Child Abuse and the Internet |
This chapter has been updated and now includes information on the recently introduced ‘outcome 21’. Where young people are voluntarily sending/sharing sexual images or content with one another the police may use this new recording code to record that a crime has been committed but that it is not considered to be in the public interest to take criminal action against the people involved. This chapter also links to LawStuff which is run by Coram Children’s Legal Centre and gives free legal information to young people on a range of different issues. |
Domestic Violence and Abuse |
This chapter has been updated by adding a link to Royal College of Nursing, Domestic abuse: Professional Resources, (see Related Guidance). This provides links to websites and organisations providing relevant information and support to victims of domestic abuse. |
Safeguarding Children and Young People who may have been Trafficked |
This chapter has been updated by adding a link to GOV.UK, Modern Slavery: duty to notify, (see Relevant Guidance). These are Factsheets and posters that explain what you need to do if you think someone has been a victim of modern slavery. |
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation |
Section 1, Definition and Key Principles has been updated to take account of the change of definition in Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and Guide for Practitioners (DfE February 2017). A link to Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Progress Report has also been added. (See Other Relevant Guidance/Chapter). |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect |
This chapter seeks to set out the framework for agencies working with children in Liverpool to recognise, understand and respond to the variety of key concerns that may arise, including Non-Recent or ‘historic’ abuse. The chapter should be read in conjunction with two existing chapters: ‘Responding to Need Guidance and Levels of Need Framework’ and ‘Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families’. |
Good Practice Supporting the Voice of the Child |
Effective safeguarding systems must be child centred. Everyone working with children and families must seek the voice of the child and reflect and respond to it in all aspects of work. This is rooted in legislation and good practice. All agencies and professionals should seek to put the needs and views of the child at the centre of their practice and thinking. |
Family Group Conferences |
This chapter has been updated to acknowledge that Liverpool provide the Family Group Conference service and to reflect that children who are on the verge of becoming Looked After, either through Section 20 or as a result of the court, meet the criteria for the service. |
Referral, Investigation and Assessment |
This chapter has been comprehensively amended by updating the referral and assessment procedures. The detail identifies the MARF Form, Early Help assessment and Careline. See:
- Section 1, Introduction;
- Section 3, Response by Professionals in Agency; and
- Section 6, Referrals to Careline.
Please re-reference this important aspect of safeguarding children. |
Initial Child Protection Conferences |
This chapter has been updated to add a link to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Code of Conduct in respect of solicitors attending Children Act meetings, (see Section 5, Who Should Attend?).
Please reference as required to clarify solicitors role in this context. |
Abuse Linked to Spiritual and Religious Beliefs |
This chapter has been updated to include an additional link to ‘DfE, National action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief (2012)’ (see Related Reading) and to add detail with regard to the impact on children as a result of the nature of this abuse. |
Bullying |
This chapter has been updated to add a link to Liverpool Children and families Anti Bullying and anti-homophobic bullying Strategies. The links contained within this site provide a range of helpful information including definitions and resources.
Please re-reference. |
Child Abuse and the Internet |
This chapter has been amended by updating the links NSPCC (2016)’; ‘Sexting in schools and colleges: Responding to incidents and safeguarding young people (2016)’ and ‘Police action in response to youth produced sexual imagery Sexting) (2016)’ and reflecting current issues and risks for children e.g. ‘the dark web’.
Please re-reference. |
Children Who Self Harm |
This chapter has been updated to provide a link to the Liverpool Self Harm Guidance (see Relevant Guidance) and Liverpool Self Harm flowchart (see Section 2, Action to Safeguard).
Please reference the Self harm Guidance and note that the LSCB will provide further training). |
Children Moving Across Boundaries |
This chapter has been amended by updating:
- North West ADCS Protocols: North West Children in Need Moving across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure;
- North West Notification and Transfer of Children Subject of Child Protection Plans across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure; and
- North West Pre-Care and Care Proceedings Notification and Transfer across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure.
Please re-reference. |
Domestic Violence and Abuse |
This chapter has been updated to include the 'Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2016 to 2020 (Home Office, 2016), and the 'Information Guide: Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (APVA)'. Section 1, Definition acknowledges that 'adult to parent violence and abuse' can also include children under 16 years as well, (although this falls outside the formal definition of 'domestic violence and abuse').
Please re-reference this key area of concern. |
Safeguarding Children from Abroad |
This chapter has been amended to identify that the Permanence Team undertake Initial Assessments of UASC, (see Section 2, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)) to reflect the change of the UK Border Agency to UK Visas and Immigration. |
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation |
This chapter has been significantly updated to
include a Appendix 1: MACE Pathway for Concerns Process Map and a new Section 9, Links with Criminal Exploitation.
