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North Tyneside Safeguarding Children Board Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures July 2015

Agency Roles and Responsibilities


Agency Roles and Responsibilities in Safeguarding and Child Protection Page

Number Shared Responsibilities

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1 Local Authority Services Children’s Social Care Out of Hours Service Adult Social Care Secure Children’s Homes Residential Care/Family Placement/Leaving Care Team Housing Services (and Registered Social Landlords) Youth Services Leisure Services /Library Services Sports Clubs Day Care and Early Years Provision/Childminders Sure Start Children’s Centres

2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 8

2 Health Services All health professionals

Procedure to follow if any health professional suspects abuse – all staff Good practice guidance Responsibilities of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Designated health professionals Named Health Professionals Health services staff (GP’s, Primary Health Care Teams (PHCT), practice employed staff and school nurses) General Practitioners Paediatric Staff Paediatricians Process for a paediatrician who suspects abuse Dental Practitioners Maternity Services Adult Integrated Mental Health Services Visiting of Psychiatric Patients by Children Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Alcohol and Drug Services NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts, including staff in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, ambulatory care units, walk in centres and minor injury units

9

9 10 11 11 12

12 13 14 14 14 16 16 17 18 18 19 19

3 Criminal Justice Organisations

The Police Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) National Probation Service Northumbria Young Offender Institutions Prisons

20 23 23 24 24


The Youth Offending Service (YOS)

25

4 Education Services/Children’s Social Care Authority Schools and Governing Bodies Designated Members Of Staff Prevention of bullying in schools Use of physical intervention in Educational Establishments Racism Further Education Institutions and Governing Bodies Education Welfare Officers Independent Schools Children with Special Needs Children who Disappear Educational Psychology and other support services

25 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 29

5 Other Services Connexions Office for Standard in Education (OFSTED) Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service The Armed Services Movement of Children between the United Kingdom and Overseas Enquires about Children of Ex-Service Families Refugee Council The NSPCC The Voluntary Sector The Independent Sector Childcare Services Faith Communities Members of the Community

29 30 32 32 33 33 34 34 34 34 36 36 37 38

North Tyneside Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures

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Agency Roles and Responsibilities in Child Protection Shared Responsibilities

This section should be read in conjunction with North Tyneside Safeguarding Children

Board (NTSCB) Child Protection Procedures which outline the child protection process

and with your own agency Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures and guidance.

All professionals within North Tyneside have a duty to consider the safety and well-being of

children. Those agencies and professionals whose primary responsibility is to provide services

to adults should always consider the safety and welfare of any children in the household or any

children (including unborn) who are in contact with those adults.

It is the responsibility of all constituent agencies of NTSCB to ensure that appropriate single

agency procedures and training are available to all staff with a responsibility towards

safeguarding children’s well-being in addition to multi-agency training.

The primary duty of all staff, whatever their nominated role, is to promote the welfare of children

and ensure that they are protected from harm.

All specified agencies and professionals must (in accordance with Section 11 of the Children

Act 2004):

Comply with these procedures.

Ensure that any additional internal procedures or inter-agency protocols are consistent with

these procedures.

Ensure there is a clear line of accountability for the commissioning and/or provision of

services designed to safeguard and promote the welfare of children;

Appoint a senior board level lead to take leadership responsibility for the organisation’s

safeguarding arrangements;

Develop and maintain a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes

and feelings

Appoint a designated professional lead (or named professional) for safeguarding;

Ensure safe staff, carer and volunteer recruitment practices, including policies on when to

obtain a criminal record check.

Maintain accurate records of decision-making and actions.

Ensure sensitivity to needs arising from race, ethnic origin, culture, religion or linguistic

background.

Respect confidentiality of information about individuals.

Share information between agencies to the extent that is required to assess and meet the

needs of the child.

Provide and monitor uptake and effectiveness of regular mandatory safeguarding and child

protection training for staff, carers and volunteers.


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Provide appropriate supervision and support for staff so that they feel able to raise concerns

and feel supported in their safeguarding roles

Ensure they have a clear policy for dealing with allegations against people who work with

children

If a professional has any concerns about a child/children who is suffering, or at risk of

suffering, significant harm, s/he should refer to the relevant section below and to NTSCB

Safeguarding and Child protection Procedures.

1. Local Authority Services

Children’s Social Care, North Tyneside Council.

The Local Authority has a duty to plan services for children and families in consultation with

other agencies. All referrals regarding the safety of a child/ren will be made to the Local

Authority, NSPCC or the Police. The agency with lead responsibility for child protection within

North Tyneside is Children’s Social Care which includes the Children’s Disability Team

Children’s Social Care have the following responsibilities:

Assess, plan and provide support to children in need, including those suffering or likely to

suffer significant harm.

Make enquiries under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 wherever there is reason to

suspect that a child in its area is at risk of significant harm, ensuring that other agencies

contribute as necessary to the multi-agency assessment

Convene and chair Child Protection Conferences.

Maintain the CCM

Provide a key worker for every child subject to a Child Protection Plan.

Ensure that the agencies that are party to the protection plan coordinate their activities to

safeguard and promote the welfare of the child.

Convene regular reviews of the child's progress through both Core Group and Child

Protection Conference Review meetings.

Instigate legal proceedings where required.

Out of Hours Service

The Out of Hours services for Children’s Social Care operate from 5pm – 8.30am, weekends

and Bank Holidays). Staff working in the Out of Hours Service must distinguish carefully, often

on the basis of inadequate and/or unreliable information:

What immediate action may be required to ensure the immediate and longer term safety of a

child; and

What further responses may be best left to daytime services.


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The service will always ensure the immediate safety of children for whom concerns have been

expressed and consider any relevant issues for sibling or other relevant children.

In all cases, the Out of Hours service will follow the same policies and procedures contained in

these guidelines as they apply to their practice out of hours.

The service must inform families if Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures are being

followed.

Out of Hours staff will ensure that all relevant information obtained and actions taken out of

office hours are transmitted without delay to the relevant sections within Adult Social Care and

Children’s Social Care and other agencies as appropriate the following working day.

Adult Social Care

Those who work in Adult Social Care must are subject to the section 11 duties set out under

‘Shared Responsibilities’ of this guidance. When staff are providing services to adults, they

must consider the implications of service users’ behaviour for the safety and well being of any

dependent children and/or children with whom those adults are in contact.

In particular, children may be at greater risk of harm or be in need of additional help in families

where parents, carers or pregnant women have :

Mental health problems

Misuse drugs and/or alcohol

Complex needs or learning difficulties

Are in a violent relationship

Adults with parental responsibilities for disabled children have a right to a separate carer’s

assessment under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 and the Carers and

Disabled Children Act 2000. The results of this assessment should be taken into account when

deciding what services, if any, will be provided under the Children Act 1989.

Adult Social Care must establish and maintain systems so that:

Managers within Adult Social Care can monitor those cases that involve dependent

children.

There is regular, formal and recorded consideration of such cases between managers in

both Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care.

Where both Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care are providing services to a family,

staff communicate with each other and agree interventions.

Adult Social Care staff who receive referrals about adults who are also parents should consider

if there is a need to alert Children’s Social Care to a child who may be ‘in need’ or ‘at risk of

significant harm’ and consult with the Front Door Service.


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Once action is taken under these Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures (and

regardless of whether the work is undertaken jointly or separately) Children’s Social Care

become responsible for its co-ordination.

The social worker will need to be available to attend Child Protection conferences and Core

Groups as appropriate.

Secure Children’s Homes

Local Authority secure children's homes provide care and accommodation for young people

placed under a secure welfare order for the protection of themselves or others, and for those

placed under criminal justice legislation by the Youth Justice Board. Secure children's homes,

like all children's homes, are registered and inspected and must comply with the Children’s

Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and meet the Children's Homes National Minimum

Standards, both of which cover a range of issues including child protection.

Secure establishments are subject to the Section 11 duties set out under the ‘Shared

Responsibilities’ section of this guidance. Each centre should have in place an annually

reviewed safeguarding children policy. The policy is designed to promote and safeguard the

welfare of children and should cover such issues as child protection, risk of harm, restraint,

recruitment and information sharing. A safeguarding children manager should be appointed

and will be responsible for implementation of this policy.

Further detailed guidance on the policy and the role of the establishment in relation to the LSCB

can be found in Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 08/2012 ‘Care and Management of Young

People’

Residential Care/Family Placement/Leaving Care Team

Where a member of staff encounters a situation where abuse is observed or suspected s/he

must inform the Team Manager or equivalent line manager. In his/her absence, inform the

covering manager and consult regarding to appropriate action to be taken. Consultation may

take place with the Front Door/Children’s Social Care for appropriate advice.

If any child is felt to be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, then a referral should be

made to Children’s Social Care following the procedure in NTSCB Safeguarding and Child

Protection Procedures.

Information must be recorded on the alleged/suspected abuse (with dates, times and

signatures) and the circumstances of the abuse. The records may subsequently be required to

inform a Section 47 investigation and/or Child Protection Conference.

There may be ongoing involvement of the referring worker in supporting the child and family and

in informing the assessment.


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The social worker/allocated worker may need to be available to attend Child Protection

Conferences and Core Groups as appropriate.

