This section gives a definition for the ‘concern’ and gives guidance about what to do if you are concerned about a child or young person. The section covers how to make a referral for a child protection inquiry and the process of Initial Referral Discussions (IRDs), when decisions will be made as to how best to provide help and support and to protect the child or young person. There is a note on the importance of feedback. Finally, the section refers to concerns about organised abuse or abuse involving multiple victims or perpetrators.
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The concept of thresholds is one that does raise questions, even concerns, for many professionals. In the context of protecting children and young people, this section is not about deciding whether a service should be provided to a child, young person or family. It is about deciding what service will best meet the needs of the child or young person, who should be providing it and about making the decision that a concern about a child or young person should be dealt with under child protection procedures rather than in another way.
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This section seeks to promote a shared understanding about the nature of risk taking and decision making and to provide guidance on healthy and defensible risk taking. It is a fairly lengthy section that invites professionals to think about risk-taking - what it means, what is involved.
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We know that, in multi-agency professional practice, this is an area that has caused difficulties. Many professionals feel that issues of confidentiality, consent and information sharing raise conflicting dilemmas. This section guides people through these issues, highlighting the main point that national government and all professional bodies make:- If there is reasonable professional concern that a child may be at risk of harm this will always override a professional or agency requirement to keep information confidential.
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This section discusses what each of the main legal orders available under the Act are, what the considerations need to be when thinking about the need for a legal order and the processes for applying. The orders covered are:
- Child Assessment Orders (CAO)
- Child Protection Orders (CPO)
- Exclusion Orders (EO)
- Emergency Protection powers
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This is a fairly detailed section, taking you through what a case conference is (and is not), all the administrative arrangements for arranging a conference and what a case conference should be doing. The section also discusses the decision-making process in deciding to hold a child protection case conference, examines the role of the chairperson and looks at the role of family members, including the child or young person who is the subject of the conference. It highlights that the sharing of information is a primary purpose of the case conference and considers circumstances in which sharing may have to be restricted. It also provides guidance on how to prepare for attendance at a case conference and what should happen both during and after the conference. The detail of ‘what happens next’ is covered in the section on Child Protection Plans, Core Groups, Case Co-ordination, etc.
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7. THE CHILD PROTECTION REGISTER
This section explains the Child Protection Register - what it is and what it is not. It explores the function of the Register, the criteria for placing the name of a child or young person on the Register and what such registration should mean for the professionals involved. The section concludes with an examination of the relationship between the Register and legal processes and Orders, and provides details of how the Register is managed in Dundee.
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If the name of a child or young person is placed on the child protection register at a child protection case conference, then the inter-professional help and support being provided must be managed, co-ordinated and continually assessed to make sure it is effective and that people are doing the right things. This section provides detailed guidance on the establishment and implementation of child protection plans and how the work of the professionals should be managed, monitored and evaluated via core groups, case co-ordination and professional network meetings.
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Whenever a child or young person who has been assessed as being at risk either moves into, or away from Dundee, professionals must make sure that there is no gap in service provision. There is need for close liaison and information sharing across local government and/or health board boundaries. This section provides the guidance on what actions should be taken. This section also sets out what should happen when a child or young person who is missing; i.e. seems to have left the last known address and cannot be found. It also covers what should happen when another area reports a child missing.
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This section reminds professionals that matters relating to ethnicity, religion and language must be considered when the child, young person and their family are members of a British ethnic minority (BME) community. The guidance emphasises the need to engage an interpreter if the family’s first language is not the same as that of the professionals. It also points out that interpreters should be used at meetings.
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When there are child protection concerns expressed about a child or young person with a disability, or who requires additional learning support, or where parents/carers are affected by a disability or having particular learning needs, then special care must be taken during the assessment, planning and inquiry stages. This section guides professionals through some of the considerations and directs people to sources of advice and assistance. The section also reminds professionals that those involved because of child protection concerns and those who may already be involved because of the disability and/or learning needs must work closely together.
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An ongoing concern is the number of babies born to women who misuse substances. This section provides information about the NHS Tayside Unborn Baby Protocol and the New Beginnings programme, a partnership between NHS Tayside and the council’s social work department to which all substance misusing pregnant women should be referred.
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Describing the behaviour of some adults towards children and young people as sexually exploitative is relatively new. Until recently, some professionals still thought of the issue in terms of child prostitution, which served to divert blame and responsibility onto the young people. Sexual exploitation takes many forms and has complex relationships with young people running away, misusing substances, being involved in crime etc. This section provides guidance that raises awareness and on how to be ready to help and support young people. It provides a link to the detailed joint sexual exploitation protocol that exists between agencies in Dundee.
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This section reminds professionals that when they become aware that a person with convictions against children or young people is acting as a parent, they must take action. It makes clear that there must be a link-up between those acting from a child care perspective, social work criminal justice services and, possibly, the police. The purpose being to ensure that a risk assessment has been, or is being, carried out.
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The linkages between domestic violence and risk to children and young people are well established. This section states that any person who deals with, or is aware of, allegations of domestic violence must consider that any children or young people in the home may be at risk and act accordingly.
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This section of the guidance acknowledges the changing cultural composition of Scotland in the early 21st century and the fact that there are people living in Dundee who may believe that female genital mutilation (FGM) is socially acceptable and do not see it as an abusive act. The guidance stems from the enactment of The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005. The guidance states what FGM is, what signs/circumstances might indicate that children and young people are at risk and what sources of further information and assistance are available to professionals.
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Whilst all allegations or concerns will be dealt with in the same way, this section of the guidance sets out particular matters that need to be taken into account when the allegation is against a foster carer or an employee of one of the CYPPC partner agencies. In relation to employees, this is mainly about disciplinary procedures and how to ensure the safety of other children or young people. A flow chart shows the steps that should be followed, including the particular circumstances that relate to allegations against someone working in an education setting.
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The final section of the guidance is like a ‘links page’. There are many documents referred to in the previous sections. This section highlights other important documents that professionals will need to refer to from time to time, both as a point of reference, but also as a means of learning and enhancing professional knowledge.
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