The Roles and Responsibilities of LSCB's and Individual Organisations section identifies there is a Consultant Social Work post to act as a single point of reference and a monthly strategic MACE meeting convened to provide an overview. The referral process has been amended to update the local procedure (see Section 6.2, Referral). |
Children of Drug/Alcohol Misusing Parents |
This chapter has been updated, in particular to acknowledge that professionals involved with the family should ask parents about the storage of drugs (see Section 2, Action to Safeguard). |
Mental Illness of a Parent or Carer |
This chapter has been significantly updated by emphasising that communication between agencies is key to understanding the impact of the illness upon parenting. New sections on how parents might get help and support to manage their illness when they experience it has also been added (see Section 3, Action to Safeguard). |
Safeguarding Children Affected by Gang Activity and/or Serious Youth Violence |
This chapter has been amended to update the process in respect of the Team Around the Child Meeting with regard to the YOS.
Please re-reference as required. |
Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism |
Section 5, Issues has been updated to include a link to the GOV.UK website to report online material promoting terrorism or extremism. Note also new Prevent Co-ordinator details (see Section 7, Contact Numbers). The ICACU is the operational central authority in England and Wales dealing with the Brussels 11 Regulation and provides a standard response to local authorities explaining the other sources of assistance, information and contact details of other bodies. |
Cross Border Child Protection Cases under the Hague Convention |
This chapter has been updated to add a link to the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU). The linked document itself contains the update link to the DfE ICACU Request for Co-operation Form and Guidance.
Please reference as required. |
Safe Recruitment, Selection and Supervision of Staff |
This chapter has been updated to add a link to North West ADCS, Protocol for Standards in Supervision of Children and Families Social Workers (see Related Guidance).
Please reference. |
Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children |
This chapter has been updated in line with DfE statutory guidance ’Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016'. and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015). Two new Appendices have also been added as additional tools to aid decision-making: Appendix G: Haringey LADO Thresholds Tier Model and Appendix H: Liverpool Agenda and Risk Tool. The chapter also contains definitions for determining the outcome of a matter (see Section 14, Action on Conclusion of a Case). |
Persons Identified as Posing a Risk to Children |
This chapter has been reviewed and some amendments have been made, in particular regarding the Admission to Psychiatric or Children's Hospital (see Section 5, Admission to Psychiatric or Children's Hospital); it is no longer required for the Investigations Support Unit to be involved if there are concerns regarding sexual exploitation in this context. |
Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) |
This chapter has been updated with regard to officers of the agencies that form the Single Point of Contact (S.P.O.C) (see Section 2, MAPPA Single Point of Contact (S.P.O.C) - Children's Services).
Appendix 2: Escalation, Complaints Procedure & Resolution Process Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements – Merseyside has also been added. |
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) |
This chapter has been fully updated and developed and includes Tools as well as the Steering Group Terms of Reference and MARAC Ground Rules. |
Serious Case Reviews |
This chapter has been updated by adding a new Appendix 1: Responding to Cases that May Warrant the Undertaking of a Serious Case Review and Appendix 3: LSCB Serious Case Review: Request for CIEC Consideration Form. Appendix 2: LSCB Critical Incident Evidence Committee Process - Flowchart (reflecting a change of role within the title) and Liverpool LSCB Learning & Improvement Framework (LIF) (see Related Guidance) have been updated and should be re-referenced. |
Learning and Improvement Framework (LIF) |
This chapter has been updated to provide updated and new links: LSCB Learning Improvement Framework (LIF) (see Introduction) and new Appendices:
- Appendix 1: Learning and Improvement Index;
- Appendix 2: LSCB Critical Incident Evidence Committee Process - Flowchart;
- Appendix 3: LSCB Process: Responding to Cases that May Warrant the Undertaking of a Serious Case Review;
- Appendix 4: LSCB Serious Case Review: Request for CIG Consideration Form;
- Appendix 5: Learning and Improvement Framework – Activities.
A link has also been added to the NSPCC, Serious Case Review Quality Markers, (2016) for reference (see Relevant Guidance).
Please re-reference. |
Children Who Run Away or Go Missing from Home or Care Strategy |
This chapter has been amended to amend Appendix 5: Flowchart for Missing Children to provide additional information in respect of actions for social workers in respect of Looked After Children and Child Protection concerns. Some additional detail has also been provided with respect to the ‘Return Interviews’ (see Section 3, Children Missing from Care and Section 5, Return of the Child). |
Young Carers |
This chapter has been fully updated to reference Liverpool’s approach to identifying, assessing and supporting young carers in line with the agreed Adult and Children’s Family Assessment and Early Help (EHAT) Pathway and Liverpool Young Carers Assessment Pathway.
Relevant provisions of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 in relation to young carers came into force on 1 April 2015.
Barnardo's Action with Young Carers Service Liverpool undertake the assessments of children who have been identified. |
Private Fostering |
This chapter links to the Children’s Services manual, which has recently been updated. |
Keywords |
Please note new keywords for:
- Child Trafficking Advocate;
- Slavery and Trafficking/Prevention Order;
- Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order.
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