Issue No: | 1 |
Document Owner: | Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Children Partnership |
Date Approved: | 6th December 2024 |
Date Published: | 9th December 2024 |
Review Date: |
Table of Contents
1. Vision
Our Ambition for Children – Peterborough
Peterborough is ‘A Place Where Children Matter.’ We are ‘Ambitious for every Child,’ regardless of background, age, ethnicity, or gender. We will work respectfully and in collaboration with our communities recognising and valuing difference to ensure every child can meet their full potential.
Our approach is relational, and strengths based, working with children and families to support them to live within their own family wherever possible, whilst intervening respectfully with families when undertaking statutory safeguarding duties.
We will work with all our partners to ensure that Peterborough is a city where children and young people have a happy, safe, and healthy childhood, laying the foundations for a thriving future.
We are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people, at pace, where ‘no child is left behind’
Our key obsessions are.
- Children at the heart of everything we do
- Equal opportunities for every child to reach their full educational potential
- A healthy and safe city for our children
2. Introduction
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children can be defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
- Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Working Together 2023 Working together to safeguard children 2023: statutory guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk) sets out a clear expectation that local agencies will work together and collaborate to identify children with additional needs and provide support as soon as a problem emerges.
Providing early help is far more effective in promoting the welfare of children – and keeping them safe – than reacting later when any problems, for example neglect, may have become more entrenched. The importance of using a child-centred approach in following the child’s journey is also emphasised ensuring there is a whole family focus and holistic assessment and plan. All services which are provided must be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of the individual child in their family and community context.
This document provides a framework for professionals who are working with children, young people and families.
It aims to help identify when a child may need additional support to achieve their full potential. It introduces a continuum of help and support, provides information on the levels of need and gives examples of some of the factors that may indicate a child or young person needs additional support. By undertaking assessments and offering services on a continuum of help and support, professionals can be flexible and respond to different levels of need in different children and families. The framework recognises that however complex a child’s needs, universal services e.g. education and health, will always be provided alongside any specialist additional service.
Along the continuum of need services become increasingly targeted and specialised according to the level of need. Children’s needs are not static, and they may experience different needs – at different points on the continuum – throughout their childhood years.
This document should be used in conjunction with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough multi-agency policies and procedures Multi-Agency Policies and Procedures | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk)
The continuum of need matrix does not provide an exhaustive list but provides examples that can be used as a tool to assist assessment, planning and decision making when considering the needs of children and their safeguarding needs in particular. Any safeguarding indicators of concern should always be considered alongside any related needs. It should be remembered that some children will have additional vulnerability because of their disability or complex needs and the parental response to the vulnerability of the child must be considered when assessing needs and risks.
For some areas of need there are specialist multi-agency tools available to assess those needs such as
Domestic Violence
Dash risk assessment resources for professionals – SafeLives
Child Neglect
Criminal Exploitation
Child Sexual Abuse
Remember – where there is an urgent and immediate need to protect a child, dial 999 to contact the Police. Otherwise for all other children who may be at risk of significant harm, contact the relevant Local Authority, Children’s Social Care Service as soon as possible.
3. The Four Levels of Need
Level 1: No additional needs
These are children with no additional needs; all their health and developmental needs will be met by universal services. These are children who consistently receive child focused care giving from their parents or carers. The majority of children living in each local authority area require support from universal services alone.
Level 2: Early help
These are children with additional needs, who may be vulnerable and showing early signs of abuse and/or neglect; their needs are not clear, not known or not being met.
This is the threshold for a multi-agency early help assessment to begin. These are children who require a lead professional for a co-ordinated approach to the provision of additional services such as family support services, parenting programmes and children’s centres. These will be provided within universal or targeted services provision and do not include services from children’s social care.
