HSCB Initial Multi-agency
Safeguarding Course
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the participants will be able to:
State the legal and procedural framework.
Understand their own role within their agency with
regard to safeguarding.
Recognise roles and responsibilities of other agencies.
Understand the Herefordshire Pathway of Intervention
Identify the factors that impact on the vulnerability of
children
Recognise the multi-disciplinary nature of the child
protection process.
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Learning Principles
To value and listen to contributions
To question differences constructively,
in a manner that is enabling to the process of the
group and the objectives of the course
To address and challenge oppressive behaviour
or language
To support a principle of confidentiality about
personal issues and feelings
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Introduction
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Influences for Change
Victoria Climbe
Peter Connolly
Kyra Ishaq
Holly Wells and Jessica Tate
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Framework of Legislation
and Guidance
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
Ratified by the UK in 1991
Children Act 1989
Education Act 2002
The Laming Report 2003
Children Act 2004
Working Together to Safeguard
Children – 2013
Every Child Matters –
Change for Children - 2004
The Bichard Report 2005
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Safeguarding Children and Safer
Groups Act - 2006
Recruitment in Education - 2006
What to do if you’re worried a
child is
being abused - 2006
The Protection of Children in
England: A Progress Report 2009
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Working Together 2013 –
Key Changes
Child Centred
Alert Professionals
Information Sharing
Professionals contribute and review regularly
LSCB’s to co-ordinate and challenge
Publish SCR’s
Local Innovation
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Working Together to
Safeguard Children 2013
Children have said that they need
Vigilance: to have adults notice when things are troubling them
Understanding and action: to understand what is happening; to be
heard and understood; and to have that understanding acted upon
Stability: to be able to develop an on-going stable relationship of trust
with those helping them
Respect: to be treated with the expectation that they are competent
rather than not
Information and engagement: to be informed about and involved in
procedures, decisions, concerns and plans
Explanation: to be informed of the outcome of assessments and
decisions and reasons when their views have not met with a positive
response
Support: to be provided with support in their own right as well as a
member of their family
Advocacy: to be provided with advocacy to assist them in putting
forward
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Clear lines of
accountability for
safeguarding
arrangements
Priorities in
strategic policy
documents &
commission
strategies
Safeguarding
policies inc. CP
policy and
complaint
procedures in line
with LSCB
Effective recruitment,
selection and
contractual
procedures including
safeguarding checks
Procedures for
dealing with
allegations
against staff
/volunteers
Safeguarding
and Promoting
Children
Welfare
Whistleblowing
and culture of
sharing concerns
Culture of
listening to and
consulting with
children
Arrangements for
staff/volunteer
training ,
supervision and
support
Arrangements of
working with other
organisations and
information
sharing
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Influences
Local Safeguarding Children Board
Joint Inter Agency Procedures and Protocols www.herefordshiresafeguardingchildrenboard.org.uk
Ofsted Inspections
Both Local Authority
and Education
Herefordshire Serious
Case Reviews &
Significant Incident
Learning Process
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Themes from serious case
reviews
Need to ensure clarity regarding making referrals
WHEN – recognising and understanding
safeguarding issues
HOW – understanding the process and roles and
responsibilities
BARRIERS - perceptions of thresholds
Need to ensure an awareness in adult services of the
needs of children and the impact of parents
behaviour on their health and development
Need for greater understanding of the role of
information sharing within and between agencies
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Themes from serious case
reviews
Need to be aware of and follow the Inter Agency
Procedures for Safeguarding children and to make
use of available tools
Need for holistic assessment and analysis of
information to ensure a focus on the needs of the
child
Need to ensure effective communication with children
takes place
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Themes from serious case
reviews
Need to assess all family members and in particular
fathers and partners with a focus on their history and
possible risks to children
Need for all services to be realistic about the impact
on children of adult needs and behaviours such as
substance misuse
Need to be aware of risk factors e.g. domestic
violence and the cumulative nature of risk for both
adults and children
Need to promote evidenced based practice and
challenge parents when appropriate
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Working with Resistant,
Violent and Aggressive
Families
No significant change at reviews despite significant input
Parents/carers agreeing with professionals regarding changes
but put little effort into making changes work
Change does occur but as a result of external
agencies/resources not parent/carer efforts
Change in one area of functioning is not matched by change
in other areas
Parents/Carers will engage with certain aspects of the plan
only
Parents/carers align themselves with certain professionals
Child’s report of matters conflicts with parent’s/carer's report
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Possible Impact
Inability to obtain accurate information to inform
assessments
Violent/intimidating behaviour may result in ‘keeping
professional at bay’
Usual sources of information/alternative perceptions
may be affected
Need to work out specifically which areas of
assessment are difficult to achieve and why
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Review of Vetting and
Barring Scheme
Independent Safeguarding Authority ( ISA) has been
merged with CRB – Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS)
Existing duty on a ‘regulated activity provider’ to
ascertain whether a person is barred before
engaging in regulated activity remains.
