1. Working Together to Safeguard and Protect Children Delivered by BSCB Training Team 18 th & 19 th October 2012

2. Welcome and housekeeping Fire Toilets Mobile phones Refreshments Timetable Learning Objectives

3. Learning Agreement Confidentiality: What is shared in the room stays in the room (few exceptions) Knowledge: We all have different experiences thus different knowledge, (No such thing as a silly question.) Responsibility: You have a role to play in training. You will get out what you put in Disagreement: it is ok not to agree, but listen and respect others point of view Time keeping: Start on time finish on time Networking: Talk to new people Any Others? Look after yourself The purpose of all BSCB training is to improve safeguarding practice, thereby improving outcomes for children.

4. Introductions Get together in pairs with somebody that you do not know Interview your partner, asking and answering the following questions; Their name Their organisation and their role within it One thing that gives them satisfaction from their role Something about them, that not many people know What their main hope from attending the training is Go back into the main group, and ‘introduce’ your partner to the other delegates

5. Training Aim: To provide participants from the Children’s Workforce with an opportunity to learn in a multi-agency environment about the key principles of safeguarding and protecting children.

6. Objectives: To be able to contribute to and promote children’s welfare e.g. through assessment, planning, participation in core groups, planning groups, conferences and decision making. To acquire sound understanding of processes for effective working together. To be able to communicate and develop working relationships in the interests of children. Be aware of some of the key changes that are taking place

7. Roles and responsibilities of key professionals in the safeguarding processes

8. The Common Assessment Framework I = Identification and action T = Transition N = Needs met Common assessment to be considered from this point Child Protection is just one part of Safeguarding

9. Blackpool Safeguarding Children Board Objectives: To coordinate what is done by each person or body represented on the Board for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the area of the authority by which it is established; To ensure the effectiveness of what is done by each such person or body for those purposes; Sect 13 Children Act 2004 ‘The focus is on children most at risk of serious harm’

10. The legal context for Safeguarding Children Children Act 1989 Framework for Assessment 2000 Education Act 2002 Children Act 2004 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 (Guidance) Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 Blackpool Child Protection Procedures

11. The Children Act 1989 The Act started from the principal that the responsibility for raising children rests with families, and for most children their interests are best served by enabling them to grow up with that family. Local Authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child The Local Authority has a duty to protect children from abuse or harm within the family Agencies are required to work together for the protection and well-being of children (s.27)

12. A period of change

13. Victoria Climbie Died aged 8 in Feb 2000 Physical, emotional, sexual abuse & neglect Great Aunt & Partner were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 Victoria moved countries & areas, had contact with many different agencies Haringay CSC Dept took Victoria off CP Register on the day she died Laming identified 12 key occasions when services could have successfully intervened

14. Baby Peter Had a broken back, cracked ribs, numerous cuts and bruises Not safeguarded despite the fact that he had been put on the ‘at risk’ register and had 60 contacts with health and social work professionals and police over eight months

15. Baby Peter Mother’s cooperation with professionals and appointments, positive response to offers of help, and her own frequent initiations of contact, led to a high level of trust in her. Need for: Constant vigilance Open and inquisitive approach, regardless of any assumptions from previous assessments

16. ‘Thinking the unthinkable’ ‘Adults who deliberately exploit the vulnerability of children can behave in devious and menacing ways. They will often go to great lengths to hide their activities from those concerned for the wellbeing of the child’. ‘Child Protection cases do not always come labelled as such’. Lord Laming

17. Lord Laming report into the death of Baby Peter (2009) Keeping the child at the centre of your work Engaging in effective training and supervision (one to one) No need for further legislative change Practitioners to understand their roles and responsibilities Children and young people get support as early as possible Share information, assess risk and make decisions effectively together

18. Working Together 2010 Statutory guidance on the function of Local Safeguarding Children Boards and how the agencies should work together to safeguard children Guidance on SCRs Functions relating to child deaths

19. Serious Case Reviews (SCR) Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010

20. Serious Case Reviews (SCRs)- a key driver for child protection practice Carried out when abuse & neglect are known or suspected factors when a child dies (or is seriously injured or harmed) & there are lessons to be learnt about interagency working to protect children

21. Serious Case Reviews - Local These are managed by BSCB Case Review Sub Group Child ‘B’ age almost 13 (atoi) Sexual messages - SCR completed 2008 Implications in respect of children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour. Potential ‘child on child’ abuse needs greater emphasis in training. Child ‘F’ a baby who died whilst in the care of a family member; the cause of death was established as overlay There were a number of missed opportunities for agencies to work together and share information All agencies must ensure that assessments, monitoring and support include fathers as routine. Please refer to SCR PAN LANCASHIRE NEWSLETTER in your handout pack