Level 3: Children with complex multiple needs
These children require specialist services in order to achieve or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development or to prevent significant impairment of their health and development and/or who are disabled. They may require longer term intervention from specialist services. In some cases these children’s needs may be secondary to the adults needs. This is the threshold for an assessment led by children’s social care under Section 17, Children Act 1989 although the assessments and services required may come from a range of provision outside of children’s social care that include targeted services
Level 4: Children in acute need
These children are suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm. This is the threshold for child protection. These children are likely to have already experienced adverse effects and to be suffering from poor outcomes. Their needs may not be considered by their parents/carers. This level also includes Level 4 health services which are very specialised services in residential, day patient or outpatient settings for children and adolescents with severe and /or complex health problems. This is likely to mean that they may be referred to children’s social care under Section 20, 47 or 31 of the Children Act 1989.
This would also include those children remanded into custody or those with significant need who are known to youth justice services.
4. The Assessment Triangle
The assessment triangle below should be used to identify the interplay between the three domains to assess the child’s needs and form a judgement regarding the level of need.
5. Neglect
It can be particularly difficult for practitioners to recognise the signs of neglect because there is unlikely to have been a significant incident or event that highlights the concerns; it is more likely that there will be a series of concerns over a period of time that, taken together, demonstrate that the child is in need or at risk.
Children (including those who are unborn) need adequate food, water, shelter, warmth, protection and health care in order to thrive. They also need their carers to be attentive, dependable and kind. Children are neglected if these essential needs (the things they need to develop and grow) are persistently not met.
There are many signs that may indicate neglect as outlined below:
- Neglect may occur during or after pregnancy as a result of parental substance abuse (drugs or alcohol)
- A chaotic family environment which can include an absence of boundaries or routines
- A parent / carer who has mental health difficulties or learning disabilities such that impacts on their ability to meet the needs of any children
- Inadequate parenting and/or understanding of what it means to look after a child safely including ensuring adequate supervision or using inadequate caregivers
- Ensuring access to appropriate medical care or treatment
- Ensuring that educational needs are met
- It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Signs of neglect can include poor physical appearance, bad hygiene, lack of appropriate clothing, the child being withdrawn or exhibiting antisocial or sexualised behaviours, and the child not meeting physical or emotional development milestones.
In considering whether or not a child has been neglected, it is important to consider the quality of care they have received over a period of time, as this could vary to the extent in which it impacts on their development. It is also important to consider the age of the child in relation to the nature of the neglect and the length of time for which the concerns have existed.
The above signs in isolation would not necessarily indicate for certain that a child is being neglected, however, children who are severely and persistently neglected may be in danger and neglect can also result in the serious impairment to their health or development.
Some adults lack the resources and support to properly care for their children, but some have more complex problems. In both cases help and support from professionals is essential.
Deciding if a child is neglected can be very hard – even for a trained professional – and it’s natural to worry that you may be mistaken. For more information about neglect, go to:
- NSPCC, Neglect;
- NSPCC Learning, Child abuse and neglect;
- GOV.UK, Childhood neglect: training resources.
6. The Indicators of Possible Need
The indicators on the following pages are designed to provide practitioners with an overarching view on what level of support and intervention a family might need.
This is not intended to be a ‘tick box’ exercise, but to give a quick-reference guide to support professionals in their decision-making, including conducting further assessments, referring to other services and understanding the likely thresholds for higher levels of intervention.
Remember that if there is a combination of indicators of need under Level Two, the case may be a Level Three case overall.
Also remember that need is not static; the needs of a child/young person/family will change over time. Where a plan has been agreed, this should be reviewed regularly to analyse whether sufficient progress has been made to meet the child’s needs and on the level of risk faced by the child. This will be important in child neglect cases where parents and carers can make small improvements, but an analysis will need to be undertaken on whether this leads to significant improvements for the child/young person.
If you believe that the child requires Children’s Social Care intervention, you should follow your organisation’s internal safeguarding policy, speak with your line manager or safeguarding lead.
If you have child protection concerns, you must also consult the Multi-Agency Policies and Procedures | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk) and you must inform your safeguarding lead or line manager.