Housing Services

Housing and homelessness services in local authorities plus others with a front line role such as

environmental health organisations are subject to the section 11 duties outlined in the ‘Shared

Responsibilities’ section of this guidance. They have an obligation to:

share information relevant to safeguarding children with Children’s Social Care and

contribute to assessments under Section 17 and Section 47 of the Children Act 1989

including verbal or written information, attendance at Child Protection Conferences and

other inter agency planning meetings in the interests of the child;

promote a child’s health, development and safety by helping to locate suitable housing;

be alert to concerns about children’s welfare and safety and making referrals to Children’s

Social Care when concerns arise;

be alert to safeguarding children when dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour by

young people, which might reflect parental neglect or abuse;

respond to the housing needs of a parent and children who have experienced domestic

violence;

assist in the management of dangerous offenders by the provision of suitable

accommodation and participating in the interagency risk management protocol;

ensure that wherever possible homeless families are provided with temporary

accommodation within their home borough;

share with relevant agencies the address of a family which is transferred outside of the

borough;

ensure that all homeless families with child/ren subject to Section 47 enquiries and/or

subject to a child protection plan are offered temporary accommodation within their home

borough, unless alternative arrangements are consistent with the protection plan;

providing references to OFSTED about potential childminders;

play a role, where appropriate, in safeguarding vulnerable young people, including young

people who are pregnant or leaving care;

ensure communication is undertaken when children are subject to a Child Protection Plan

about risk of being evicted;

Environmental Health Officers inspecting conditions in private rented housing may become

aware of conditions that impact adversely on children particularly. Under Part 1 of the Housing

Act 2004 authorities will take account of the impact of health and safety hazards in housing on

vulnerable occupants including children when deciding the action to be taken by landlords to

improve conditions.

Registered Social Landlords are not under the same duties to safeguard and promote the

welfare of children as Housing Authorities. However from 1 April 2010, the regulation of the

social housing sector has been undertaken by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) which


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supports the principle of RSLs working in partnership. Its Regulatory framework for social

housing in England, April 2010 expects RSLs to understand and respond to the particular needs

of their tenants and co-operate with other partners at a local level, including local authorities, to

promote social, environmental and economic wellbeing in those areas.

If a member of staff has a concern about the safety and welfare of a child the referral procedure

in NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures should be followed and information

must be recorded of the alleged/suspected abuse (with dates, times and signatures) and the

circumstances of the abuse. The records may subsequently be required to inform a Section 47

investigation and/or Child Protection Conference.

There may be ongoing involvement of the referring worker in supporting the child and family and

in informing the assessment.

Youth Services

Youth and community workers (YCWs) have close contact with children and young people and

should be alert to signs of abuse and neglect, and know how to act on concerns about a child’s

welfare. Increasingly, Youth Services form part of targeted rather than universal services and

thus are dealing with a higher proportion of vulnerable young people. Local Authority Youth

Services should have the arrangements described in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of

this guidance and have written instructions, consistent with NTSCB procedures, on when Youth

and Community Workers should consult colleagues, line managers, and other statutory

authorities about concerns they may have about a child or young person.


in NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures should be followed.

Where Children’s Social Care fund local voluntary youth organisations or other providers

through grant or contract arrangement, they will ensure that proper arrangements to safeguard

children and young people are in place. This should form part of the agreement for the grant or

contract. The organisations may seek advice on how to do so from their national bodies or the

NTSCB.

Leisure and Library Services

In addition to their shared responsibility to provide staff with child protection training, Leisure

and Library Services must ensure that managers take responsibility for briefing casual and

temporary members of staff of the need to be aware of safeguarding and child protection

issues.

Leisure services must also ensure that any organisations contracting to use leisure premises

have adequate safeguarding policies and procedures in line with the arrangements set out in

the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of this guidance.

Working practices should be adopted which minimise unobserved contact with children.


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If young children are left unattended within the library for lengthy periods of time, staff should

intervene with parents and inform the Front Door Service and/or police if concerns are not

allayed.

Some library staff may have direct unsupervised contact with children through the provision of

homework helpers and holiday groups, all concerned must be familiar and comply with

safeguarding procedures, including appropriate recruitment processes.

Because libraries provide opportunities for anonymous access to the Internet, staff must be

aware and take reasonable precautions to prevent access to pornography and chat rooms in

which children may be drawn into risky situations.

Services should identify a member of staff who can take a lead role for safeguarding and child

protection.


in NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures should be followed.

Information must be recorded on the alleged/suspected abuse (with dates, times and

signatures) and the circumstances of the abuse. The records may subsequently be required to

inform a Section 47 investigation and/or Child Protection Conference.

Sports Clubs

Many children regularly attend sports clubs and all such organisations should have the

arrangements described in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of this guidance in place,

including their own Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures and training for relevant staff

and volunteers.

Paid and volunteer staff need to be aware of their responsibilities for safeguarding and

promoting the welfare of children, and how they should respond to child protection concerns.

NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures instruct individuals to seek advice or

make referrals to Children’s Social Care or the police and these procedures should be followed.

Each club or organisation may be affiliated with a governing body that will be happy to offer

written advice and guidance around policies and procedures. Sports organisations can also

seek advice on child protection issues from the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), while

voluntary and community organisations can also seek advice from the Safe Network

Where suspected abuse occurs within a football setting, the Football Association (FA) Head of

Education & Child Protection should be informed of the concerns and will provide information for

any relevant child protection enquiries and strategy discussions.

Day Care and Early Years Provision/Childminders


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Day care and early years provision includes a range of services in both statutory and

independent sectors including:

children’s centres

nurseries including those in the workplace

childminders

playgroups

out of school care

after school care

sessional schemes

holiday and out of school schemes

All early years providers, regardless of type, size or funding of the setting, must:

take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children;

promote the good health of children, take necessary steps to prevent the spread of

infection, and take appropriate action when they are ill;

manage children’s behaviour effectively and in a manner appropriately for their stage of

development and particular individual needs; and

ensure that adults looking after children, or having unsupervised access to them, are

suitable to do so.

Early years providers have a duty under section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 to comply with the

welfare requirements set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage

(EYFS).

The extensive contact of these services with children makes them well placed to support

families under stress to help prevent difficulties getting worse and to help the families promote

the health and development of children. It also enables them to observe, at an early stage,

when abuse or neglect may be occurring.

Anyone who provides, manages and delivers any kind of early years service should know how

to recognise potential indicators and should know how to respond if abuse or neglect is

suspected or alleged.

All early years services should comply with the section 11 duties set out in the ‘Shared

Responsibilities’ section of this guidance and have in place a written set of guidance and

procedures, agreed by the NTSCB and accessible to all staff, volunteers and individual

contractors. These should make clear their responsibilities about how to act in respect of the

safety and welfare of any child and should tell them what sources of advice are available to

them and when to contact Children’s Social Care. Staff and volunteers should be given the

necessary training to equip them to carry out these responsibilities.


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All staff should consult the head of the establishment and in his/her absence, the nominated

person in the agency, if a concern is raised about a child.

The service should be open with service users about their responsibilities under the

Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures. This should include advising parents how they

can access advice and report concerns if they suspect a child is being abused or neglected in

that setting or anywhere else.

If a child discloses information it is important not to question the child and to record factual

information in the child’s own words.

Early years services should contribute where they can to multi-agency children in need and

child protection assessment and planning processes, in order that the assessment has as full

information about the child as possible. Workers may be required to attend a Child Protection

Conference and to participate in Core Groups.

Sure Start Children’s Centres

Any member of staff must consult with the manager of the establishment or designated person

e.g. Senior Nurse (Child Protection) if appropriate to decide on action to be taken and consult

agency procedures, and NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures. Information

must be recorded, including decision(s) and outcome(s) with documentation systematically

completed as this may be used for future enquiries.

2. Health Services

All health services staff are in a strong position and have a critical role to play in safeguarding

and promoting the welfare of children. NHS organisations are subject to the section 11 duties as

set out in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of this guidance. These procedures apply to staff

in all NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts and public, voluntary sector, independent sector and

social enterprises All health organisations, whether NHS or independent health sector should

ensure safeguarding children, including training, is an integral part of their governance systems.

North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) takes the overall strategic lead for

health services in local inter-agency child protection matters and in planning services for

vulnerable children and their families. As commissioners of services, they should ensure that

service specifications include clear standards for safeguarding children and promoting their

welfare.

Non-medical staff working in any setting must follow the guidance for all health professionals

and including consultation with a manager or designated/named person.

All Health Professionals


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All health professionals make an essential contribution to ensuring that children and families

receive the required services to promote the health and development of a child. Their

contribution and cooperation with other professionals and agencies is important at all stages of

working with children and families in need, including:

recognition of needs, risks and referral;

responding to enquiries about a child/family;

assessing the need and parental capacity to meet the child’s needs, including the protection

of children from harm;

decision making and planning to meet need and safeguard the welfare of children;

provision of therapeutic help to abused children and their families;

contributing to multi-agency assessments and case reviews.

Health services staff includes:

Community or school based doctors, nurses, health visitors, midwives and professionals

allied to medicine.

Ambulance Staff.

Emergency Care Practitioners.

Hospital medical, nursing and midwifery staff and radiographers.

Paediatricians.

General Practitioners (GPs) and any attached practice nurses and ancillary staff.

Dentists and dental nurses and hygienists.

All mental health medical and nursing staff.

All learning disability medical and nursing staff.

Addictive Behaviours Service.

NHS Direct and walk-in centre medical and nursing staff.

Pharmacists.

Family Planning.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Allied health professionals e.g.

• Therapists,

• Counsellors,

• Clinical Psychologists;

• Staff in genitourinary medicine services;

• Obstetric and gynaecological staff;

• Occupational therapists, physiotherapists;

• Staff in sexual health services;

• Speech and language therapists;

• Optometrists;

• Pharmacists and

• Other professions allied to medicine.

• Staff such as receptionists in GP practices.


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All health services staff must be alert to the possibility of child abuse and neglect and able to

recognise, and know how to act upon, indicators that a child’s welfare or safety may be at risk.