22. Serious Case Reviews Things we need to learn from national studies

23. SCR’s and children with disabilities Support needs to be tailored to the needs of the child Closer links between the safeguarding workers and workers specialising in working with children with disabilities Specific training for safeguarding children with disabilities Robust safeguarding training for organisations specialising in working with children with disabilities Clear communication (with child and family and between agencies) Learning lessons from SCR’s: Ofsted 2009

24. Munro Review 2011 Interim Report Key points: Keep child at the centre of work Early intervention Reduce bureaucracy Strengthen Supervision Multi Agency teams Unannounced inspections SCR (Ofsted not to be used) Strengthen LSCB

25. Economic climate Summer 2012 New ‘Working Together’?? Uncertainty

26. ‘Some of the worst failures of the system have occurred when professionals have lost sight of the child…’ Keep the child in focus

28. Coffee break

29. The Child’s Voice

30. Integrated Working The Jigsaw!

31. Aims and Objectives To further develop a better understanding of common language, which includes the concept of ‘a team around the child’ (integrated working). To improve the common understanding of the different professional responsibilities within the Common Assessment Framework. To enhance the importance of sharing information. This information might be specific only to you or your agency and thus vital to the completion of the ‘jigsaw’.

32. Activity: What are the significant key indicators and events for the given discipline? What further information would you require to meet the needs of the child and family?

33. Jigsaw Voluntary Agencies Social Care Education Police Health Extended Family

34. “…it is only when information from a range of sources is put together that a child can be seen to be in need or at risk of harm.”

35. Information sharing

36. Recognising the uncertainty many of you have about sharing information, particularly outside your own setting, the first cross government guidance on this subject has been published, Information Sharing: Practitioner’s Guide 2006 ‘…it is only when information from a range of sources is put together that a child can be seen to be in need or at risk of harm.’ www.ecm.gov.uk/informationsharing

37. What happens if information is not shared? Victoria Climbie Ian Huntley Lauren Wright Gary Glitter

38. Significant Harm The Children Act 1989 uses the concept of significant harm to justify the compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of the children. The local authority is under a duty to make enquiries where it has reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering significant harm.

40. “Data Protection Disaster” Police chief admits Huntley error” The Chief Constable of Humberside has told the Bichard Inquiry he was "wrong" to claim Ian Huntley's police record was deleted because of the Data Protection Act. Humberside police did not share with Cambridgeshire police four accusations of rape against Huntley, and one of indecent assault on an 11-year-old girl, because of data protection

41. Lauren Wright Lauren was starved and physically abused for months and eventually died This abuse was in full view of various professionals (including doctors and school staff) Moved from Hertfordshire were she was on the Child Protection Register, to Norfolk, but Norfolk SSD not told of her arrival in their area As a result of the failings in this case section 175 of the Education Act 2002 was implemented, clearly defining the responsibilities of all professionals to safeguard children

42. International arrangements A campaign led by NSPCC has resulted in a government crackdown which restricts the movement of sex offenders overseas and allows the authorities to remove their passports. Under the MAPPA arrangement convicted sex offenders (such as Gary Glitter) are required to sign the sex offenders register and remain under supervision for the rest of their lives, including notifying police if they leave the area for more than a few days. This information will need to shared to reduce the abuse of children both here and overseas.

43. Sharing Information Knowing when and how to share information is not always easy – but it is important get it right “ the data protection act is not a barrier to sharing information, but is in place to ensure that personal information is shared appropriately. This guidance is welcome as it sets out a framework to help practitioners share information both professionally and lawfully” Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner

44. How and when do we share information?

45. Confidential information is: Personal information of a private or sensitive nature; and Information that is not already lawfully in the public domain or readily available from another public source; and Information that has been shared in circumstances where the person giving the information could reasonably expect that it would not be shared with others. Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers 2009:p15

46. Consent why information needs to be shared who will see their information the purpose to which their information will be put the implications of sharing that information Consent must be ‘informed’. The person giving consent should understand: HM Government (2006) What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused. Department for Education and Skills, London. Appendix 3

47. Consent Consent can be: explicit – obtaining explicit consent is good practice; can be expressed orally or, preferably, in writing implicit e.g., when a patient agrees to a GP making a referral to a specialist, the patient is also agreeing to the sharing of information with that specialist. (also a Common Assessment) HM Government (2006) What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused. Department for Education and Skills, London. Appendix 3

48. Seven key questions about information sharing 1.Is there a clear and legitimate purpose for sharing information? 2.Does the information enable the person to be identified? 3.Is the information confidential? 4.If so, do you have consent? Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers 2009:p12

49. Seven key questions about information sharing 5.If consent is refused, is there sufficient public interest to share the information? 6.Are you sharing the information correctly and securely? 7.Have you properly recorded your information sharing decision? Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers 2009:p12