Parental Consent
The clear expectation is that all professionals will discuss their concerns openly and honestly with the child, where appropriate, and their parents or carers, except where to do so might place the child or another person at immediate risk of harm or prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. Where this is the case, a discussion with the child and/or parents/carers around the sharing of concerns with the relevant partners is not appropriate and contact should be made with Children’s Social Care as soon as possible. In emergency situations, contact should be made with the Police.
Where families are refusing to engage with early help services and where practitioners can see that there is the likelihood of a long-term impact on outcomes for the child or young person, they should continue to engage with the family and seek to persuade them of the benefit of accessing additional support
In relation to sharing information with agencies, according to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Multi-agency Tier 1 Data Sharing Agreement ‘Consent is one lawful basis, but it is not required for sharing information in a safeguarding context . In fact, in most safeguarding scenarios you will be able to find a more appropriate lawful basis.’ (Source ICO)(page 15)
Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) for Safeguarding Children
Please Note that this Threshold Document and the Following Threshold Continuum of need Matrix has been adapted with kind permission from the London Safeguarding Partnership
Appendix 1: Threshold – Continuum of Need Matrix
Introduction
This document provides a framework for professionals who are working with children, young people and families. It aims to help identify when a child may need additional support to achieve their full potential. It provides information on the levels of need and gives examples of some of the factors that may indicate a child or young person requires additional support. By undertaking assessments and offering services on a continuum of help and support, professionals can be flexible and respond to different levels of need in different children and families. The framework recognises that however complex a child’s needs, universal services e.g. education and health, will always be provided alongside any specialist additional service.
The continuum of need matrix is not an exhaustive list. It provides examples that can be used as a tool to assist assessment, planning and decision making for professionals working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Safeguarding indicators should always be considered alongside a child’s other needs. Remember that some children will have additional vulnerabilities because of a disability or complex needs; the parental response to the vulnerability of the child must be considered when assessing needs and risks.
The indicators on the following pages are designed to provide practitioners with an overarching view of what tier of support and / or intervention a family might need. This is not intended to be a ‘tick box’ exercise, but to give a quick-reference guide to support professionals in their decision making, including conducting further assessments, referring to other services and understanding the likely thresholds for higher levels of intervention.
For every child, professionals must consider the particular and individual circumstances of the child and their family / network and exercise professional judgement based upon those individual circumstances.
This guidance for thresholds of need and intervention aims to support practitioners to provide support for children and their families at the right time. The Safeguarding Partnership are committed to supporting families at the earliest opportunity and to providing clear guidance and tools for practitioners when specialist and statutory interventions are required to promote the safety and welfare of children and young people.
The majority of families will be able to access universal services and are encouraged to engage with existing universal and community offers. Where more support is needed, any practitioner, child, young person of family member can also seek the support of Early Help services, to enable them to meet the needs of children in the family. Sometimes families need help to access early support, and the Early Help assessment tool can be used to consider a family’s needs, strengths and goals and to work with them to decide how they can be supported to achieve their goals. Targeted Early Help is also available for children in families with increasing levels of need.
Where families need an increasing level of support, services can be offered on a child in need basis, with their agreement. This includes supporting the needs of children who are disabled and young carers.
Where there are concerns about the safety and welfare of children professionals should continue to work restoratively, within the child protection statutory framework.
At the heart of child protection is the need to really understand what life is like for a child, especially when adults are trying to obscure this. This is complex work and children who are experiencing abuse and neglect may be reticent or unable to speak out about their experiences. Practitioners need to have the right skills and expertise to develop a trusting and respectful relationship with the child, ask the right questions, and to critically reflect on what the child is saying through their words, actions or behaviours. Effective practice also necessitates understanding the impact that the history of parents/carers and other significant adults may have on the child’s experiences. Effective child protection practice requires professionals to understand the significant relationships in that child’s life, including their extended family or peer network, and to build a picture of the child’s experiences that draws on their views and listens to their concerns; listen to the views of family / friends and recognise that they may be able to provide important insights into what the child is experiencing. There is no legal requirement for a parent or other adult to be present or provide consent when speaking to a child; it is good practice to seek parental cooperation. When parents/carers refuse to cooperate, guidance is clear that this should not inhibit “communication with the child in order to determine their welfare and demonstrate kindness and reassurance.”