Definition of ‘regulated activity’ has been amended
so the range of posts falling within it has been
reduced
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Review of Vetting and
Barring Scheme
Requirement to register has been repealed
Duty to refer to ISA remains.
Offences remain the same
Copies of CRBs will be issued to the applicant only
and not copied to the body countersigning the
application at the same time
Certificates will be updated on a continuous basis
removing they need to make repeat applications
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
The Safeguarding Pathway
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Safeguarding is much more
than Child Protection
Develop
appropriately
including health
and education
Stay safe from
maltreatment,
neglect, violence
and sexual
exploitation
Wellbeing of
the Child
Have security,
stability, and are
cared for
Safe from bullying
and discrimination
Safe from
accidental injury
and death
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Safeguarding and Child
Protection
‘Safeguarding’ is:
Protecting children from maltreatment
Preventing impairment of health or development
Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent
with the provision of safe and effective care
Enabling children to have optimum life chances in
adulthood
‘Child Protection’ is:
A part of safeguarding and promoting welfare
Refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect
specific children who are suffering, or are likely to
suffer, significant harm
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Statistics
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Statistics
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Statistics
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Statistics
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Statistics
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Statistics
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Herefordshire Levels of Need
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Assessment Framework
Triangle
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Herefordshire Levels of Need
and Service Response
Guidance
Document aims to summarise the different levels of
need that a child or family may experience and
shows how typical interventions from a range of
services can meet theses needs
Consistent application of assessments processes
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Key Points
Model based on 4 levels of need
Centre of the windscreen is CAF – a holistic
assessment and review which stays with the child or
young person as they move across the levels of
need.
Other more specialist assessments will feed into the
CAF
Introduction of the Eligibility and Priority Framework
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Pathway of Needs
CAF
Multi-agency Groups
Child in Need – Section 17
Section 47 Significant Harm
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Policies and
Procedures
CAF Manual of Guidance
Herefordshire Levels of Need and Service Response
Guidance
Multi-Agency Groups Guidance
Standards and Guidance for Multi-Agency Referrals
to Children’s Social Care
HSCB – Inter agency Procedures and Protocols
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Multi-Agency Groups
Meetings of key practitioners from different local
agencies and settings
Identify vulnerable children and young people in a
locality and try to ensure they receive the support
they need through Common Assessment process
Provide support to practitioners who are completing
CAFs
Share any additional information that is relevant
which may have not been identified in the CAF
Identify any resources and interventions from within
the group which may meet the needs identified in the
CAF
Agree a plan of action which will address the needs
identified and who will carry out different aspects of
the plan
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Case Exercises
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Levels of Need
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
CAF/MAGS
CAF/MAGS
MASH
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Child In Need
Children Act 1989 Sec 17
A child shall be taken to be in need if:
They are unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the
opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable
standard of health or development without the
provision for them of services by a local authority
under this part
Their health or development is likely to be
significantly impaired, without the provision of such
services
The child/young person is disabled
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Significant Harm
The Children Act 1989 Section 47
Concept of Significant harm – to justify compulsory
intervention in family life in the best interests of
children
Local Authority – duty to makes enquiries where it has
reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering
significant harm
Defined by the Children Act 1989
 Ill treatment(including sexual abuse and physical
abuse
 Impairment of health (physical or mental) or
development (physical, intellectual, emotional,
social or behavioural) as compared to a similar
child
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Case Exercises
In your groups watch the 8 scenarios and identify
signs and indicators of concern
Discuss and outline what your group thinks that
professional in the clip needs to do with their concern
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Referral to Children's
Services
A referral is “a request to Children Services for
assessment or for services to safeguard and promote the
welfare of a child in need.”