50. You could… contribute a vital piece of the jigsaw to prevent the death of a child be the first link in the chain to offer support to a family in crisis

52. Jack’s Story Do you think Jack is a child in need or a child in need of safeguarding?

53. What is Safeguarding Protecting children from maltreatment. Preventing impairment of children’s health or development. Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

54. Every Child Matters Outcomes These aspects of safeguarding contribute to the five outcomes: Stay safe Be Healthy Enjoy and achieve Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well being

55. Maltreatment A person may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or failing to act to prevent harm Children and young people may be abused in a family or an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely by a stranger

56. Significant Harm There is no absolute criteria for identifying significant harm. It is necessary to consider: The nature of the harm The impact on the child’s development The child’s development within the context of their family and wider environment.

57. Significant Harm Harm is defined in the Children Act 1989 as: Ill treatment( including sexual abuse and physical abuse) Impairment of health(physical or mental) or development as compared to that of a similar child Harm now includes the impairment of a child’s health or development as a result of witnessing the ill treatment of another person(Adoption and Children Act 2002)

58. Significant Harm - 2 Any special needs such as a medical condition, communication impairment or disability that may affect the child’s development and care within the family The capacity of the parents to adequately meet the child’s needs The wider environmental context The child’s reactions, wishes, feelings according to age and understanding.

59. Children in Need Children whose vulnerability is such that they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development or That their health or development will be significantly impaired, without the provision of services

60. Do you think Jack is a child in need or a child in need of safeguarding? Watch DVD

61. Groupwork Activity Do you think Jack is a child in need or a child in need of safeguarding? Why have you decided this? What do you think should happen next?

62. Remember Recording Recommendation 12 Frontline staff in each of the agencies which regularly come into contact with families with children must ensure that in each new contact, basic information about the child is recorded. This must include the child’s name, address, age, the name of the child’s primary carer, the child’s GP and the name of their school if they are school age. Gaps in this information should be passed on to the relevant authority in accordance with local arrangements. The Victoria Climbie Inquiry 2003

63. Coffee break

64. Blackpool Children, Adult and Family Services FROM REFERRAL TO CHILD PROTECTION Diane Pennington Group Manager, Central Localities, Children, Adult & Family Services

65. Restructure of the Service May 2011 Still have 3 localities. Teams are: Duty & Assessment 1 & 2 South 1& 2 North 1&2 Central 1&2 Catalyst Awaken

66. Thresholds for referrals to Social Services Child in Need (Section 17, Children Act 1989) Child Protection (Section 47, Children Act 1989) See revised Blackpool Child Protection procedures on line ‘Thresholds’ now often referred to as ‘Eligibility for Intervention’

67. Section 17, Children Act 1989 Child in Need: Unlikely to achieve a reasonable standard of health and development without the provision of additional services by the Local Authority Health or development likely to be impaired without services Disabled

68. Duty of every Local Authority: To safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need So far as is consistent with that duty, to promote the upbringing of such children by their families By providing a range of services

69. REFERRALS and Parental Consent Section 17 Honesty and transparency Members of public (only) have right to confidentiality The assessment will address your concerns Ongoing work will require consent Must seek consent before making a referral

70. Parental consent (cont) You do not need to seek consent if there is evidence to suggest risk to the child which may result in further harm, OR – To do so may prejudice a potential criminal investigation (physical abuse, sexual abuse or criminal neglect)

71. What if consent is refused Section 17 Continue to support and monitor under the CAF Refer if concerns suggest possible significant harm Discuss way forward with the locality Duty Social Worker and your own supervisor Request joint visit with the locality team Climbie enquiry highlighted the importance of the above

72. Section 47, Children Act 1989 Duty to investigate possible significant harm (see online procedures) Possibly in conjunction with the Police Decision to undertake a section 47 investigation taken at a strategy meeting/discussion Outcomes May lead to Child Protection Conference

73. Section 47, Children Act 1989 Duty to investigate possible significant harm (see online procedures) Possibly in conjunction with the Police Decision to undertake a section 47 investigation taken at a strategy meeting/discussion Outcomes May lead to Child Protection Conference

74. CONTINUED State what kind of referral it is Be specific about current concerns Distinguish between fact and hearsay Use bullet points Record carefully any disclosure but do not question the child Explain action taken to date in relation to the CAF process

76. What to do when the CAF is completed Child in Need referral: Post or fax to Football Stadium, Seasider’s way Child Protection referral: Telephone then follow up in writing using the CAF If unsure telephone Duty Social Worker for advice

77. CAF FORM Give as much detail as possible about household members (who has PR?) Dates of birth are essential if available If referring more than one child please fill in a form for each of them The CAF is the only mechanism for referral