Child protection work requires sophisticated relational skills. Practitioners need to build trust and cooperation with families who can be, or appear to be, reluctant to engage with them, whilst being authoritative and challenging where needed. Analysing the engagement of families critically, understanding the signs of parental disengagement and being able to interpret the significance of this when making decisions about a child’s safety. Practitioners also need good knowledge and understanding of the factors that might impact on engagement, for example, different types of domestic abuse including coercive controlling behaviour. Critical thinking in supervision and management can help professionals to identify a ‘pattern of closure’ whereby families try to minimise contact with the external world. Equally, it can bring a more forensic lens to situations where a parent seems to be co-operating in order to allay concerns; an issue that practitioners can lack confidence in identifying.
Effective child protection work requires practitioners to be aware of inequalities, biases and assumptions that may impact on how they, their agency or the tools they use, perceive and assess the risk to a child. This includes assumptions and biases that relate to different facets of identity, including ethnicity, religion, disability, gender and sexuality. Practitioners need to be confident working with diverse communities exploring how discrimination may affect parenting and a child’s lived experience and to be supported and challenged through supervision to reflect on these issues.
There are many biases that can impact on work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, both within and between agencies, including:
- Adultification – when children are perceived as being adult-like and not acknowledged as vulnerable and in need of protection.
- Diffusion of responsibility – when people who need to make a decision wait for someone else to act instead.
- Source bias – the tendency to interpret information depending on its source not substance.
- Confirmation bias – tendency to search for, interpret, favour, and recall information or evidence in a way that confirms or supports your prior beliefs or values.
- Risk aversion – preference for certain/safer options over risky options even when an uncertain option could be of greater benefit.
Critical thinking, training and cognitive learning and robust challenge with and between agencies can support the overcoming of biases. Good child protection practice requires professionals to consider a wide range of evidence from many sources, and to synthesise it into meaningful working hypotheses within a very short time frame. This relies on professionals engaging in critical thinking both individually and as a collective and having the right support and opportunities to do this well, for example, manageable case numbers, supervisor stability and good quality supervision.
Child protection decision making is a highly skilled and intrinsically complicated activity. It involves, complex risk assessment in an ever-changing context, requiring analytical skill to collate and distil evidence forensically, recognising patterns; focussing on key information rather than treating all information as equal; spotting missing information; and triangulating wider information with their own observations and intuition.
There is a need to retain a stance of ‘respectful uncertainty’ when carrying out child protection investigations – a process involving critical evaluation of all information gathered and keeping an open mind.
In order for professionals to make good decisions about children in need of protection, they have to have a full picture of what is happening in a child’s life. Part of this is about having access to all the information known about the child. But just as important is seeking out missing information, considering disparate pieces of information in the round, and asking what bigger picture is being painted about a child’s experience. In child protection, ‘abuse and neglect rarely present with a clear, unequivocal picture. It is often the totality of information, the overall pattern of the child’s story, that raises suspicions of possible abuse or neglect.’
