Every Child Matters in
Lincolnshire
Annie Farrow-Smith
TAC Coordinator
Introductions
•R espect people’s right to speak and be heard
•E njoy the course and it’s ok to laugh
•S haring information and confidentiality
•P articipation
•E quality and diversity
•C hallenge appropriately
•T reat yourself kindly
CAF TAC
Team Around the Child
Meeting the Needs of Children
Annie Farrow-Smith
TAC Coordinator
Aims of Presentation:
Explain the changes to
interagency arrangements for
safeguarding all children
following the implementation
of The Children Act 2004 and
Working Together to
Safeguard Children 2006.
Why must we safeguard children?
• The Children Act 1989
• Lord Laming’s inquiry into the death of Victoria
Climbié 2000
• The Children Act 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006
The full extent of the abuse Victoria
suffered was outlined during the
public inquiry into her death, which
was led by Lord Laming. The details
are shocking, but do remind you of
the responsibilities you have as
someone who is in contact with
children
Victoria Climbié Agency
Overview
NSPCC
run
Family
centre
Three
housing
departments
two GPs,
two
hospitals
Failure at every
level of the
organisation
two police
child
protection
teams
four social
services
Victoria Climbie Enquiry
Lord Laming 2003
I am in no doubt that effective
support for children and families
cannot be achieved by a single
agency acting alone. It depends
on a number of agencies working
well together.
It is a multi
disciplinary task.
Baby Peter
Enquiry
Lord Laming 2009
• Every
Children’s
trust
should assure themselves
that partners consistently
apply
the
Information
Sharing Guidance published
by DCSF to protect children
•Some agencies still think that they are helping out social
care rather than thinking that safeguarding is everybody’s
responsibility.
Updated November 2008
Family Q Executive Summary
28 agencies provided services to the family over
a 35 year period
Professionals failed to listen and consider the
situation from the childs perspective
Lack of analysis of families changing
circumstances
Updated November 2008
Children’s Trusts Arrangements
•
Key Strategic Themes
•
All children achieving potential –
excellence in learning with support
Prevention – early action resulting in
a shift of resources from Specialist to
Universal
A new, single organisation –
developing integrated working
Safeguarding our children –
ensuring children are safe in every
environment
Participation and aspiration –
listening to and acting on what
children, parents/carers tell us
Partnership – creating sustainable
futures through collaboration
•
•
•
•
•
Brilliant Lincolnshire –
Core Values
1. Developing Self esteem and self belief and aspirations to
succeed.
2. Creating an environment where Children and Young
People feel they belong and are part of successes.
3. Working together to create a shared sense of purpose
and identity.
4. Developing a culture of praise and encouragement.
5. Valuing effort, achievement and acquisition of life skills.
6. Encouragement through focusing on the positive.
7. Taking time to really listen, to allow challenges and to
learn from those challenges.
8. Helping Children and Young People develop self worth.
9. Listening “to” and acting on “what” Children and Young
People tell us.
Early Intervention and Integrated
working :
• Improve information sharing
• A common assessment framework form
• Introduce a lead professional
• Integrate professionals through multi-disciplinary
teams
• Co-locate services
• Ensure effective child protection
Group
Exercise
(What to do when?)
Log
CSC Arrange
TAC Team 01522 782225
Children's Services
Lincolnshire County Council
Meeting the Needs of Children
Implement
Review
Info
gathering
Action
planning
Risk
factors
Risk
Analysis
Protective
factors
Assessment Framework
Things that make you worried…
These are factors in the child’s world which are
likely to increase the chance of harm occurring:
• Lack of protective factors
• Poor prognosis of change in circumstances
• Compounding factors emanating from the
environment
• Children with disabilities – among the most
vulnerable
What sort of factors might this include?
Things that make you less
worried
These are factors in the child’s world which protect
them or make them resilient to harm:
• School - teacher, after school club, breakfast club
• Relatives / adults other than parents who provide
care / positive experiences
• Temperament and personality - do adults like the
child
• One supportive parent
• Sibling support
• Sense of humour in child
• Good social skills and intelligence
Children Act 1989
• S 17 of the Children Act 1989. (Child In Need)
• Criteria:
• those children whose vulnerability is such that they are unlikely to
reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development,
or their health and development will be significantly impaired,
without the provision of services plus those who are disabled
• S 47 of the Children Act 1989 (Child In Need Of Immediate
Safeguarding)
• Criteria:
• Some children are in need because they are suffering, or likely
• to suffer, significant harm. The Children Act 1989 introduced the
• concept of significant harm as the threshold that justifies
compulsory
• intervention in family life
But what is significant harm?