Referral to Multi- Agency Safeguarding Hub – MASH
01432 260800 / www.herefordshire.gov.uk/MASH
Decisions about referral made within 24 hrs
Decisions can include to:
 Provide advice and guidance
 Signpost to appropriate agency
 Undertake a short piece of work e.g. write a letter,
send a leaflet (within 24 hours)
 Initiate section 47 enquiries
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Key terms
Referral to children’s social care
Initial assessment
Strategy discussion
Child protection enquiry
Child protection conference
Core assessment
Child protection plan
Core group
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
The safeguarding system
CAF/MAG
Early intervention
Contact
Referral
M.A.S.H
Strategy Discussion
Single
Assessment
Child in
Need
Section 47 Enquiry
Children
Looked
After
Single
Assessment
Initial Child Protection
Conference
Child subject to
a Child
Protection Plan
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Final key messages
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
All children have an equal right to protection
Some children need additional consideration to keep
them safe
We are an important
partner in inter-agency
co-operation
We support our staff to
keep our pupils safe
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Contacts
The M.A.S.H: 01432 260800
(Professionals’ number to seek advice or report a
concern)
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 01905 768020
CAF
NSPCC:
0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk
This is a free 24 hour service which provides counselling,
information and advice to anyone concerned about a
child at risk of abuse.
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Child Sexual Exploitation
and Trafficking
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
What is it?
Exploitative situations, contexts and relationships
where young people receive something as a result of
performing, and/or others performing on them sexual
activities
Power over them by virtue of their age, gender,
intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other
resources
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Child Trafficking
Involves the transport of young people across
international or national boundaries for the purpose
of exploitation which can be of a sexual nature but
also includes financial exploitation and forced labour.
It can also involve the trafficking and prostitution of
local children and young people by organised gangs.
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Introduction
Child Sexual exploitation and trafficking are forms of
child abuse
Characterised by child’s perceived position of the
limited availability of choice ,experience and
understanding compounding their vulnerability
Use of fear deception coercion and violence
Link between children missing from home/care and
being sexually exploited is very strong
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Key Facts about CSE
Age – often starts at 12-13
Gender – affects girls and boys
Ethnicity – happens in all communities
Vulnerability – Any young person can be targeted
Especially vulnerable groups –Looked after children,
Children leaving care, Children missing from home,
Children with learning difficulties
Victims may be trafficked (locally, regionally,
nationally)
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Key Facts about CSE
Girls are targeted from age 10-11
Boys are targeted from age 8
25-30% of referrals are boys
Victims from LAC and non-statemented learning
difficulties are over represented in referrals.
(Safe and Sound’s Experience)
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Key Facts about CSE
Over 70% of adults involved in prostitution were
sexual exploited as children or teenagers (YWCA
2002, JAGO AND PEARCE 2008)
This highlights the importance of prevention ,
detection and early intervention
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Grooming Models
Party models
Gang culture
Young people as conduits
Internet/sexting
Social groups in regular locations
Mobile phones
Domestic Trafficking
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
What are the signs?
Going missing for periods of time of regularly
returning home late
Regularly missing school or not taking part in
education
Appearing with unexplained gifts or new possessions
Associating with other people involved in exploitation
Having older boyfriends or girlfriends
Suffering from sexually transmitted infections
Mood swings or changes in emotional well being
Drug and alcohol misuse
Displaying inappropriate sexualised behaviour
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Environment and Vulnerability
Parenting capacity/history
Drug and alcohol abuse
Learning difficulties
Mental health issues
Family breakdown
Bereavement especially pre-adolescence
Poverty
Tolerance of children going missing
Previous abuse particularly emotional/sexual
‘Created vulnerability by over-protective parents
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Local Context
HSCB annual report – highlights the potential risk
factors
Large number of residential providers in the county –
significant numbers placed from other authorities –
increased number of children missing from care
Potential hidden numbers from migrant workers.
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board
Actions
HSCB Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Plan 20122015
Multi-agency task and finish group
Dataset being developed
Risk assessment matrix adopted
Awareness training incorporated into HSCB
Safeguarding courses
Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board