This document should be used in conjunction with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Multi-agency Safeguarding Children Procedures.
https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/children-board/professionals/procedures/
HEALTH | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
The child appears healthy, and has access to and makes use of appropriate health and health advice services | The child rarely accesses appropriate health and health advice services, missing immunisations. | There is no evidence that the child has accessed health and health advice services and suffers chronic and recurrent health problems as a result. Or the parent /carer has accessed health services for the child but has not fo0llowed professional advice which may have an impact on the child’s health and wellbeing Diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and may meet the criteria for additional funding via continuing care | The child has complex health problems which are attributable to the lack of access to health services. Parent/carer denying professional staff access to the child. |
All child’s health needs are met by parents/carers. | Additional help required to meet health demands of the child including disability or long-term serious illness requiring support services. | With additional support, parent not meeting needs of child’s health. Parent/carer displays high levels of anxiety regarding child’s health. | Parents’/carers’ level of anxiety regarding their child’s health is significantly harming the child’s development. Professionals working with the child have strong suspicions / evidence of a parent/carer fabricating or inducing illness in their child. |
Parent/carer does not have any additional needs | Needs of the parents/carers are affecting the care and development of the child | Needs of the parent /carers/ other family members significantly affect the care of child. | The parent/ carer/other family members consistently fail to access support for their needs the child’s care needs being unmet. Risk may be associated with acute episodes of not accessing support or may be cumulative. |
Parent accesses ante-natal and/or post-natal care | The parent/carer demonstrates ambivalence to ante-natal and post-natal care with irregular attendance and missed appointments. | The parent/carer may or may not be accessing antenatal and/ or post-natal care but there may be significant concern about prospective parenting ability, resulting in the need for a prebirth assessment. | The parent/carer neglects to access ante-natal care and there are accumulative risk indicators. |
The parent/carer is coping well emotionally following the birth of their baby and accessing universal support services where required. | The parent/carer is struggling to adjust to the role of parenthood, postnatal depression is affecting parenting ability. | The parent/carer is suffering from postnatal depression. Which may cause a risk to themselves and their child/children and ability to provide care and meet the needs of the child Newborn affected by maternal substance misuse. | The parent/carer is suffering from severe post-natal depression which is causing serious risk to themselves and their child/ children. |
Pregnancy with no apparent safeguarding concerns | Pregnancy in a young person / vulnerable adult who is deemed in need of support. | CiC or Care Leaver or vulnerable young person who is pregnant. | Pregnancy in a child under 13 or parent with significant learning needs. Young inexperienced parents with additional concerns that could place the unborn child at risk of significant harm. |
Sleeping Arrangements consistent with ‘Safer Sleep for Babies’ guidance. | Parent/Parenting Sleeping arrangements for babies occasionally not consistent with ‘Safer Sleep for Babies’ guidance. | Parent/Parenting Parents persist with unsafe sleeping arrangements for baby contravening “Safer Sleep for Babies” guidance. | Parent/Parenting Parents persist with unsafe sleeping arrangements for baby contravening “Safer Sleep for Babies” guidance and other concerns or risk factors identified in parenting capacity, or child factors which may result in the immediate harm of the baby |
MENTAL / EMOTIONAL HEALTH | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
The child has warm and supportive relationships within and outside of their family environment which respect their protected characteristics | The child experiences discrimination in their day-to-day life either in their family environment, at school or in their community resulting in them being disadvantaged | The child experiences discrimination in their day-to-day life either in their family environment, at school or in their community resulting in disadvantage, exclusion and distress | The child experiences discrimination in their day-to-day life either in their family environment, at school or in their community resulting in acute distress, feelings of worthlessness and leading to a concern that they may harm themselves |