All staff working in healthcare settings – including those who predominantly treat adults – should

receive training to ensure they attain the competences appropriate to their role and follow the

relevant professional guidance1. If there is a concern about a child, staff should follow the procedure

outlined in NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures.

If a health professional suspects that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm:

A child seen in hospital/clinic:

Should never be sent away from a clinic or department until the sister/charge nurse has

ensured that paediatric medical staff/named nurse has been consulted;

if a child has been admitted to hospital the sister/charge nurse of the admitting department

should ensure that ward staff are aware of any child protection concerns;

a decision about further action, including referral to Front Door Service will be taken in

consultation with the appropriate designated professional;

consideration should be given to the possible risk to other children in the home;

when a child is admitted to hospital and there are child protection concerns, the

sister/charge nurse should ascertain who is allowed to have supervised/unsupervised

access to the child;

sister/charge nurse should ensure that all staff are fully aware of the Child Protection Plan.

A child seen in the community:

The professional will refer directly to Children’s Social Care following consultation with the

designated nurse or doctor/line manager.

The professional will also inform the GP of the decisions/action taken.

A child seen in school/nursery/other establishments:

The health professional should inform/consult the designated nurse/doctor in the Health

Service. The designated person for child protection in the establishment or the Officer in

Charge and/or the Head Teacher should be informed of the decisions/actions taken.

Responsibilities of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the major commissioner of local health services

and is responsible for safeguarding quality assurance through contractual arrangements with all

provider organisations. The CCG should employ, or have in place, a contractual agreement to

secure the expertise of designated professionals, i.e. a designated doctor and senior nurse with

1 Safeguarding Children and Young People: roles and competences for health care staff, RCPCH (2010);

Looked After Children: Knowledge, skills and competences of health care staff, RCN and RCPCH (2012); Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors, GMC (2012)


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a health visitor qualification for safeguarding children and for looked after children (and a

designated paediatrician for unexpected deaths in childhood) with expert knowledge of child

health and development, child abuse and local inter-agency arrangements. Designated

professionals, as clinical experts and strategic leaders, are a vital source of advice to the CCG,

the local authority and NTSCB, and of advice and support to other health professionals.

Designated Health Professionals

The responsibilities of designated health professionals2 can be summarised as follows:

Providing the strategic health lead on all aspects of the health service contribution to

safeguarding children within the Clinical Commissioning Group area and providing

professional advice on safeguarding children matters.

Supporting the named professionals in meeting child protection specifications.

Providing professional advice on child protection matters to the multi-agency network.

Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing the health service contribution to the protection of

children.

Promoting, influencing and developing relevant training on a single and multi agency basis.

Collaborating with the NTSCB and the named professionals in each trust in reviewing the

involvement of health services in serious incidents, which meet the criteria for serious case

reviews.

Named Health Professionals

All providers of NHS funded health services including NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts and

public, voluntary sector, independent sector and social enterprises should appoint a doctor and

a named nurse and midwife (where appropriate) to take the professional lead on safeguarding

and child protection matters within their respective trusts and service areas. In the case of NHS

Direct, ambulance trusts and independent providers, this should be a named professional. The

responsibilities of named health professionals can be summarised as follows:

Being a source of advice and expertise on child protection to all staff at the point of need.

Promoting good practice and effective communication within and between trusts and all

agencies on all matters relating to the protection of children.

Ensuring that arrangements are in place for child protection supervision and training of all

staff involved in providing services to children and families and vulnerable adults who are

parents or carers and/or who may pose a risk to children.

Ensuring that child protection is an integral part of the trust’s risk management strategy and

that key staff are aware of the thresholds for triggering child protection enquiries and an

assessment of risk.

Contributing to the trusts serious case reviews and management reviews.

Developing, monitoring and reviewing health service specifications and standards for child

protection practice.

2 Model job descriptions for designated and named professional roles can be found in the intercollegiate document:

‘Safeguarding Children and Young People: roles and competences for health care staff’


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Ensuring there are effective systems of child protection audit to monitor the application of

agreed child protection standards.

Take a professional lead on all child protection matters.

Promote good, effective and safe practice and commission services in relation to

safeguarding children.

Work in partnership with all other statutory and voluntary agencies providing services to

children & young people.

Health services staff (GP’s, Primary Health Care Teams (PHCT), practice employed staff

and school nurses, Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust

All primary care professionals should know when it is appropriate to refer a child to

Children’s Social Care for assessment as a “child in need” and how to act on concerns that

a child may be at risk of significant harm through child abuse. In addition, when it is not a

GP making the referral, they should be informed at the earliest opportunity.

In all situations, the welfare of a child is paramount and staff in this situation should follow

NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures. Each GP and all primary care

professionals should have access to a copy of NTSCB procedures.

Health Service staff are well placed to play an important role in all stages of child protection

processes, from appropriate information sharing with Children’s Social Care when enquiries

are being made about a child, (subject to consent and confidentiality requirements) to

contributing to assessments and to involvement in child protection planning. GP’s and

primary care practice staff should make available to Child Protection Conferences relevant

information about and child and family, whether or not they are able to attend.


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GP practices and teams should have a clear means of identifying in records those children

(together with their parents and siblings) who are the subject of a child protection plan. This

will enable them to be recognised by other practitioners within the practice, when

necessary. There should be good communication between GPs, health visitors, public

health nurses, practice nurses and midwives in respect of all children about whom there are

concerns.

The CCG is responsible for planning integrated GP out-of-hours services in their local area

and staff working within these services should know how to access advice from designated

and named professionals within theCCG area, and NTSCB.

Public Health Nurses have regular contact with school age children who spend a significant

proportion of their time in school. Their skills and knowledge of child health and

development mean that, in their work with children in promoting, assessing and monitoring

health and development, they have an important role in all stages of safeguarding children

and child safeguarding processes.

General Practitioners

All GPs have a duty to maintain their skills in the recognition of abuse, and to be familiar with

the procedures to be followed if abuse is suspected. GP practices should have a lead and

deputy lead for safeguarding, who should work closely with named GPs. GPs should take part

in training about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and have regular updates

as part of their postgraduate educational programme and as employers should ensure that

practice nurses, practice managers, receptionists and any other staff whom they employ, are

given the opportunities to attend local courses in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of

children or ensure that safeguarding training is provided within the team.

GP practices should have regular meetings with health visitors and midwives to discuss

complex families. This will enable GP’s to work together and think about a child within the family

context.

Whilst doctors have a legal and clinical duty to maintain confidentiality, knowledge or belief of

abuse and neglect is one of the exceptional circumstances that will usually justify a doctor

making a disclosure to an appropriate responsible person or officer of a statutory agency.

1. If abuse or neglect is suspected, the NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures

should be followed.

2. In addition, the specific guidelines prepared for GPs should be consulted. The Designated

Doctor is also available for advice. .

3. If a child has a severe injury requiring immediate hospital admission, e.g. fracture, burn,

head or eye injuries, the Consultant on call should be contacted to arrange this admission.


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The GP should proceed to make the child protection referral once the immediate medical

needs of the child have been met. The Designated Doctor should be informed.

4. If the concerns do not necessarily warrant immediate admission (e.g. failure to thrive,

neglect, historical sexual abuse) these concerns can be discussed with the Designated

Doctor, referral to Children’s Social Care should proceed and a detailed medical

assessment will be considered as part of the investigation.


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Paediatric Staff

These procedures apply to all paediatric medical staff who are involved in the care of children in

hospital or in the community. They also aim to inform other agencies involved as to how the

medical process can be accessed.

Advice and guidance on medical issues relating to child protection can be obtained from the

Designated Doctor or the Designated Nurse for Child Protection.

It is essential at an early stage in the assessment of suspected abuse to consider who the most

appropriate person is to carry out the paediatric assessment. This will avoid repeated

questioning and examination of the child. In all situations a Consultant Paediatrician should be

consulted at an early stage. However, all children should get the emergency medical care that

they need without delay and the above consultation exercise should not impede this.

Paediatricians

Paediatricians will come into contact with child abuse and need to be familiar with the

procedures to be followed if child abuse is suspected. They may be involved in difficult

diagnostic situations, differentiating those where abnormalities may have been caused by abuse

from those, which have medical cause. In contacts with children and families they should be

sensitive to clues suggesting the need for additional support or inquiries.

Advice and guidance on medical issues relating to child protection can be obtained from the

Designated Doctor or the Designated Nurse for Child Protection.

It is essential at an early stage in the assessment of suspected abuse to consider who the most

appropriate person is to carry out the Paediatric assessment. This will avoid repeated

questioning and examination of the child. In all situations a Consultant Paediatrician should be

consulted at an early stage. However, all children should get the emergency medical care that

they need without delay and the above consultation exercise should not impede this.

Process for a Paediatrician who suspects abuse

1. In all situations where abuse is suspected the case should be discussed with a Consultant

Paediatrician as soon as possible. This should be the Consultant on call for children in the

Accident & Emergency Department or those who are on the ward. It will be the supervising

Consultant for children seen in outpatients or in the community. The Designated Doctor’s

advice can be sought and they should be informed of referrals to Children’s Social Care.

2. Consult Children’s Social Care to check if a child is subject to a Child Protection Plan, or

any other social care involvement.


17

3. Consult the guidance for the medical assessment in child abuse (Ward Protocol) to assist in

making a decision about whether abuse has occurred.

4. Where practical the child should be seen with parents/carers unless of an age and

understanding to make the decision to be seen alone.

5. Consent must be discussed with parents and gained if possible and the parent’s consent, or

otherwise, to this should be recorded.

6. A clear record should be made of who was present and who gave the history. Statements

with respect to the history of the injury/abuse made by either the child or parent/carer

should be recorded verbatim.