Harm is defined in Section 31 (9 & 10) of Children Act 1989
• As ill treatment or impairment of health or development. In
this context
• Ill treatment includes sexual abuse and other forms of ill
treatment which are not physical
• Health means physical or mental health
• Development includes physical intellectual emotional social
or behavioural development
• “where the question of whether harm suffered by a child
is significant... It shall be compared with that which
could reasonably be expected of a similar child”
Every Child Matters: Change for Children
2004, identifies the following target:
“Children affected by repeat domestic violence
are identified, protected and supported”.
This target is located under the 'staying safe'
banner.
Yet all of the five key outcomes for
children/young people identified in Every Child
Matters can be adversely affected by living with
domestic violence.
Children and young people living in domestic
abuse situations will be suffering a level of
emotional abuse.
What do you do if you are worried
about a child
• If you are worried about the welfare of a child, these
concerns should be discussed with a manager, or
designated person with responsibility for safeguarding
children within your organisation
• If you still have concerns, and consider the child is at risk
of significant harm; make a referral through Customer
Service Centre 01522 782111 All referrals should be
followed up in writing, using the CAF form, within 24
hours
What do you do if you are worried
about a child
• In general if you are making a referral, seek to discuss this
with the child, as appropriate to their age and
understanding, and with their parents.
- If this is a referral to Social Care (keep them informed)
- If this is a referral to TAC (you need to gain consent)
• This is unless… you consider such a discussion would
place the child or a family member at further risk of
significant harm.
Remember it is not your role to determine
whether or not abuse has taken place.
Everybody’s Business!
“…it is important to emphasise that we
all share responsibility for
safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children and young people,
whether as a parent or family
member, a friend or neighbour, an
employer, or as a paid or volunteer
worker.”
Para 2.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006
Anti Bullying
Policies
Attendance
Early
Intervention
for children
and families
Safeguarding
Child Protection
Curriculum
Behavior
Management
Health
and
Safety
Whistle blowing
Safe Recruitment
and Selection
Managing
Allegations
Against Staff
and staff
conduct
Building
Design
Group Exercise
Information Sharing
Sharing of Information
• Sharing of information is essential.
• Balanced with duty of confidentiality
• Jigsaw effect
• Proportionality
Share with consent where possible unless doing
so puts a child at more risk of harm
Whose consent ?
A person, who has the capacity to
understand and make their own
decisions, may give (or refuse)
consent to sharing.
Children aged 12 or over may
generally be expected to have
sufficient understanding.
People aged 16 and over are
presumed, in law, to have the capacity
to give or withhold their consent to
sharing of confidential information.
Practitioners need to assess whether
a particular person on a particular
occasion has sufficient understanding
to consent, or to refuse consent, to
sharing of information.
Confidential information
Confidential
information is..
personal, sensitive, not already in the
public domain and shared in
confidence
Can be shared if..
authorised by the person who
provided it or to whom it relates
Can be shared
unauthorised if
justified in the
public interest..
• Reasonable cause to believe, that a child is
suffering or at risk of suffering significant
harm
• In the prevention and detection of crime
• Or if information is subject to a court order
Practitioners must weigh up their decision – whether it is to
share or not - and record the reasons for it
Lawful Information Sharing without consent is justified
when
Sharing information : concerns about significant or serious harm
•Seek advice if unsure what to do
Good practice to seek
consent unless this
would increase the risk
Keep individual well being
and safety as overriding
consideration, refer
concerns to social care or
the police
Information sharing decision making
• Decisions require informed judgement
Likely
outcome if
information is
shared
Likely
outcome if
information is
not shared
Information Sharing - Guidance
Recent Government strategy and guidance support the
need for effective information sharing:
• Children Act 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children DCSF
2006
• TAC & Lead Professional
• Common Core Skills & Knowledge for the Children’s
Workforce DCSF 2005
• Sure Start Children’s Centre Practice Guidance
DCSF 2005
• ContactPoint
• Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements
Family Group Conferencing
• Family led meetings which empowers families to develop
there own safe plans to resolve an issue in the family.