The child is provided with an emotionally warm, supportive relationship and stable family environment providing consistent boundaries and guidance, meeting developmental milestones to the best of their abilities. | Parenting often lacks emotional warmth and/or can be overly critical and/or inconsistent, occasional relationship difficulties impacting on the child’s development. Struggles with setting age-appropriate boundaries, occasionally not meeting developmental milestones and occasionally prioritises their own needs before child’s. | Parents/carers inability to engage emotionally with child leads to developmental milestones not met. Family environment is volatile and unstable resulting in a negative impact on the child, leading to possible vulnerabilities and exploitative relationships, parent/carer unable to judge dangerous situations / set appropriate boundaries. Allegations parents making verbal threats to children. Child rarely comforted when distressed / under significant pressure to achieve / aspire. | Relationships between the child and parent/carer have broken down to the extent that the child is at risk of significant harm / frequently exposed to dangerous situations and development significantly impaired. Child has suffered long term neglect due to lack of emotional support from parents. |
Child has good mental health and psychological wellbeing. | The child has a mild a mental health condition which affects their everyday functioning but can be managed in mainstream schools and parents are engaged with school /health services including accessing remote support services to address this. Child is accessing social media sites related to self-harm, has expressed thoughts of self-harm but no evidence of self-harm incidences. History of mental health condition but have been assessed and discharged home with safety plan and follow up. | The child has a mental health condition which significantly affects their everyday functioning and requires specialist intervention in the community. Parent is not presenting child for treatment increasing risk of mental health deterioration problems as a result No evidence child has accessed mental health advice services and suffers recurrent mental health problems as a result. Child is known to be accessing harmful social media sites to facilitate self-harming. Child self-harms causing minor injury and parent responds appropriately. Child has expressed suicidal ideation with no known plan of intent. Child is under the care of hospital engaging with mental health services. | Child expressed suicidal ideation with intent or psychotic episode or other significant mental health symptoms. Refuses medical care or is in hospital following episode of self-harm or suicide attempt or significant mental health issues. Parent/carer unable to manage child’s behaviours related to their mental health increasing the risk of the child suffering significant harm. Child or young person has ongoing suicidal ideation following attempt or is in hospital following episode of self-harm or suicide attempt. |
The child engages in age-appropriate activities and displays age-appropriate behaviours, having a positive sense of self and abilities reducing the risk of those wanting to exploit them. | Child has a negative sense of self and abilities, suffering with low self-esteem and confidence making them vulnerable to those who wish to exploit them resulting in becoming involved in negative behaviour/activities. | Child has a negative sense of self and abilities, suffering with low self-esteem and confidence which results in child becoming involved in negative behaviour / activities by those exploiting / grooming them. | Evidence of exploitation linked to child’s vulnerability. As a result of exploitation child frequently exhibits behaviours / emotions and activities that place self or others at imminent risk. |
Mental health of the parent/carer does not affect / impact care of the child. | Sporadic / low level mental health of parent/carer impacts care of child, however, protective factors in place. | Mental health needs of the parent/carer (subject to a section under MHA) is impacting on the care of their child and there are no supportive networks and extended family to prevent harm. Parent/carer has expressed suicidal ideation with no known plan of intent. | Mental health needs of the parent/carer significantly impacting the care of their child placing them at risk of significant harm. Parent/carer has ongoing suicidal ideation following attempt or is in hospital following episode of self-harm or suicide attempt. |
Child has not suffered the loss of a close family member or friend | Child has suffered a bereavement recently or in the past and is distressed but receives support from family and friends and appears to be coping reasonably well – would benefit from short term additional support from early help services. | Child has suffered bereavement recently or in the past and there has been a deterioration in their behaviour. Low level support has not assisted, long term intervention required. | Child has suffered bereavement and is missing, self-harming, disclosing suicidal thoughts, risk of exploitation, involvement in gang/criminal activity. |
PRIVATE FOSTER CARE | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
LA notified the child is privately fostered by adults who are able to provide for his/her needs and there are no safeguarding concerns. | A child in a private arrangement decided by their family but not for a long time for this to become private foster arrangement. | Some concern about the private fostering arrangements in place for the child, there may be issues around the carers’ treatment of the child. The local authority hasn’t been notified of the private fostering arrangement. Any private fostering arrangement that is up to 28 days of a private arrangement should be level 3 | There is concern that the child is a victim of exploitation, domestic slavery, or being physically abused in their private foster placement. |