7. The history and examination in cases of suspected child abuse should be thorough and

comprehensive. They should include health, growth and development in addition to specific

records of any injuries (using body charts).

8. In cases of alleged or suspected sexual abuse only doctors who have adequate expertise

and experience (e.g. trained Paediatricians and Police Doctors) should examine a child’s

genitalia unless the presenting symptom mandates urgent examination on clinical grounds,

e.g. recent/ongoing bleeding.

9. Photographs and appropriate investigations should be undertaken with appropriate

consents (bearing in mind the potential distress caused to the child).

10. The child’s GP, Health Visitor/Public Health Nurse should be consulted to see whether they

have any concerns of a child protection nature where possible.

11. Where the above assessment and consultation suggests abuse has/may have occurred, a

referral should be made to Children’s Social Care if this has not already been done. The

child’s immediate safety on the ward should be ensured at this stage.

12. A summary of the findings and an account of the discussion with parents/carers should be

clearly recorded. This should include any decision to refer the case to Children’s Social

Care/Police.

13. Any discussion with Children’s Social Care or the Police regarding the outcome of the

medical assessment should, ideally, be conducted by the Consultant with clinical

responsibility.

14. If, after assessment and consultation, it is decided that a child protection referral is not

needed, the reasons for this must be clearly recorded, dated and signed.

15. Following a medical assessment the consultant responsible should provide or authorise a

report from the principal clinician to be made available to the statutory agencies

(Police/Children’s Social Care). It may be necessary to adapt this report for the purpose of


18

Court, Conference, etc. The GP should also be informed of the outcome of the assessment.

Copies of these reports should be kept in the medical notes.

Where paediatricians undertake forensic medical examination, they must ensure that they are

competent to do so, or work with a colleague such as a forensic medical examiner who has the

necessary complementary skills.

Paediatricians required to provide reports for child protection investigations, civil or criminal

proceedings and appearing as oral witnesses must always act in accordance with guidance

from the General Medical Council and professional bodies, ensuring their evidence is accurate.

If a paediatrician is acting as an expert witness in legal proceedings they must be guided by the

guidance issued by the Academy of Royal Colleges (Medical Expert Witness: Guidance from

the Academy of Royal Colleges (2005) www.aomrc.org.ukand other professional guidance3

Dental Practitioners

Community dental services see vulnerable children both within health care settings and by

undertaking domiciliary visits. They are likely to identify injuries to the head, face mouth and

teeth, as well as potentially identifying other child welfare concerns. Abuse may also be

indicated by neglect of dental hygiene and tooth decay, which should be considered as a part of

the bigger picture. It is essential therefore that dental practitioners play a responsible part in

any arrangements made to record potential danger to children arising from ill treatment by a

parent/carer.

Dental practitioners should be included within all the child protection systems and training within

local trust arrangements and have access to the NTSCB procedures.

Dentists should have knowledge and skills to identify concerns regarding a child’s welfare, know

how to refer to Children’s Social Care, and who the named and designated professionals are.

For all cases of suspected/alleged abuse dentists should seek the advice of either the

designated doctor or nurse and refer to own agency procedures.

When a child does present with a physical injury, however minor, you should consider the

following questions:

(a) Could the injury have been caused accidentally and if so how?

(b) If an explanation for the injury is given, does it fit the facts as you find them?

(c) If there has been a delay on the part of the parent in seeking medical help are there good

reasons for this?

(d) If the explanation of cause is consistent with the injury, is the cause itself within normal

acceptable limits of behaviour?

3 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health: Safeguarding Children and Young People: roles and competences

for health care staff – Intercollegiate document, September 2010

http://www.aomrc.org.uk/


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Maternity Services

Midwives are the primary health professionals likely to be working with and supporting women

and their families throughout pregnancy. However, other health professionals including

maternity support workers, health visitors and, where applicable, specialist key workers may

also be directly engaged in providing support. The close relationship they foster with their clients

provides an opportunity to observe attitudes towards the developing baby and identify potential

problems during pregnancy, birth and the child's early care.

It is important to provide a supportive and enabling environment, where the issue of abuse is

raised with every pregnant woman, with the provision of information about specialist agencies,

thus enabling disclosure should a woman choose (Maternity Section Children's NSF 2004). The

Department of Health issued revised guidance Responding to Domestic Violence: A Handbook

for Health Professionals in January 2006.

Women and their families are increasingly choosing to access midwifery led maternity services.

These are provided primarily outside hospitals in community-based settings, including in

Children's Centres. Where midwives and other maternity support staff are employed directly by

Primary Care or Hospital Trusts they are integrated in that Trust's safeguarding arrangements.

Nurses and other health professionals working with children and families in a variety of

environments need to be alert to the strong links between adult domestic abuse and child abuse

and are well placed to recognise when a child is in need of help, services or at potential risk of

significant harm.

Adult Mental Health Services

Adult Mental Health Services, including those providing general adult and community, forensic,

psychotherapy, alcohol and substance misuse and learning disability services, have a

responsibility in safeguarding children when they become aware of or identify a child at risk of

harm. This may be as a result of services direct work with services users who are parents,

parents-to-be, or have other forms of contact with a child, or in response to a request for the

assessment of an adult perceived to represent a potential or actual risk to a child or young

person.

Close collaboration and liaison between the adult mental health services and Children’s Social

Care are essential in the interests of children. This may require the sharing of information to

safeguard and promote the welfare of children or protect a child from significant harm. Child

and adolescent mental health services can help in facilitating communication between adult

mental health services and Children’s Social Care.

All mental health professionals have a duty to seek to discover whether any patient/client has

responsibility for a child and to consider the impact her/his condition may have on that child and

whether this requires a referral to Children’s Social Care (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS

Foundation Trust Child Protection Policy).


20

All mental health staff and GPs must be aware of the possibility of child abuse in parent/carers

with personality disorder, mental illness, problems with aggression or violent behaviour and

substance misuse or through misuse of drugs or alcohol.

The needs and protection of the child (including the unborn child) of these patients are a priority

in the assessment of parents and should be undertaken in partnership with primary care

professionals , and Children’s Social Care.

Adult psychiatrists and psychologists treat both victims of past abuse and perpetrators and

should be alert to the fact that allegations or disclosures could be made as a result of treatment.

Care programme meetings about users of mental health services must include consideration of

any needs or risk factors with respect to any children concerned including arrangements for

contact and discharge. Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care must be included in these

meetings.

Guidance on children visiting psychiatric patients including those detained under the Mental

Health Act must be adhered to and any visit should demonstrably be in the best interest of the

child.

Visiting of Psychiatric Patients by Children

All inpatient mental health services must have policies and procedures relating to children

visiting inpatients, as set out in the Guidance on the Visiting of Psychiatric Patients by Children

to NHS trusts, (HSC 1999/222: LAC (99)32). Additional guidance has been provided for high-

security hospitals. Mental health practitioners must consider the needs of children whose parent

or relative is an inpatient – whether formal or informal – in a mental health unit, and make

appropriate arrangements for them to visit if this is in the child’s best interests.

The above guidance also sets out principles to underpin child-visiting policies in respect of

children visiting patients detained under the Mental Health Act, 1983. This emphasises the

importance of facilitating a child’s contact with their parents or other key family members,

wherever possible. Where there are child welfare concerns, the Trust may ask the Local

Authority to assess whether it is in the best interest of a child to visit a named patient.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

The importance of effective partnership working is emphasised in Standard 9 of the National

Service Framework, devoted to the Mental Health and Psychological Well-being of Children and

Young People and this is especially applicable to children and young people who have mental

health problems as a result of abuse and/or neglect.

In the course of their work, child and adolescent mental health professionals will inevitably

identify or suspect instances where a child may have been abused and/or neglected. They

should follow the Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures laid down for their services


21

within their area. Consultation, supervision and training resources should be available and

accessible in each service.

Child and adolescent mental health professionals may have a role in the multi-agency

assessment process in circumstances where their specific skills and knowledge are helpful.

In addition, assessment and treatment services may need to be provided to young mentally

disordered offenders. The assessment of children and adults with significant learning difficulties,

a disability, or sensory and communication difficulties, may require the expertise of a specialist

psychiatrist or clinical psychologist from a learning disability or child mental health service.

Child and adolescent mental health services also have a role in the provision of a range of

psychiatric and psychological assessment and treatment services for Children’s Social Care.

Services that may be provided, in liaison with Children’s Social Care, include the provision of

reports for Court, and direct work with children, parents and families. Services may be provided

either within general or specialist multidisciplinary teams, depending upon the severity and

complexity of the problem.

Alcohol and Drug Services

A range of services is provided, in particular by health and voluntary organisations, to respond

to the needs of both adults (with parental responsibilities) and children who misuse drugs.

These services are linked to the relevant agencies at local level through the North Tyneside

Public Health Team, It is important that arrangements are in place which enable referrals to be

made in relevant cases. Where children may be suffering significant harm because of their own

substance misuse, or where parental substance misuse may be causing such harm, referrals

will need to be made by drug or alcohol services in accordance with NTSCB procedures.

Where children are not suffering significant harm, referral arrangements also need to be in

place to enable a child’s broader needs to be assessed and responded to. Further information

can be found in the DCSF/DH Joint Guidance on Development of Local Protocols between Drug

and Alcohol Treatment Services and Local Safeguarding and Family Services

(please also refer to Parental Substance Misuse and the effects on Children)

National Health Service Trusts and National Health Service Foundation Trusts (including

staff in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, ambulatory care units, walk in centres and

minor injury units)

National Health Service Trusts, Mental Health Trusts and National Health Service Foundation

Trusts are responsible for providing health services in hospital and community settings. They

must co-operate with the Local Authority in the establishment and operation of the NTSCB and

as statutory partners share responsibility for the effective discharge of its functions in

safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Representation on the board should be at

an appropriate level of seniority.


