1. Revised & UPDATED Southend, Essex & Thurrock (SET) Child Protection Procedures 2015
What Has Changed?

2. Why New Procedures?
Working Together to Safeguard Children new statutory guidance detailing how organisations should work together to safeguard children. Change in statutory guidance required the SET Child Protection Procedures 2011 to be updated
Revised SET procedures reflect current practice

3. So What’s Changed?
No substantial changes to the way practitioners work together to safeguard children
Lay out and looks different (based on the London procedures)
Section A – ‘Core’ statutory procedures
Section B – Additional guidance
A change from initial and core assessments to single social work assessments
There are some differences to the previous Procedures as detailed in the following slides.

4. The Differences – Part A Chapter 1
Responding to Concerns of Abuse and
Neglect
Where abuse is alleged, suspected or confirmed in a child admitted to hospital, the child must not be discharged until the local authority children's social care local to the hospital and the child's home address (may be two different local authorities) are notified by telephone that there are child protection concerns.

5. The Differences – Part A Chapter 2
Referral and Assessment
Reference to early help assessments and their role within referrals and assessments by Social Workers. Each Local Authority will still have its own referral routes
Each Local Authority with partners must develop their own local framework for assessments
Now a single social work assessment
Reference to pre-birth referrals and assessments

6. The Differences – Part A Chapter 3
Child Protection s47 Enquiries  
No substantive changes

7. The Differences – Part A Chapter 4
Child Protection Conferences
The basic principles to child protection conferences remain the same.
Acknowledges that LAs may have different models or approaches of CP conferences e.g. Strengthening Families approach.
Looked after children with child protection plans has more detailed guidance

8. The Differencess – Part A Chapter 5
Implementation of Child Protection Plans
No significant changes, the basic principles remain the same.

9. The Differences – Part A Chapter 6
Children and Families Moving Across Local
Authority Boundaries
Negotiated departure from this procedure should be confirmed in writing by both the originating and receiving local authorities within 48 hours of the agreement being made
Change in who to share info with (should be GP and community staff ie. HV/SN). Children and carers should be made aware that information will be shared, but consent is not specifically sought
All attendances of children at emergency departments should be communicated to the child's GP

10. Part A Chapter 6 - cont’d
Where a child is a mother/expectant mother and is accommodated or subject to leaving care arrangements and is placed in another local authority, the authority in which the mother is living is responsible for the baby
If first line managers or child protection managers are unable to agree case responsibility, the conflict resolution process in Appendix 2, LSCBs, quality assurance and conflict resolution, should be followed

11. The Differences – Part A Chapter 7
Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers, Who
Work with Children
Clarity regarding LADO thresholds
Enhanced categories of outcomes of investigations
Lists bodies with a legal duty to refer and also those with the power to refer.
Essex CC will also be issuing stand alone guidance
specific to Essex

12. The Differences – Part A Chapter 8
Organised and Complex Abuse
The definition is extended to include abuse by the use of electronic devices and social media.
Additional guidance about the outcome of investigations, where information sharing may occur to support disciplinary proceedings against the alleged abuser
Referral of suspected abusers to the DBS

13. The Differences – Part A Chapter 9
Death of a Child
More detailed but no substantive changes

14. The Differences – Part B Chapters 1-16
Covers general practice guidance, and learning and improvement, which are the  principles laid down within Working Together to Safeguard Children Consequently there are no substantive changes

15. The Differences - Part B Chapter 17
Safeguarding Children Affected by Domestic Abuse and Violence
The definition of domestic abuse is updated to include controlling and coercive behaviour.  The chapter offers additional guidance about the impact of domestic abuse and how disclosure by victims and children may be enabled.
Recognises that domestic abuse can be perpetrated in relation to forced marriage and honour based abuse

16. The Differences - Part B Chapter 17 cont’d
Safeguarding Children Affected by Domestic Abuse and Violence cont’d
Information relating to Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) has been significantly updated and can be found in Appendix 5 to this chapter.
The appendices to this chapter give additional advice on how to communicate with children (Appendix 3), mothers (Appendix 4) and perpetrators (Appendix 9) of domestic abuse, and how safe plans can be formed (Appendix 7).  A summary of civil and criminal legislation relating to domestic abuse is also given (Appendix 6).

17. The Differences - Part B Chapter 18
Disabled Children
No substantive changes
Advice regarding employing a personal assistant is not included

18. The Differences - Part B Chapter 19
Fabricated or Induced Illness
Emphasises referral to social care at point of seeking second opinion due to suspicions & role of paediatrician as lead.
Strategy meetings require Designated Doctor and Designated Nurse involvement.

19. The Differences - Part B Chapter 20
Children and Young People Missing from Care, Home or School Chapter to be included at a later date following review.

