2. Hertfordshire Children, Schools and Families Child Protection Unit
Presenters:
Jane Stuart
Deputy Head of Child Protection
Gail Valentine
Child Protection Schools Liaison Officer
Mel Leicester-Evans
Local Authority Designated Officer

3. SEMINAR AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this seminar is to:
Develop and enhance Headteachers’ understanding of the role and
function of the CSF Child Protection Unit
By the end of the seminar Headteachers will be able to:
Demonstrate clarity about the Child Protection Conference process
Identify how the Child Protection Schools Liaison Team can support
schools to develop effective safeguarding arrangements and practice
Effectively respond to and manage allegations

4. DELEGATE NEEDS
What do you hope to learn by
attending this seminar?

5. Child Protection Conferences

6. CHILD PROTECTION UNIT

7. THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE
Where agencies most involved judge that a child may
continue to or suffer significant harm, Local Authority
Social Care should convene a Child Protection
Conference.
(Working Together to Safeguard Children DCSF 2010)

8. THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE
To enable those most involved with the child and family
and the family themselves, to assess all relevant
information and plan how best to safeguard and promote
the welfare of the child.
(Working Together to Safeguard Children DCSF 2010)

9. THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE
Should:
Bring together and analyse all information.
Consider all information shared including past and present information.
Make a judgement about likelihood of the child suffering SIGNIFICANT harm in future.
Agree future action, planned outcomes.
What are the developmental needs of the child?
What needs of the child are being met and how?
What needs of the child are not being met and why?
Are the parents able to respond appropriately to the child’s identified needs?
Is the child being adequately safeguarded from harm, and are the parents able to promote the child’s health and development?
What impact are family functioning (past and present) and history, the wider family and environmental factors having on the parent’s capacity to respond to their child’s needs and the child’s developmental progress?

10. SCHOOL ROLE IN THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE
Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010)
states those attending conferences should be there
because they have a significant contribution to make,
arising from professional expertise, knowledge of the child
or family or both. At every conference there should be
attendance by the Local Authority Children’s Social Care
and at least two other professional groups or agencies
that have direct contact with the child.

11. THE EXPECTATION OF SCHOOLS
No surprises. Any concerns should have already been shared with parents / carers (exceptions).
Prepare a written report.
Any reports shared in advance with parents / carers and CSF.
Attend or organise an appropriate school representative with copies.
Fully participate as a professional with expertise and knowledge of the child.
Support the development of the plan, which should be specific, achievable and safe.
Follow through the plan and review at each Core Group.

12. CHILD PROTECTION UNIT’S ROLE
Set up the Conference within 15 working days of final strategy meetings.
Provide a venue, independent Chair and report writer.
Manage the complex meeting considering needs of child, family and professionals.
Separate discussions if needed.
Distribute record and plan from the meeting within 10 working days.

13. INDEPENDENT CHAIR’S ROLE
Available for consultation from any professionals.
Undertake a quality assurance role for the progress of the plan.
Challenge the team if Core Groups are not held, plan not progressing, key worker not accessible and significant change without full consultation.
Available to escalate concerns raised by other professionals.

14. EXPRESSING CONCERNS CPSLO, Deputy Head or Head of Child
Protection are available if you need to escalate
any practice issues.

15. SAFEGUARDING SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS

16. SAFEGUARDING SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS
Child Protection Schools Liaison Officers:
Safeguarding Consultations
Safeguarding Children Training
Safeguarding Audit/Quality Assurance

17. SAFEGUARDING CONSULTATIONS
Targeted Advice Service –
CPSLO on duty to provide safeguarding
consultations to DSPs
Copy of consultation ed to the
DSP and recorded on TAS database/Integrated
Children’s System
Centralised, consistent and comprehensive

18. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN TRAINING
Single Agency Safeguarding Training
Stage one training
School staff
One course ‘Safeguarding Children’
Refreshed every three years
Stage two training
DSPs/Heads
Three courses: ‘One Day DSP’
‘DSP Refresher’
‘Reducing and Managing Allegations Against Staff’

19. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN TRAINING
Completion of
single
agency stage two
safeguarding training.
Access inter-agency
safeguarding training.
Provided or agreed
by the HSCB.
Refresh every two years.
In addition to basic child protection training the designated member(s) of staff
undertakes training in inter-agency working that is provided by, or to
standards agreed by, the Local Safeguarding Children Board, and refresher
training at two yearly intervals to keep her or his knowledge and skills up to
date (DCSF/Ofsted)

20. SAFEGUARDING AUDIT/QUALITY ASSURANCE
Safeguarding checklist
Safeguarding visit
Safeguarding signposting
Support and challenge safeguarding practice

21. HEADTEACHERS AND SAFEGUARDING
Part of the school safeguarding team (DSP, Head and nominated Safeguarding Governor).
Responsible for ensuring DSP role is allocated and safeguarding practice is implemented across the school.
Accountable to Governing Body
Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education
Ofsted Section 5 briefing on safeguarding
Safeguarding checklist

22. ALLEGATIONS MANAGEMENT

23. LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED OFFICER
Involved in the management and oversight of individual cases
Provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations
Liaises with police and other agencies
Monitors the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with a thorough and fair process

24. LADO MONITORING LADO monitors progress: Fortnightly or monthly
Via strategy discussions / management meetings
Through direct liaison with Police / Social care / DSM (employer)
Police set target review dates:
Within 4 weeks of Initial Evaluation
Further fortnightly or monthly reviews

25. GUIDANCE
Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010) and Appendix 5
Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education – Chapter 5
Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures (2007) – Module 10

26. APPLIES TO ALL ORGANISATIONS
All organisations providing services for children or
staff or volunteers to work with or care for
children, should operate procedures for dealing
with allegations which are compliant with the
guidance in Working Together to Safeguard
Children (DCSF 2010) and Appendix 5

27. CRITERIA The procedures cover all concerns where a person who
works with a child has:
Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have
harmed a child, OR
Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related
to a child,
Behaved towards a child / children in a way that
indicates ‘unsuitability’ to work with children

28. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Named Senior Officers (NSO)
LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)
Designated Senior Managers (DSM)

29. CONTACT DETAILS Frazer Smith Mobile: 07920283106 Office: 01992 556935
Mel Leicester-Evans
Mobile:
LADOs WILL WORK ON A DUTY ROTA

30. SEMINAR AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this seminar is to:
Develop and enhance Headteachers’ understanding of the role and
function of the CSF Child Protection Unit
By the end of the seminar Headteachers will be able to:
Demonstrate clarity about the Child Protection Conference process
Identify how the Child Protection Schools Liaison Team can support
schools to develop effective safeguarding arrangements and practice
Effectively respond to and manage allegations

31. Questions?

32. thank you