22

All these staff should be trained in how to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, be

alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect in children, and know how to act upon their

concerns in line with NTSCB procedures.

All NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts should identify a named doctor and a named

nurse/midwife for child protection as detailed above.

Staff working in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, ambulatory care units, walk in

centres and minor injury units should be able to recognise abuse and be familiar with local

procedures for making enquiries to find out whether a child is subject to a child protection plan.

Staff in A&E departments should also be alert to the need to safeguard the welfare of children

when treating parents or carers of children. They should also be alert to parents and carers who

seek medical care from a number of sources in order to conceal the repeated nature of a child's

injuries. Specialist paediatric advice should be available at all times to A&E Departments, and

all units where children receive care. If a child - or children from the same household - presents

repeatedly, even with slight injuries, in a way which doctors, nurses or other staff find worrying,

they should act upon their concerns in accordance with the referral process in NTSCB

Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures. Children and families should be actively and

appropriately involved in these processes unless this would result in harm to the child.

The relevant child's GP should be notified of visits by children to an A&E department,

ambulatory care unit, walk in centre or minor injury. Children and young people should be

informed about this information sharing; where they object, and clinicians agree that it would not

be in their best interests for information to be shared with their GP (for example, where a young

person is seeking contraceptives) then a disclosure should not take place

All decisions to share or not share information about a child or young person should be fully

documented, and information sharing should be explained to the child, young person or family,

as appropriate, unless this could increase the risk of harm to the child.

3. Criminal Justice Organisations

The Police

The police are subject to section 11 duties as set out in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of

this guidance. Under section 1(8)(h) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011

the police and crime commissioner (PCC) must hold the Chief Constable to account for the

exercise of the latter’s duties in relation to safeguarding children under sections 10 and 11 of

the Children Act 2004.

The Police and Children’s Social Care are the two main investigative agencies involved in the

child protection process and whilst there are differing agency agendas, the over-riding

consideration is that of the welfare of the child. Northumbria Police aim to establish good


23

working relationships with the agencies involved in child protection that requires positive inter-

agency co-operation and an investment in joint training.

The Police Service is committed to the highest standards for protecting children, achieved by

close inter-agency collaboration.

The Northumbria police’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) Unit leads on issues relating to

child abuse, domestic abuse and rape investigations, management of sex, violent and

dangerous offenders under the MAPPA arrangements, and the protection of vulnerable adults.

In the context of safeguarding children its role is to:

Protect life and safeguard from harm

Investigate crimes of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect against children.

Instigate criminal proceedings (in conjunction with the CPS) provided that there is sufficient

evidence, it is in the public interest to do so and that it is in the best interests of the child.

Share information within, and where necessary outside of the police service to protect

children.

Make decisions and undertake risk assessments in partnership with other agencies.

Undertake emergency protection of abused or neglected children and the use of powers of

entry and removal where necessary.

Support civil proceedings.

Provide advice to non-specialist policing teams

Contribute to the objectives of the Local Safeguarding Childrens Board

The PVP unit will investigate crimes committed by parents and carers, child on child sexual

abuse, reports of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy and child suicides.

Investigations outside the PVP remit, will be dealt with (to the same standard) by Major Crime

Teams if serious, or local officers if less serious, with advice and assistance from the PVP.

Organisation of the Police Service in North Tyneside

Specialist safeguarding services are provided by staff within the PVP Unit. The North Unit,

covering North Tyneside and Northumberland is based at Middle Engine Lane in Wallsend and

is headed by a Detective Chief Inspector. In respect of child abuse investigation and

safeguarding, there are four investigating teams, each consisting of one Detective Sergeant and

five Detective Constables working between 8am and midnight 365 days a year. All four teams

are managed by a Detective Inspector with strategic responsibility for safeguarding children and

vulnerable adults.

Children have the right to the full protection offered by the criminal law. In addition to identifying

when a child may be a victim of a crime, police officers should be aware of the effect of other

incidents which might pose safeguarding risks to the children and where officers should pay

particular attention. For example, an officer attending a domestic abuse incident should be

aware of the effect of such behaviour on any children in the household.


24

Information Sharing

Northumbria Police are committed to sharing information and intelligence with other agencies

where this is necessary to protect children. Frontline non-specialist staff and PVP specialist staff

will create and submit a Child Concern Notification (CCN) when they have concern that a child

is at risk of significant harm or in need of community care services. The CCN is risk assessed

by specialist police staff in the Central Referral Unit and prioritised as a Referral or Notification.

All CCNs will be shared with Children’s Social Care and Health.

Police will prepare a Conference Report for all Initial Child Protection Conferences ensuring that

all Police information is shared in the interests of safeguarding. An officer from the child abuse

investigation teams will attend all initial conferences where there is an investigation ongoing or

significant information to share.

The duty PVP Detective Sergeant will ensure that all Police information is shared in advance of

Strategy Meetings and will aim to attend all strategy meetings where there is a likelihood of a

Police investigation ensuing or where there is relevant information to share.

Where an allegation of criminal conduct against a child is received by Children’s Social Care,

PVP must be informed. A criminal investigation will not always be required; however, Police

should be consulted by other agencies in order that a decision may be made as to the most

appropriate type of investigation needed and ensure that all relevant information can be taken

into account before a final decision is made.

Emergency Powers

In addition to their duty to investigate criminal offences, the police have emergency powers to

enter premises and ensure the immediate protection of children believed to be suffering, or at

risk of suffering significant harm, if this is deemed necessary. (Section 46 of the Children Act

1989)

The Police may:

Remove the child to suitable accommodation and keep him/her there or;

Prevent the child’s removal from any hospital or any other place in which he/she is being

accommodated.”

In exercising these powers, officers may impinge upon an individual’s human rights only when

lawful, necessary and in the interests of legitimate aim within Article 8 of the ECHR and Human

Rights Act 1998 and to an extent which is proportional and the least intrusive to achieve the

stated aim. Police emergency powers can help in emergency situations but should be used

only when necessary. Wherever possible, the decision to remove a child from a parent or carer

should be made by a court.


25

Criminal Proceedings

The police must be informed at the earliest opportunity when any criminal offence has been, or

is suspected of having been committed against a child. Police and the Crown Prosecution

Service (CPS) make the decision concerning the instigation of criminal proceedings, whenever

possible after consultation with other agencies and the decision is primarily based upon:

Sufficiency of evidence

Interests of the child; and

Public interest

Risk Management of known offenders

MAPPA guidance provides detailed procedures of the police contribution to the risk

management of known offenders and the MAPPA Arrangements.

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

Staff within the CPS have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

If in the course of their work they become concerned that a child is a child in need or a child in

need of protection and they believe that the appropriate action has not been taken the CPS

should discuss their concerns with North Tyneside PVP Unit.

Probation Trusts

Probation Trusts are subject to section 11 duties as set out in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’

section of this guidance. They are well placed to identify offenders who pose a risk of harm to

children as well as children who may be at heightened risk of involvement in (or exposure to)

criminal or anti-social behaviour and of other poor outcomes due to the offending behaviour of

their parent/carer(s).

Probation staff work predominantly with offenders aged eighteen years and over and may

become involved with cases relevant to child protection:

In the course of preparing reports to the criminal courts.

As a result of their responsibility for the supervision of offenders (including those convicted

of offences against children).

Where an offender had been subjected to abuse as a child.

Where a court requests a bail hostel placement for a single carer.

When a single carer is remanded or sentenced to custody.

The service also provides information and consultation to the victims (including child victims) of

serious sexual and violent offences.


26

All offenders referred to the Probation Service are assessed in terms of their risk level and

needs by use of a standard assessment tool (OASys). Those assessed as high or very high

risk are dealt with by means of Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)

The Probation Service Victim Liaison Officer should consult with the Children’s Social Care in

cases where the victim is a child, if it is felt that additional support is necessary.

Probation staff have both statutory and non-statutory contact with sex offenders following

release from prison and work with a range of offenders with less serious convictions against

children.

Where an adult offender is assessed as presenting a risk of serious harm to children, the

offender manager should develop a risk management plan and supervision plan that contains a

specific objective to manage and reduce risk of harm to children.

When working with any member of a family where child abuse is known, or thought to have

occurred and where the child remains in the care of, or has contact with the abuser, offender

managers must liaise closely with the key worker and any other relevant agencies. (The

exception is where a child has been removed and has no planned contact).

Offender managers are required to work closely with the social worker and prison services

whenever an imprisoned offender, considered to pose a risk to children is likely to be released

into the community in their area. The Probation Service has a key role in resettlement and

should adopt an inter-agency approach to the task.

Offender managers should contribute to multi-agency assessment and planning for children in

need, including children in need of protection, in cases where offenders with whom they work,

or about whom they are aware, represent a source of harm or potential harm to children.

In preparing a sentence plan, offender managers should consider how planned interventions

might bear on parental responsibilities and whether the planned interventions could contribute

to improved outcomes for children known to be in an existing relationship with the offender.

Offender managers should have sufficient knowledge and understanding of child welfare and

safety and protection issues to recognise indicators of actual or potential harm to a child.

Offender managers should refer to NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures and

procedures above if they have a cause for concern and are of the view that a child may be in

need or at risk of harm. Consultation should take place with their manager or the agency

designated professional to decide whether to refer a matter of concern to the Children’s Social

Care, unless immediate action is deemed necessary to be taken to safeguard the child.

Accurate and up to date records should be kept of all communications and information about

the abuse or suspected abuse recorded appropriately.