20. The Differences - Part B Chapter 21
Not Attending School
No substantive changes

21. The Differences - Part B Chapter 22
Socially Excluded and Isolated Children
Makes reference to a wider range of factors linked to social exclusions
Makes specific reference to issues of social exclusion and isolation relating to families that have recently immigrated into the country and to children who are unaccompanied asylum seekers.

22. The Differences - Part B Chapter 23
Missing Families for Whom there are
Concerns for Children or Unborn Children
No substantive changes

23. The Differences - Part B Chapter 24
Safeguarding Children from Sexual
Exploitation
Significant rewrite to update definitions of child sexual exploitation
Identifies characteristics of children who may be vulnerable to CSE and possible indicators of CSE.
Reflects the agreed SET risk assessment framework and referral pathways.
Sets out the role of different organisations and gives information about the legal framework.

24. The Differences - Part B Chapter 25
Information and communication technology (ICT) based forms of abuse
Section on allegations against colleagues and in supplementary guidance makes the specific link between making, distributing and viewing of child sexual abuse images and ‘hands on’ or offline abuse.
Specifically outlines the role of CEOP and supporting parents/carers.

25. The Differences - Part B Chapter 26
Safeguarding Trafficked and Exploited Children (2011
chapter titled ‘ Unaccompanied Child and Young People
arriving in the UK’).
Specifically focusses on child trafficking with an additional 10 pages of information including:
Trafficking Schemes
Risk Indicators
Private Fostering
Refugee Council Children's Panel
Issues for professionals to consider when working with trafficked and exploited children
Issues for the prosecution of trafficker

26. The Differences - Part B Chapter 27
Safeguarding Sexually Active Children
No substantive changes

27. The Differences - Part B Chapter 28
Young Parents (19 years old and under)
New addition to the Procedures for guidance only. All procedures fit in with existing well established pathways.

28. The Differences - Part B Chapter 29
Safeguarding Children Affected by Gang Activity/Serious Youth Violence
Reflects research and learning over the past few years. Additional sub-headings include:
Definition of a gang (serious youth violence)
Community and Family Circumstances
Weapons
Girls and sexual exploitation
Violent Extremism

29. The Differences - Part B Chapter 30
Safeguarding Children Policy for Licensed
Premises
Basic principles remain the same, however provides more detailed guidance clarifying:
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) has oversight of licencing applications in respect of safeguarding children.
Definition of child abuse and neglect
Safeguarding children procedures to be followed by owners and staff of licensed premises

30. The Differences - Part B Chapter 31
Young Carers
No substantive changes

31. The Differences - Part B Chapter 32
Children Harming Others
Clarity around criminal age of responsibility; consulting with MAPPA; and information sharing responsibilities.

32. The Differences - Part B Chapter 33
Bullying
Refers to:
Children’s partnerships tackling bullying as part of their wider role in safeguarding children and young people.
The Anti-Bullying Alliance support to local areas to tackle bullying in their communities.

33. The Differences - Part B Chapter 34
Firesetting
Explains the referral process and makes reference to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Juvenile Firesetters Scheme

34. The Differences - Part B Chapter 35
Self-harming and Suicidal Behaviour
Details:
Indicators
Risks
Protective and supportive action
Information sharing and consent
Hospital treatment in line with the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) June 2013.
Comprehensive links to publications about self-harm and suicide

35. The Differences - Part B Chapter 36
Children Living Away from Home
Added sections:
Residential Care
Adoption
Boarding School
Custodial settings for children. Should be read in conjunction with 2.20
Hospitals – more information/guidance
Foreign Exchange Visits – more guidance for schools on assessing suitability of host families

36. The Differences - Part B Chapter 37
Historical Abuse
Provides clarity around referral process 
Has more detailed guidance on which processes the local authority children’s social worker can take

37. The Differences - Part B Chapter 38
Children Visiting Custodial Settings
Guidance on the procedures for prisoners in a custodial setting having contact with children
Guidance about the multi agency assessment carried out by the prison service to determine any risk presented to a child and the suitability of contact.

38. The Differences - Part B Chapter 39
Children Visiting Mental Health Wards and
Facilities
Provides guidance for children visiting adult patients in all psychiatric in-patient settings.
Mental Health practitioners should note this new guidance

39. The Differences - Part B Chapter 40
Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Culture
No substantive changes

40. The Differences - Part B Chapter 41
Parents where there are Specific or Multiple
Issues
Brings together guidance on parents who misuse substances; parenting capacity and mental illness; and parenting capacity and learning disability

41. The Differences - Part B Chapter 42
Further Safeguarding Information
New sections include:
Blood borne viruses
Pre-trial therapy
Diplomats families
Under animal abuse section note the new number for the RSPCA

42. Where Do I Find the Procedures?
The SET Child Protection Procedures can be found on the Southend, Essex and Thurrock LSCB websites:
Southend –
Essex –
Thurrock –