Section 117 (Mental Health Act 1983) | Where a child has a statutory entitlement to s117 aftercare, the LA should be informed and should undertake an assessment. This assessment should support effective discharge planning | ||
EDUCATION | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Making progress and accessing the curriculum and wider social and cultural activities within the ordinarily available offer; and meeting developmental milestones. | Requires additional support to meet educational, social and cultural milestones, child has a potential or an identified additional need which requires support from resources within the school and multi-agency professionals. | In order to access the curriculum, the child requires targeted support with universal services/resources within schools and settings. | There are identifiable barriers to accessing the curriculum. This is having significant detrimental impact on the child meeting their developmental milestones or educational attainment. |
Child is in education/training with no barriers to learning. Planned progressions beyond school/college. | Emerging concerns about school attendance and engagement with potential to become a persistent absentee through child being regularly absent from school. | Child’s attendance is sporadic with frequent suspensions meaning they may not reach their full potential Recurring issues raised about child’s home education. | Refusing to attend school, permanently excluded or missing from education. |
No concerns regarding child’s behaviour and engagement with education | Emerging concerns of poor behaviours and engagement with education. | Behaviours and engagement with education are poor leading to periods of suspension or risk of permanent exclusion. | Child exhibiting behaviours that pose a significant risk of harm such as being coerced into serious street -based violence, habitual knife carrying and who are at risk of exploitation Older students registered as NEET (Not in education, employment or training) |
The child possesses age-appropriate ability to understand and organise information and solve problems and makes adequate academic progress. | The child’s ability to understand and organise information and solve problems is impaired and the child is under-achieving or is making no academic progress. | The child’s ability to understand and organise information and solve problems is very significantly impaired and the child is seriously under-achieving or is making no academic progress despite learning support strategies over a period of time. | The child’s unable and / or unwilling to understand and organise information and solve problems is adversely impacting on all areas of his/her development creating risk of significant harm, concerns of parental neglect. |
The parent/carers positively supports learning and aspirations and engages with school | The parent/carer is not engaged in supporting learning aspirations and/or is not engaging with the school. | The parent/carer does not engage with the school and actively resists suggestions of supportive interventions. | The parent/carer actively discourages or prevents the child from learning or engaging with the school |
ABUSE AND NEGLECT | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Parent/carer protects their family from danger/ significant harm. | Parent/carer on occasion does not protect their family which if unaddressed could lead to risk or danger | Parent/carer frequently neglects/is unable to protect their family from danger/significant harm. Parents or carers persistently avoid contact / do not engage with childcare professionals. | Parent/carer is unable to protect their child from harm, placing their child at significant risk. Allegations of harm by a person in a position of trust. |
Child shows no physical symptoms which could be attributed to neglect. | Child occasionally shows physical symptoms which could indicate neglect. | Child consistently shows physical symptoms which clearly indicate neglect. | Child shows physical signs of neglect which are attributable to the care provided by their parents/carers. |
Child has injuries which are consistent with normal childish play and activities. | Child has occasional, less common injuries which are consistent with the parents’ account of accidental injury – carers seek out or accept advice on how to avoid accidental injury. | Child has injuries which are accounted for but are more frequent than would be expected for a child of a similar age/needs. Parent/carer does not know how injuries occurred or explanation unclear. | Any allegations of abuse or neglect or any injury suspected to be nonaccidental injury to a child. Repeated allegations or reasonable suspicion of nonaccidental injury. Any allegation of abuse/suspicious injury in a pre-mobile or non-mobile child. Child has injuries more frequently which are not accounted for and the child makes disclosure and implicates parents or older family members. |
Parent/carer does not physically harm their child including physical chastisement. | Parent/carer uses physical assault (no injuries) as discipline but is willing to access professional support to help them manage the child’s behaviour. | Parent/carer uses physical assault (injuries) as discipline but is willing to access professional support to help them manage the child’s behaviour. | Parent / carer not accepting professional support to help them manage the child’s behaviour Parent / carer uses extreme force injuring the child leaving marks and bruises Parent/carer uses an implement causing significant physical harm to a child. |