Young Offender Institutions


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The Children Act 1989 applies to young offenders aged 15–17 inclusive detained in Young

Offender Institutions (YOI’s) managed by HM Prison Service.

Governors, managers and directors of the following secure establishments are subject to

section 11 duties outlined in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of this guidance:

A secure training centre;

A young offender institution;

Accommodation provided by or on behalf of a local authority for the purpose of restricting

the liberty of children and young people;

Accommodation provided for that purpose under subsection (5) of section 82 of the

Children Act 1989; and

Such other accommodation or descriptions of accommodation as the Secretary of State

may by order specify

Each centre holding those aged under 18 should have in place an annually reviewed

safeguarding children policy. The policy is designed to promote and safeguard the welfare of

children and should cover issues such as child protection, risk of harm, restraint, recruitment

and information sharing. A safeguarding children manager should be appointed and will be

responsible for implementation of this policy4

Prisons

The Prison Service is subject to section 11 duties as set out in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’

section of this guidance. Governors of prisons have a duty to make arrangements to ensure

that their functions are discharged, having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the

welfare of children.

Prisons must have in place arrangements to ensure prisoners are not able to cause harm to the

public and particularly to children. Restriction on, and any monitoring of, communications

(including letters and telephone call) should reflect the degree of risk posed to children and their

families.

The Prison Service has a responsibility to identify prisoners who pose a risk of harm to

children5. Where an individual has been identified as presenting a risk of harm to children, the

relevant prison establishment:

Should inform the local authority children’s social care services of the offender’s reception

to prison and subsequent transfers and of the release address of the offender;

4 Detailed guidance on the safeguarding children policy, the roles of safeguarding children manager and the

safeguarding children committee, and the role of the establishment in relation to the LSCB can be found in Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 08/2012 ‘Care and Management of Young People’. 5 HMP Public Protection Manual http://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/public-protection-manual

http://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/public-protection-manual


28

Should notify the relevant Probation Trust in the case of offenders who have been

sentenced to twelve months or more. The police should also be notified of the release

address; and

May prevent or restrict a prisoner’s contact with children. Decisions on the level of contact,

if any, should be based on a multi-agency risk assessment. The assessment should draw

on relevant information held by police, probation, prison and Children’s Social Care

Governors/Directors of women’s establishments which have Mother and Baby Units should

ensure that:

There is at all times a member of staff on duty in the unit who is proficient in child protection,

health and safety and first aid/child resuscitation; and

Each baby has a child care plan setting out how the best interests of the child will be

maintained and promoted during the child’s residence in the unit.


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The Youth Offending Service (YOS)

Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) are subject to section 11 duties as outlined in the ‘Shared

Responsibilities’ section of this guidance. The duties of the YOS are to co-ordinate provision of

youth justice services for all those in the Local Authority’s area who need them and carry out

other duties under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The principal aim of the youth justice

system is to prevent offending.

Under section 38 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, local authorities must, within the delivery

of youth justice services, ensure the ‘provision of persons to act as appropriate adults to

safeguard the interests of children and young persons detained or questioned by police officers’

The YOS have contact with both victims and perpetrators of abuse, therefore staff may identify

circumstances in which action by Children’s Social Care is required

YOTs should have a lead officer responsible for ensuring safeguarding is at the forefront of their

business.

All young people who fall within the remit of the YOS in North Tyneside are defined as children

in need and will be offered a full assessment of risks and needs using the ASSET assessment

toolkit, which has been developed nationally by the Youth Justice Board and which

complements the Early Help Assessment Framework. Young people are also referred,

according to need, to other programmes, e.g. anger management, sex offender programmes.

Youth justice personnel, including managers, staff and volunteers must have an understanding

of child safety and welfare issues to ensure that they are able to recognise potential signs of

abuse and neglect and understand how to respond and consult appropriately. Any concerns

about issues of child abuse or neglect should be referred to Children’s Social Care.

Youth justice personnel should also be knowledgeable about abusive behaviour perpetrated by

a young person against a child/young person and should have appropriate training and skills

necessary to undertake the work required by this group of young offenders.

Youth justice personnel should refer above and to NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection

Procedures if they have a cause for concern. Consultation should take place with a

manager/named professional to decide whether to refer a matter of concern to the Children’s

Social Care, unless immediate action is deemed necessary to be taken to safeguard the child.

Accurate and up to date records should be kept of all communications and information about

the abuse or suspected abuse.


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Education Services

Schools and Governing Bodies

Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 places a duty on local authorities (in relation to their

educational functions and governing bodies of maintained schools and further education

institutions, which include sixth-form colleges) to exercise their functions with a view to

safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at a school, or who are

students under 18 years of age attending further education institutions. The same duty applies

to independent schools (which include Academies and free schools) by virtue of regulations

made under section 157 of the same Act.

All those working in education services, both teaching and non-teaching staff, can contribute to

the safeguarding of children in child protection processes. They should create and maintain a

safe environment for children and young people and be able to manage situations where there

are child welfare concerns. Through their day-to-day contact with pupils, and direct work with

families, Education staff have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse and

neglect, and in referring any concerns to the Children’s Social Care.

In order to fulfil their duty under sections 157 and 175 of the Education Act 2002, all educational

settings to whom the duty applies should have in place the arrangements set out in the ‘Shared

Responsibilities’ section of this guidance.

All schools and FE colleges should have a designated person responsible for safeguarding and

child protection, who has overall responsibility for co-ordinating Safeguarding and Child

Protection Procedures and ensuring liaison with other agencies. The designated person in each

establishment will be a senior staff member (referred to as “Designated Professional” in these

procedures).

In ANY educational establishment:

all staff should be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and know to whom they should

report concerns or suspicions;

all educational establishments should have a designated member of staff with knowledge

and skills in recognising and acting upon child protection concerns. He or she should act as

a source of expertise and advice, and is responsible for co-ordinating action within the

institution and liaising with other agencies;

all educational establishments should be aware of the Safeguarding and Child Protection

Procedures established by NTSCB;

all schools and colleges should have procedures for handling suspected cases of abuse,

including procedures to be followed if a member of staff is accused of abuse;

staff with designated responsibility for child protection should receive appropriate training;


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school governors should exercise their child protection responsibilities, in particular in

response to allegations against head teachers, and in ensuring that there are school child

protection policies in place;

in every authority a senior officer should be responsible for co-ordinating action on child

protection issues across the borough;

where a state school is concerned that a child may have ‘disappeared’, or about any aspect

of a pupil transfer which gives rise to concerns about a child’s welfare, it should report its

concerns to the person specified in NTSCB guidance, or to the officer with designated

responsibility for child protection corporal punishment is outlawed for all pupils in all schools

and colleges, including independent schools.

All schools and colleges must have in place a policy and procedure to safeguard and promote

the welfare of pupils. This must be compatible with the procedures issued by the NTSCB. The

policy must be made available to parents on request.

Each school/college must operate safe recruitment procedures for all staff and volunteers,

having regard to the specific guidance given by the Secretary of State under sections 157 and

175 of the Education Act 2002 namely, ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in

Education and Dealing with allegations of abuse against teachers and other staff’

All staff and relevant school governors must have appropriate training in respect of

safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

The Chair of the Governing Body must take responsibility for liaising with the lead Local

Authority officer if an allegation is made against the head teacher/principal of college.

The governing body must review all policies, procedures and duties in respect of Child

Protection issues annually.

Parents must be aware that the school staff work in partnership with other agencies to promote

and safeguard the welfare of pupils.

Designated Members of Staff

The members of staff designated with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection issues

must be a member of the school’s leadership team. A deputy member of staff should also be

identified.

All staff, including supply and volunteers must be made aware of who has the designated

responsibility for child protection.

The designated member of staff must be the focal point for all child protection issues for staff

within the school (college) and for external agencies.

The designated member of staff should provide advice and support to all school staff.


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The designated member of staff must be conversant with multi-agency procedures issued by

the NTSCB.

Prevention of bullying in schools

All schools (and colleges) must have an effective policy in place to combat bullying incidents.

Parents and pupils must be consulted regarding the complication of such policies.

There may be incidents of bullying which need to be considered within the NTSCB

Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures where a pupil has suffered significant harm and

action is required to promote and safeguard their welfare.

Use of Physical Intervention in Educational Establishments

Teachers are allowed to use reasonable force to control or restrain pupils under certain

circumstances. Other staff may also do so, in the same way as teachers, provided they have

been authorised by the head teacher to have control or charge of pupils.

All schools and colleges must have a policy about the use of force to control or restrain pupils.

see The Use of Reasonable Force Dept of Education 2011 for further guidance. The use of

physical intervention must always be a last resort. All other strategies must be used to avoid

physical intervention being implemented.

Any use of physical intervention must be recorded in line with the school’s policy.

The parent (person with parental responsibility) must be informed at the earliest opportunity.

If, after any physical intervention, there are any subsequent allegations made, a referral to the

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) should be made via the Front Door Service.

Racism

All schools and colleges must have a system in place to deal with and try to prevent incidents of

racism.

There may be occasions when the impact of racist incidents is so severe that it constitutes

significant harm for the victim. In those instances consideration must be given as to whether it

is appropriate to make a referral under the child protection system.

Further Education Institutions and Governing Bodies

The above responsibilities (with appropriate modification) must be in place in respect of all

students studying in further education below the age of 18 years.


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Education Welfare Officers

In their direct work with pupils and their families, education welfare officers may recognise signs

and symptoms of abuse. In those circumstances, a referral to Children’s Social Care should be

made through the school system and in consultation with the designated teacher for child

protection.

Independent Schools

The role of independent schools (including Academies and Free Schools) in relation to child

protection is the same as that of any other school.