Used to resolve contact issues; behaviour problems in
children; find alternative care for children in the court
arena. Used in public and private law. These meetings
are facilitated by a FGC coordinator.
• Professional and self-referrals through Customer Service
Centre Tel No: 01522 782111
• Social care referral through ICS.
• Meeting aims to take place within 4 weeks of referral
with the possibility of a review within 4 – 6 weeks.
What is CAF / What is TAC, why the change?
CAF FORM
• Is an assessment tool for use by all agencies to help determine need
and identify appropriate response...
• Could be a single agency referral, could be TAC, could be a Social
Care referral
TAC PROCESS
• CAF assessment identifies unmet need which warrants a multiagency response
• The TAC Process brings the agencies together with the family to
develop a child’s plan to address unmet needs.
Practitioners should ensure consent is informed
Discussing openly and transparently with the client so they understand……
•Why the information is needed
•Why it should be shared
•Who the information will be shared with
•What the consequences of sharing - and not sharing - would be
Consent
• Absolutely necessary to have consent in order to
undertake a TAC
• Young person is able to consent independently of
parents/carers provided they are Fraser
competent
• Information sharing protocol now available on
www.lincolnshirechildren.net
• Information sharing toolkit also available
How do I complete a CAF
• The CAF form and guidance on
completing the form, can be found on
www.lincolnshirechildren.net
• Locality, multi-agency training
• Seek advice from the TAC Team
TAC Process
• Professional identifies that a young person may
have/has additional needs
• Ring the CSC to establish whether the family already
open to TAC/SC
• Discusses with the Young Person and family the
possibility of TAC
• If in agreement CAF form completed with young
person/family, consent gained, logged with the CSC
and form faxed to the CSC
TAC Process
• TAC Co-ordinator screens the CAF form
to ensure quality and appropriateness.
Outcome:
– Progress to TAC meeting
– TAC not initiated and reason e.g. no
consent single agency referral; insufficient
information; open to social care, etc.
• TAC Meeting arranged (within 15
working days) by the TAC
Administration Team based at the CSC
TAC Process
• A TAC meeting is held; agrees a plan of
action; Lead Professional appointed and
arranges a review date within 6 weeks
(subsequent meetings held within 12 weeks)
• Details of Lead Professional notified to CSC
TAC Meeting
•Identify any further agencies that could assist the child’s plan
•Agree Lead Professional with child/family
•Develop, coordinate and review the action plan
•Improve consistency and joint working
•Communication and information sharing
•Agree and implement exit strategy when appropriate
Role of Lead Professional
Evidence suggests that the lead professional is central to
the effective delivery of integrated services to children
who require support from a number of practitioners.
Role to:
• Act as a single point of contact for the child and family
and professionals.
• Monitors progress of action plan between meetings
• Not accountable for the contribution of other agencies –
each agency is responsible for delivering its part of the
Child’s Plan and accountable to their own agency
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 31%
• Social Care 21%
• Health
23%
• Other
25%
Boston
34%
23%
18%
25%
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 31%
• Social Care 21%
• Health
23%
• Other
25%
East Lindsey
32%
16%
27%
25%
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 31%
• Social Care 21%
• Health
23%
• Other
25%
South Holland
46%
15%
18%
21%
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 31%
• Social Care 21%
• Health
23%
• Other
25%
Lincoln City
23%
27%
27%
23%
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 31%
• Social Care 21%
• Health
23%
• Other
25%
North Kesteven
33%
18%
19%
31%
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 32%
• Social Care 20%
• Health
24%
• Other
22%
West Lindsey
32%
34%
15%
20%
Top referrers into TAC:
Entire County
• Education 31%
• Social Care 21%
• Health
23%
• Other
25%
South Kesteven
27%
16%
30%
27%
Current Lead Professionals
Since April 2007 we have practitioners from a number of agencies
undertaking the role of Lead Professional.
