
Identified that all staff needed safeguarding training
Why assessment of vulnerability is important

4. Peter Connelly
Notes: Mother used disguised compliance and measures to cloud and hide the evidence. Men in the household were not considered as no-one considered them relevant enough to ask enquiring questions.
Child was not seen on every occasions
Assumptions that all was well.

5. Daniel PELKA
Language an issue and using family interpreters (8 year old sibling) was considered acceptable
Medicalised the concerns
Agencies working in silos
Assumptions being made that someone was doing something
No one asked the child – he was invisible
Rule of optimism prevailed. Professionals failed ‘to act’ on what they saw in front of them but accepted parental version of events. (Guardian Sept 2013)
There were other risk factors identified for mother (alcohol, mental, DV )

6. Common features Lack of child focus
Explanations given by parents or carers re injuries or concerns were to accepted.
Failure to recognise risks and concerns which led to inaction

7. Legislation in place Children’s Act 1989 Sexual Offences 2003
Child protection duties grounded in act places duty on local authorities to promote and Safeguard children. Section 17 relates to children in need section 47 children at risk of significant harm
Act 2004 – in response to Lord Laming ‘s recommendation, creation of children's Trust arrangements, all children’s services authorities must cooperate to improve children’s well being Sec 11 all agencies have to have arrangements in place to safeguard children.
Sexual Offences act-reviewed to protect young children. Advised that no child under 13 can consent to sex – longer sentences against perpetrators A child under 13 does not, under any circumstances, have the legal capacity to consent to any form of sexual activity.

8. What would cause you to suspect abuse or neglect.
Group Discussion
Group work – look at scenarios given and identify types of possible abuse or neglect that may be occurring.
Back to basics- Child’s presentation, injuries family circumstance etc
Group to look at scenarios identify physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, CSE, FGM forced marriage.

9. Risk Factors for Children and Families
Some factors may make children more vulnerable to abuse and neglect
Group work to recall risk factors
Divide group in to 2 on group to look at risk factors for children one group to identify factors for adults.
Child -Unwanted pregnancy, Lack of antenatal care, Difficult delivery, ‘Wrong’ sex, Separation at birth, Crying baby
Unattractive baby, Disability
Adult/ Family -Young Parents, Unsupportive family, Parent ‘in care’ as a child, Step-parent
Social deprivation – housing, finances, Domestic violence, Parent with learning difficulties
Parent with mental health problems, Drug or alcohol dependency. Highlight “Toxic trio”

10. Relaying concerns
Some concerns are fairly easy to relay e.g. poor presentation, evidence of physical, disclosure of sexual abuse
Some concerns have been detected following a period of assessment.

11. How do we assess? fact history
intuition; subjective but does not make it less relevant
can be based on assessment tools
research
new information/intelligence
Frame work for assessment graded care profile postnatal PHQ GAD
Based on information we have (history)

12. Assessment triangle
child-centred, rooted in child development, grounded in evidence-based knowledge, continuing process, not a single event
builds on strengths and identifies weakness, multi-agency approach to assessment and to the provision of services
carried out in parallel with other actions, including service provision, requires work in partnership with children and families

13. Important to follow the “ safeguarding ABCD “
Important to follow the “ safeguarding ABCD “. In SCRs too many assumptions were made , information give by adults were taken as truthful and were not checked out. Poor recordkeeping resulted assisted in poor decision making.

14. Case Studies-Assessing Risk
What is /might be happening?
What might happen if situation continues?
How likely are these outcomes?
How serious are they?
What action do you need to take?
What information needs to be recorded? .

15. SAFER Guidance S- Situation A- Assessment and Actions
F- Family factors
E- Expected response
R- Referral and recording
Hand out, guidance discuss how this can help to gather gather, information summarise concerns, be clear about what action is needed

16. Making a referral
Group to identify a scenario where child protection referral was needed.
Using the HCT referral form answer the following questions
Groups to complete referral form

17. NB Child or children must be the focus - not adult issues
Completing a Referral Form
What is the reason for this referral?
1. Risk of significant harm to the child
2. Expectation of service
3. Desired outcome
NB Child or children must be the focus - not adult issues
Information needed work on a scenario?

18. Different Levels of Intervention
CAF- early support/preventative
Child in Need (CiN) - provision of extra support to promote child’s development
Child Protection - process needed to protect child from significant harm

19. Next Steps Follow up referral Prepare for any multiagency meeting
Plan your next contact with child/family
Continue to reassess risk
Record any new concerns
Have a clear action plan

20. Review of Case Studies. what is the level of risk at each stage
what level of intervention may be required.

21. Ten pitfalls and how to avoid them. (NSPCC 2010) www. nspcc. org
Ten pitfalls and how to avoid them (NSPCC 2010)
Document focussed on assessing risk
Initially aimed at Social Work Assessments but provides useful research based information for other professionals.
Highlights 10 common errors made when assessing risk.
Each pitfall is followed by questions for practitioners.
e.g. Pitfall 3
“Attention is focussed on the most visible or pressing problems; case history and less obvious details are insufficiently explored”
e.g. Pitfall 5
“Insufficient attention is paid to what children say, how they look and how they behave”
It is important that all staff making risk assessments to protect children become familiar with this document.
This document was initially written in 1995 (NSPCC Assessing Risk in Child Protection), preceding the Assessment Framework 2000 document.
Ten Pitfalls was updated in 2010 because there had been substantial change in Legislation and Policy, but the same ‘error traps’ persisted.
Pitfall 3 – example of question:
“What is the most striking feature of this situation and if it were removed, would there still be concerns? “
Pitfall 5 – example of question:
“If I have not been able to see a child, is there a good reason, and have I made arrangements to see him/her as soon as possible?”

22. Effective Interventions
Multi Agency input
Prioritise what needs to change
Identify responsibility for addressing issues
Task centered interventions
Involve fathers/male partners
Modelling, coaching, rehearsing
Describe/identify to the parents/carers what success will look like and the process for getting there

23. Escalation of concerns
If you are concerned about the lack of response to a safeguarding concern from any agency you must discuss it with your safeguarding supervisor who will escalate it, as appropriate, in line with HSCB procedures.
This document was initially written in 1995 (NSPCC Assessing Risk in Child Protection), preceding the Assessment Framework 2000 document.
Ten Pitfalls was updated in 2010 because there had been substantial change in Legislation and Policy, but the same ‘error traps’ persisted.
Pitfall 3 – example of question:
“What is the most striking feature of this situation and if it were removed, would there still be concerns? “
Pitfall 5 – example of question:
“If I have not been able to see a child, is there a good reason, and have I made arrangements to see him/her as soon as possible?”

24. Professional responsibilities
Your professional duty is to act on concerns and refer appropriately
You may be the only person who has the information which could lead to this child being protected
Continue assessing even if there is no Children’s Services involvement

25. Where can I get further advice?
If in doubt, discuss your concerns (including intuition) with:
Safeguarding Children Nurse
Appropriate doctor (e.g. Named Doctor)
Your line manager
Children's Services
See also Department of Health guidance:

26. Where can I get further advice?
Safeguarding Children Team:
Safeguarding advice
Admin/training enquiries
LAC Team

27. Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board
To access the HSCB procedures :

29. Any questions?
Remind to fill in evaluations and take certificates