The same pastoral responsibilities apply, and schools should adopt the principles and pursue

the objectives contained within this guidance.

It is particularly important that independent schools (including independent special schools,

Academies and Free Schools) establish channels of communication with Children’s Social Care

and NTSCB, building on existing links with local education services, so that children requiring

support receive prompt attention and any allegations of abuse can be properly investigated.

Independent schools which provide medical and/or nursing care should ensure that their

medical and nursing staff have appropriate training and access to advice on child protection.

Children’s Social Care and NTSCB will offer the same level of support and advice to

independent schools in matters of child protection as they do to maintained schools.

Children with Special Needs

When a child has special educational needs, or is disabled, schools will have important

information about the child’s level of understanding and the most effective means of

communicating with the child. They may well be invaluable in assisting communication during

an investigation. They will also be well placed to give a view on the impact of treatment or

intervention on the child’s care or behaviour.

Children who Disappear

Where a child may have disappeared, or there is cause for concern due to the sudden and

unexpected move of a child, the situation must be shared, without delay, with the Designated

Professional who will co-ordinate further enquiries with appropriate agencies/individuals.

If the enquiries do not bring about a satisfactory result, then a referral should be made to

Children’s Social Care.

Educational Psychology and other support services


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Educational Psychologists deal with pupils who exhibit learning and behavioural difficulties of

varying kinds. Most of these children will have no additional needs outside of the school context,

but some may be failing to make the necessary progress at school due to problems that affect

them socially and emotionally, including neglect and abuse. Educational Psychologists are

trained to identify indicators of abuse and have an important role in informing co-professionals

of problems that need to be addressed on an inter-agency basis.

If an Educational Psychologist has a concern about a child who is, or is likely to be at risk of

significant harm, s/he should consult with the designated professional in the organisation and

make a referral to the Front Door Service / Children’s Social Care if this is felt to be appropriate.

Other Services

Connexions

Connexions is tasked with provision of services to a wide age range of young people (thirteen to

nineteen, and for the more vulnerable, up to twenty five years of age). As such Connexions has

a substantial workforce working directly with young people and safeguarding and promoting the

welfare of young people is a primary concern.

The Connexions Service must have in place a policy and procedure to safeguard and promote

the welfare of young people. This must be compatible with the procedures issued by the

NTSCB and informed by ’Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2015).

Connexions should comply with current vetting regulations in the recruitment of all staff

(including volunteers) and ensure that staff are aware of risks to the welfare of young people so

that they can exercise their legal, ethical, operational and professional obligations to safeguard

them from risk. Connexions staff should take account of and respond to behaviour that is likely

to damage the overall wellbeing of young people and should address their welfare and safety

needs in a holistic manner. In particular Connexions staff should:

Identify, keep in touch with and provide the necessary support to young people in their

geographical area. The needs of young people from vulnerable groups such as young

parents, care leavers, young people supervised by YOS, young people in custody and

young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are a particular priority, as is

ensuring support and planning for young people in custody and their resettlement back into

the community.

Identify young people who may be being abused or neglected and, in these cases, alert

Children’s Social Care. Staff should receive appropriate training so that they are aware of

the indicators of abuse, referral procedures and the ways in which concerns will be followed

up.

Minimise risk to the safety of young people on premises for which they are responsible and

maintain the necessary capacity to carry out relevant risk assessments.


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Minimise the risk that organisations to which they signpost young people, such as those

providing employment and training opportunities, pose a threat to the moral development

and physical and psychological wellbeing of young people.

In addition Connexions should work closely with other agencies concerned with child safety and

welfare to analyse rigorously the nature and distribution of risk within the cohort of young

people, and to use this information to design services, allocate resources and otherwise take

action to address both cause and effect.

Office for Standard in Education (OFSTED)

Ofsted bring together the inspection, regulation and review of all social care services into one

organisation. In North Tyneside Ofsted;

Registers private and voluntary care services, which are required to meet national

standards.

Inspects, assesses and reviews all care services, including schools, Children’s Centres,

nurseries and Child Minders.

Inspects boarding schools, residential special schools and further education colleges with

residential students under 18 years of age.

Publishes an inspection report.

Provides details of the number and quality of private and voluntary care services

Deals with complaints about care service providers.

Takes enforcement action when services do not meet minimum standards.

Ofsted will require such providers to meet national standards with respect to child protection,

relevant to the service they offer.

Providers will also be expected to have knowledge of child protection, including signs and

symptoms and what to do if abuse or neglect is suspected.

Ofsted must contact Children’s Social Care regarding any child protection issues and will

consider whether any action needs to be taken to protect children attending registered

provision.

Ofsted must be informed when a child protection referral is made to Children’s Social Care

regarding, a person who works in any of the services regulated by Ofsted.

Ofsted should be invited to any strategy meetings convened due to concerns or allegations

about staff or carers in regulated settings.

Early Years and Childcare (including registered childminders and group day care

providers)


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Early Years providers have a duty under section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 to comply with the

welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Early years providers should

ensure that:

Staff complete safeguarding training that enables them to recognise signs of potential abuse

and neglect; and

They have a practitioner who is designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding

children within each early years setting and who should liaise with Children’s Social Care as

appropriate. This lead should also complete child protection training.

Registered childminders and group day care providers must satisfy explicit criteria in order to

meet the national standard with respect to child protection (Framework for the regulation of

those on the Early Years and Childcare Registers April 2011). Ensuring that they do so is the

responsibility of the Early Years Directorate of Ofsted.

Ofsted requires that:

All childminders and group day care staff have knowledge of child protection, including the

signs and symptoms of abuse and what to do if abuse or neglect is suspected.

Those who are entrusted with the day care of children or who child mind have the personal

capacity and skills to ensure children are looked after in a nurturing and safe manner

Ofsted will seek to ensure that day care providers:

Ensure the environment in which children are cared for is safe.

Have child safeguarding policies and procedures in place, which are consistent with these

procedures.

Be able to demonstrate that their procedures have been followed when an allegation is

made.

Ofsted must contact Children’s Social Care about any child protection issues and, in

consultation with them, consider whether any action needs to be taken to protect children

attending the provision.

Ofsted must be informed when a child protection referral is made to Children’s Social Care

about:

A person who works as a child minder; or

A person who works in day care for children; or

Any service regulated by Ofsted’s early years directorate

Ofsted must be invited to any strategy meeting where an allegation might have implications for

other users of the day care service and/or the registration of the provider.


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Ofsted must seek to cancel registration if children are at risk of significant harm by being looked

after in childminding or group day care settings.

Where warranted Ofsted will bring civil proceedings or criminal proceedings against registered

or unregistered day care providers.

Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)

CAFCASS advises the courts on the needs and interests of children who are the subject of

family court proceedings. This can be in both public and private matters and encompasses, for

example, care proceedings and contact issues and a Children’s Guardian is appointed

whenever there are court proceedings in respect of the child.

Amongst the functions of CAFCASS in respect of family proceedings are:

To safeguard and promote the welfare of children that are the subject of family proceedings.

To give advice to any court about any application made in family proceedings, including

making provision for the legal representation of children where required.

To advise Children’s Social Care of any domestic violence incidents that have occurred in

the past.

CAFCASS practitioners will refer any child protection concerns in line with the NTSCB

Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures.

Children’s Social Care will inform CAFCASS of Section 47 enquiries or domestic violence

incidents in cases were CAFCASS have a current involvement. They will also keep CAFCASS

informed of any further information and developments and, where necessary, invite CAFCASS

practitioners to Strategy meetings, Child Protection Conferences and Reviews related to the

incident(s).

A CAFCASS officer has the statutory right in public law to access local authority records relating

to the child concerned under the Children Act 1989. Requests for information from CAFCASS,

where they are seeking information in private law matters, should be responded to promptly and

where necessary, a summary report indicating the extent of Local Authority involvement and

any on going welfare concerns abut a child and or adults should be provided.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service provides a range of youth engagement programmes

aimed at providing life skills and fire safe behaviour whilst eradicating fire dangerous behaviour.

The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service recognise that the protection and safety of

children and young people is everyone’s responsibility. There is an agreed policy and good

practice guide, which establishes the roles and responsibilities of staff in relation to the

protection of children, with whom they come into contact through their work.


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Staff must follow NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures if they suspect or

believe that a child may be at risk of abuse, is being or has been abused either by anyone,

including:

A member of staff

A family member

Any other person, including another child

Anyone with a concern must report this to a Member of the Designated Child Protection Team

according to the service’s procedures.

The Armed Services

The Armed Forces are fully committed to co-operating with statutory and other agencies in

supporting families in the armed services, who frequently move due to service commitments,

and have in place procedures to help in safeguarding and promoting the welfare children. The

frequency and location of such moves makes it essential that the Service authorities are aware

of any concerns regarding safeguarding and promoting the welfare of a child from a military

family. In areas of concentration of Services families, the Armed Forces seek particularly to

work alongside Local Authorities’ Children’s Safeguarding Services or equivalent, including

through representation at LSCB’s and at Child Protection Conferences and Reviews.

Local Authorities have the statutory responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of

the protection of the children of the Service families in the UK. All three Services provide

professional welfare support including ‘special to type’ social work services to augment those

provided by Local Authorities. In the Royal Navy (RN) this is provided by the Naval Personnel

and Family Service (NPFS) and the Royal Marines Welfare Service; within the Army this is

provided by the Army Welfare Service (AWS); and in the Royal Air Force by the Soldiers’

Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association-Forces Help (SSAFA-FH).