Sure Start
Connexions
SENCO
Family Welfare Association
School nursing
CPN
Housing
Home Start
BIP mentors
SSAFA
Catch 22
Youth Service
PCSO
Portage
Health Visiting
Head Teachers
Addaction
Educational Welfare
Young Carers
Preventative workers
Midwives
3D Youth Services
Women’s Aid
CAMHS
Parenting Support advisors
Registered childminders
Resource Centre, Willows, 509,
Virginia House
Ap
ril
M
ay
Ju
ne
Ju
l
Au y
Se gus
t
pt
em
be
r
O
ct
o
No ber
ve
m
be
De
r
ce
m
be
r
Ja
nu
a
Fe ry
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
Number of CAFs initiated
Entire County TACs initiated
250
200
150
100
50
0
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
Ap
ril
M
ay
Ju
ne
Ju
l
Au y
Se gus
t
pt
em
b
O er
ct
o
No ber
ve
m
be
De
r
ce
m
be
r
Ja
nu
ar
Fe
y
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
No of CAFs initiated
Boston TACs initiated
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
South Holland TACs initiated
35
No of CAFs initiated
30
25
2007-08
20
2008-09
15
2009-10
2010-11
10
5
0
il
r
Ap
ay
M
ne
u
J
ly
u
J
r
r
r
r
t
e
e
e
s
ry
ry
e
ch
b
b
b
u
a
r
a
b
a
g
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m
m
to
ru
nu
u
e
e
e
c
M
b
t
a
A
e
p
O
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ov
ec
F
e
N
D
S
gu
s
ly
t
pt
em
be
r
O
ct
ob
N
ov er
em
b
D
ec er
em
be
Ja r
nu
a
Fe ry
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
Se
Au
ne
ay
ril
Ju
Ju
M
Ap
No of CAFs initiated
South Kesteven TACs initiated
35
30
25
2007-08
20
2008-09
15
2009-10
10
2010-11
5
0
gu
s
ly
t
pt
em
be
r
O
ct
ob
N
ov er
em
b
D
ec er
em
be
Ja r
nu
a
Fe ry
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
Se
Au
ne
Ju
Ju
ril
ay
M
Ap
No of CAFs initiated
North Kesteven TACs initiated
30
25
20
2007-08
15
2008-09
2009-10
10
2010-11
5
0
Ap
ril
M
ay
Ju
ne
Ju
l
Au y
Se gu
pt st
em
b
O er
ct
o
No be
ve r
m
De be
r
ce
m
b
Ja e r
nu
Fe a ry
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
No of CAFs initiated
Lincoln City TACs initiated
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
il
ne
ay
Au ly
Se gu
pt st
em
b
O er
ct
N obe
ov
em r
D
ec be
em r
b
Ja er
nu
F e ar
br y
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
Ju
Ju
M
Ap
r
No of CAFs initiated
East Lindsey TACs initiated
50
45
40
35
30
2007-08
25
2008-09
20
2009-10
15
2010-11
10
5
0
il
ne
ay
Au ly
Se gu
pt st
em
b
O er
ct
N obe
ov
em r
D
ec be
em r
b
Ja er
n
Fe uar
br y
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
Ju
Ju
M
Ap
r
No of CAFs initiated
West Lindsey TACs initiated
40
35
30
25
2007-08
20
2008-09
2009-10
15
2010-11
10
5
0
Developments
• NeCAF – online tool to complete
assessment, ask for support from others;
record actions and outcomes, can be
shared cross authority.
• Quality Assurance Framework (QAF)
• Constantly evolving process
What is happening in Lincolnshire?
• 1 Principal Practitioner, responsible for the
development of TAC County wide and supervision
of TAC Co-ordinators
• 3 TAC Coordinators covering the whole county,
offering support to professionals with the TAC
process, as well as delivering training and sitting on
strategic groups.
• 1 Admin Coordinator and 6 admin posts based at
the Customer Service Centre, Lincoln, responsible
for the administration of the TAC process
Contact Details TAC Coordinators
Name
Kim Lyon – (Principal Practitioner)
Contact number
07825356707
John Darby
07825356713
Annie Farrow-Smith
07825356718
Peter Robinson
07825356709
More Information…
• LSCB E-Academy: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lscb
(and follow the E-learning link)
• The CAF form and guidance on completing the form,
can be found on www.lincolnshirechildren.net
• TAC Inter agency guidance also available
• www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
• Local multi-agency training available
• Seek advice from the TAC Co-ordinators