78. Response sheet Allocated – section 47 Allocated – Initial Assessment Awaiting allocation Referred direct to… Family sent details of relevant support services Family been offered a duty appointment Information been logged but no action taken Unable to action referral due to not discussing with parents Recommendation that the referrer undertakes a CAF

79. Initial assessment: Gathers information about a child’s development needs Parents’ capacity to meet these needs Family and environmental factors Information analysed Decision made as to action needed Contributing to an Assessment You may be asked for information about the family, including personal/sensitive data

80. Analysis of information gathered Recommendations: Services required, e.g. Children’s Centre, housing or benefits assistance – a child and young persons plan is drawn up identifying actions Emergency accommodation required Begin a Section 47 inquiry if is felt that the child may be at risk of significant harm. Direct to other agencies No further action

81. Core Assessment In depth assessment Is the means by which a section 47 investigation is completed May incorporate specialist information Normally completed in 35 days Is triggered by a section 47 enquiry

82. Ongoing Work with Families Child becomes ‘looked after’ LAC Family support Section 17 basis Referral to other agencies Strategy meeting Care proceedings Convene a Child Protection Conference

83. And Finally – Child Protection in Blackpool Referrals – 2923 for one year (from 01/11/2010-31/10/2011) Blackpool has one of the highest rates of referrals in the country Children LAC 417 in November 2011 Children currently subject to CP Plans 268 Neglect is the highest category for referrals

84. CONTINUED Assessments – 2565 Initial Assessments (over 95% of all referrals lead to IA) 1061 Core Assessments Section 47 investigations 990 (All figures for one complete year from 01/11/2010-31/10/2011)

85. Referral Forms Link on the BSCB website for the referral forms and where to send them to. http://www.blackpoollscb.blackpool.org.uk

86. Tea break Back in 15 minutes

87. Police Role in Child Protection Detective Inspector Tony Baxter

88. Public Protection Unit (PPU) Child Protection Team Domestic Abuse Team (Catalyst) Child Sexual Exploitation Team (Awaken) Dangerous and Sexual Offenders Team Missing Persons

89. Child Protection Team INVESTIGATE Sexual Abuse Physical Abuse Neglect WHERE THERE IS: A family relationship A carer relationship A position of trust relationship BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENCE

90. Child Protection Team Do not investigate Financial Abuse Stranger Abuse of Children Child on child abuse/assault

91. Physical Abuse May involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates or induces illness, or deliberately causes ill health to a child in their care.

92. Medical Examination Why are the necessary? To ensure the child’s condition is medically assessed and treatment given as appropriate. To re-assure the child as to their well being. To obtain an assessment about possible indications of abuse. To ensure that any injuries or signs of neglect or abuse are noted for evidential purposes. To secure forensic evidence.

93. Medical Consent Forensic medical examination only carried out with consent of child – if capacity to give. Or with consent of parent/carer with parental responsibility. If refuse consider Child Assessment Order/EPO.

94. Referral Process Strategy Discussion Joint Decision Joint Investigation Interview with child PPO/EPO Targeted ServicesPolice Family BackgroundMedical/forensic evidence AssessmentsArrest/interview offender Family CourtCharge/RIC/Bail Liaison with Other agenciesBail pending further enquiries Key workerCourt Core groupConviction/Acquittal

95. Who Is Managed Through MAPPA? Category 1 –Registered Sexual Offenders Category 2 –Violent Offenders (and other Sexual Offenders) Category 3 –Other Dangerous Offenders

96. Managing Allegations Amanda Quirke

97. Allegations of abuse against professionals Procedures for dealing with allegations should be be followed where it has been alleged that a member of staff has: behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child; possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children. (Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education – 2007)

98. E-Safety How safe are you when working and socialising with new technologies?

99. LADO contact details Contact details are published on website http://www.blackpool.org.ukhttp://www.blackpool.org.uk Amanda Quirke is the LADO for BSCB. Tel: Email: amanda.quirke@blackpool.gov.uk amanda.quirke@blackpool

100. Children Missing Education Clause 436A of Education and Inspection Bill 2006 “Duty to make arrangements to identify children not receiving education.” ……..this duty is placed on all Local Authorities The definition of CME is a child Not on a school roll Not educated otherwise i.e. home educated or privately Out of education for 4 weeks or more.

101. Child Abuse: Identification of child abuse is almost always arrived at through the piecing together of a number of factors. Therefore abuse can not be identified by ticking a check list. ‘Some of the worst failures of the system have occurred when professionals have lost sight of the child…’ Working Together 2006

102. Working Together to Safeguard Children provides a framework for all professionals to protect children and promote their welfare. Keeping children safe and promoting their wellbeing is clearly a responsibility for us all ……….. Lord Laming 2009