When Service families or civilians working with the Armed Forces are based overseas, the

responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of their children is vested with the

MoD, who fund the British Forces Social Work Service (Overseas). This service is contracted to

SSAFA-FH who provide a fully qualified Social Work and Community Health service in major

overseas locations (for example in Germany and Cyprus). Instructions for the protection of

children overseas, which reflect the principles of the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and

philosophy of inter-agency co-operation are issued by the MoD as a ‘Defence Council

Instruction (Joint Service)’ (DCI(JS)). Larger overseas Commands issue local Safeguarding

and Child Protection Procedures, hold Command Child Protection information and have a

Command Safeguarding Children Board which operates in a similar way to the UK in upholding

standards and making sure that best practice is reflected in procedures and observed in

practice.

Movement of Children between the United Kingdom and Overseas


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Local authorities should ensure that SSAFA-FH, the British Forces Social Work Service

(Overseas), or the NPFS for RN families, are made aware of any service child who is the

subject of a child protection plan whose family is about to move overseas. In the interests of the

child, SSAFA-FH, the British Forces Social Work Service (Overseas) or NPFS can confirm

appropriate resources exist in the proposed location to meet identified needs. Full

documentation should be provided which will be forwarded to the relevant overseas Command.

All referrals should be made to the Director of Social Work, HQ SSAFA-FH or Area Officer,

NPFS (East) as appropriate. Comprehensive reciprocal arrangements exist for the referral of

children subject of a child protection plan to appropriate UK authorities on the temporary or

permanent relocation of such children to the UK from overseas.

Enquires about Children of Ex-Service Families

Where a Local Authority believes that a child who is subject of current child protection

processes is from an ex-service family, NPFS, AWS or SSAFA-FH can be contacted to

establish whether their is existing information which might help with enquiries. Such enquiries

should be addressed to NPFS, AWS or the Director of Social Work, SSAFA-FH

Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the largest refugee agency in the UK providing advice to asylum

seekers and refugees, supporting other organisations in their refugee work and promoting

asylum seekers and refugees rights. The Refugee Council assists families through the provision

of advice about available options and help with paperwork/documentation.

The Refugee Council has its own child protection policy and procedures and all staff receive

basic induction training, with further input for those directly working with children.

If a child is identified as in need of support or protection a referral will be made to Children’s

Social Care using the referral process in NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection

Procedures.

The NSPCC

The NSPCC is a charity with a duty to protect children from abuse and neglect and has the

statutory power to bring care proceedings in its own right. The NSPCC operates a national 24

hour child protection line which accepts referrals and passes the information to the relevant

Children’s Social Care.

Ofsted may commission the NSPCC to undertake specific child protection related work,

including S47 enquiries and ‘special investigations’.

The NSPCC also provides services for children and families and has the same responsibilities

in this respect as other voluntary agencies (see below).


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The Voluntary Sector

(Staff and volunteers not covered elsewhere)

The Voluntary Sector offers a range of services to children and young people and their families

and to adults who have children and who require help in meeting their own needs in order to be

effective parents, e.g. parents with mental health problems, parents who use substances,

victims of domestic violence. Voluntary sector services work with many vulnerable children and

parents and should therefore be included in the local child protection arrangements generally

and in work with cases where there are child protection issues.

Voluntary sector services (with the exception of the NSPCC) do not have statutory duties under

the Children Act 1989 in the way that statutory agencies do, but as responsible organisations

offering a professional service, they should comply with the section 11 duties set out in the

‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of this guidance and have in place clear guidelines and

procedures to ensure that they co-operate with NTSCB procedures and make referrals to the

statutory services when there are child protection concerns.

Managers, staff and volunteers should receive appropriate training about the needs of children,

indicators of possible abuse and how and when to make effective referrals.

Voluntary sector agencies should establish and operate safe caring policies for the selection,

recruitment and supervision of staff and volunteers where those people have contact with or

access to information about vulnerable children and young people and/or their families.

Voluntary sector agencies are a valuable resource for children and are often able to work with

children in need and their families in a way that is more flexible, accessible and non-stigmatising

than some statutory services.

The contribution of voluntary sector agencies to assessment and planning of individual cases is

essential if they are involved. Where there is involvement, the expertise and knowledge of the

staff and/or volunteers should be included in any multi-agency assessment work under Section

47 or Section17 of the 1989 Children Act.

Consideration should always be given to inviting these services to attend Child Protection

Conferences and to be party to the child protection plan, if appropriate.

It is difficult to generalise about the nature and extent of voluntary sector services’ involvement

in individual child protection and children in need cases due to the variability of the service

provision by the voluntary sector. There will be cases where the agency is central in the

management of the case and the support that is offered to a child and family and where it is in

the child’s interests for that service to be a full partner in the inter-agency planning process. In

other cases, the agency may be less central and for reasons such as confidentiality, the child’s

interests may be better served by more limited inclusion in the process.


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As a minimum, there should always be sufficient information exchange in both directions to

address issues of the child’s safety and the safety of involved others.

Where a voluntary sector service is clearly a significant source of information and support to the

child and operates under acceptable professional standards of confidentially, accountability and

good practice, then consideration must be given to including that service much more fully in

assessment, planning and intervention for that child, insofar as is possible within the remit and

resources of the agency.

Members of the organisation should refer to the introduction of this section, to other relevant

sections of the procedures, and to their own agency guidelines.

If a member of staff or volunteer suspects a case of abuse of a child, s/he must report it to

his/her line manager or in his/her absence, the deputy and a decision as to whether to refer to

Children’s Social Care will be made by the Project Manager or equivalent. Both the worker and

the manager must record information with dates and times on the circumstances of the abuse

and any decisions/actions taken. These records may be subsequently required to inform a

Section 47 enquiry.

The Independent Sector

All private sector organisations, which provide services to children or young people or their

families, should comply with the section 11 duties set out in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section

of this guidance and have in place clear written child protection policies. There should be child

protection guidance and written procedures accessible to all staff, managers and volunteers

which are compatible with the NTSCB Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures and

Working Together 2015.

There should be explicit adherence to safe care guidance on the recruitment, selection and

supervision of staff.

Managers, staff and volunteers should receive appropriate training about the needs of children,

indicators of possible abuse and how and when to make effective referrals.

Reference should be made to the relevant sections of these procedures.

When private agencies are commissioned to provide services for the public sector, there should

be clear arrangements in the contract of those services to adhere to child protection guidelines,

to safer care guidance and to have in place written child protection policies and procedures.

They should have a training strategy, which ensures that their staff, management and

volunteers are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse, are clear about their

responsibilities to refer on and know how and where to refer.

Childcare Services


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Childminders and everyone working in day care services, including family and children's centres

and day nurseries should know how to recognise and respond to the possible abuse or neglect

of a child. Private, voluntary and local authority day care providers caring for children under the

age of 8 must be registered by Ofsted under the Children Act 1989, and should have a written

statement, based on the procedures laid out in this guidance and in Working Together 2015.

This statement should clearly set out staff responsibilities for reporting suspected child abuse or

neglect in accordance with NTSCB procedures and should include contact and telephone

numbers for the local police, the Front Door Service, Children’s Social Care and Ofsted. It

should also include procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against

a member of staff or volunteer. All organisations providing group day care must have a

designated person who is responsible for liaison with local child protection agencies and Ofsted

on child protection issues, and other staff should be able to implement NTSCB Safeguarding

and Child Protection Procedures in the absence of that person.

Faith Communities

Faith-based organisations provide a wide range of activities for children and young people,

including:

Attendance at religious services and ceremonies.

Participation in study groups/lessons.

Involvement in crèches.

Attendance of youth clubs.

Use, either alone or with parent/s of available counselling, mentoring and confessional

services.

Involvement in groups using faith community premises, e.g. halls.

As such they are some of the largest providers of children and youth work, and have an

important role in safeguarding children and supporting families. As such they should comply

with the section 11 duties set out in the ‘Shared Responsibilities’ section of this guidance.

Religious leaders, staff and volunteers who provide services in places of worship and in faith-

based organisations will have various degrees of contact with children.

All faith communities should, and where necessary, with support from nominated individuals in

NTSCB develop and maintain their own Safeguarding Procedures, consistent with the NTSCB

procedures.

Faith communities should ensure that all clergy, staff and volunteers who have regular contact

with children:

Have been checked for suitability in working with children and understand the extent and

limits of the volunteers’ role.

Are sensitive to the possibility of child abuse and neglect.

Have access to training opportunities to promote their knowledge.


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Know how to report any concerns about possible abuse or neglect.

Are vigilant about their own actions so they cannot be misinterpreted.

The faith communities should:

Nominate an individual to take responsibility for drawing up and maintaining policy for child

protection.

Have guidelines about the care of children in the absence of parents, which respect the

rights of the child and the responsibilities of the adults towards them.

Have guidelines about safe caring practices e.g. not being alone with children without

alerting others to the reason, ensuring all allegations, however minor, are reported to the

agency/group manager/leader.

Ensure that any organisations that hire premises e.g. playgroups have Safeguarding and

Child Protection Procedures in place.

Promote and maintain links with the statutory agencies in relation to both general and

specific child protection matters.

Whenever there is concern that a child has been abused or neglected the concern should be

referred, without delay, to Children’s Social Care who can also be contacted for consultation.

Members of the Community

It is important that all members of the community understand that safeguarding children is a

concern for everyone and that effectiveness of professional agencies will depend on the

awareness and support of the public.

If any member of the public is concerned that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect they

should contact the Front Door Service and ask to speak to the duty officer. Alternatively, in an

emergency the Police can be contacted.

There are also national telephone lines where a referral can be made;

NSPCC National Child Protection line.

NSPCC Asian Child Protection helpline, which provides advice in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu,

Gujarati, Bengali and Sylheti.

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