No concerns re conflict / tensions within the family. | Concerns re ongoing conflict between family and child. | Family is experiencing a crisis likely to result in the breakdown of care arrangements – no longer want to care for child | Family have rejected / abandoned / evicted child. Child has no available parent and the child is vulnerable to significant harm. Child not living with a family member |
No concerns of inappropriate self-sufficiency | Pattern emerging of self-sufficiency which is not proportionate to a child/young person’s age and stage of development | High level of self-sufficiency is observed in a child/young person that is not proportionate to a child/young person’s age and stage of development. | Inappropriate, high level of self-sufficiency for child/young person’s age and stage of development resulting in neglect. |
No concerns of fabricated or induced illness. | Child has an increased level of illnesses with the causes unknown | Suspicion child has suffered or is at risk of fabricated or induced illness. | Medical confirmation that a child has suffered significant harm due to fabricated or induced illness. |
SEXUAL ABUSE / ACTIVITY | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Nothing to indicate child is being sexually abused by their carer. | Concerns relating to inappropriate sexual behaviour / abuse within the family / network but does not amount to a criminal offence. | Allegation of non-recent sexual abuse but no longer in contact with perpetrator. | Concerns re possible inappropriate sexual behaviour from parent/ carer / other family members (i.e. siblings) who sexually abuse the child. Offender who has risk to children status is in contact with Family. Child who lives in a household into which a registered sex offender or convicted violent offender subject to MAPPA moves. |
Good knowledge of healthy relationships and sexual health. | Emerging concerns of possible sexual activity of a child. | Suspicion or knowledge of child on child sexual activity between 13yrs and 16yrs where there is evidence that the child may be being coerced or controlled, or where engagement with sexual health or contraceptive services is raising a concern | Suspicions of sexual abuse / sexually activity of a child under the age of 13. Direct allegation of sexual abuse/assault by child and belief that child is in imminent danger and in need of immediate protection. |
Good knowledge of healthy relationships and sexual health. | Single instance of sexually inappropriate behaviour. | Send/receive inappropriate sexual material produced by themselves or other young people via digital or social media, considered as child-on-child abuse. Evidence of concerning sexual behaviour – accessing violent / exploitative pornography. | Child is exhibiting harmful, sexualised behaviour. Early teen pregnancy. Risk taking sexual activity. (see sexual behaviour tool) |
Good knowledge of healthy relationships and sexual health. | Age-appropriate attendance at sexual health clinic. | Sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Consent issues may be unclear. Verbal or non-contact sexualised behaviour. Historic referrals in regard concerning sexual behaviour. | Multiple / untreated sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Concerning sexual activity (behaviour that is harmful to others). Allegations of nonpenetrative abuse. Harmful sexual behaviour. Child exploited to recruit others into sexual activity. Repeated pregnancy, miscarriages and/or terminations. Increase in severity of concerning sexual behaviour. |
POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES ATTENTION | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
There is no history of criminal offences within the family. | History of criminal activity within the family including gang involvement, child has from time to time been involved in anti-social behaviour. | Family member has a criminal record relating to serious or violent crime, known gang involvement, child is involved in anti-social behaviour and may be at risk of gang involvement, early support not having the desired impact. Starting to commit offences/re-offend or be a victim of crime. | Re-occurring / frequent attendances by the police to the family home. Family member within household’s criminal activity significantly impacting on the child. Child is being exploited and coerced into persistent or serious criminal activity this includes affiliation into gang activities leading to injury caused by a weapon. |
Young person has no involvement with crime or antisocial behaviour. | Child is vulnerable and at potential risk of being targeted and/or groomed for criminal exploitation, gang activity or other criminal groups/associations. | Child appears to be actively targeted/coerced with the intention of exploiting the child for criminal gain. | Child habitually entrenched / actively criminally exploited. There is a risk of imminent significant harm to the child as a result of their criminal associations and activities. They may not recognise they are being exploited and/or are in denial about the nature of their abuse. |
Young person has no involvement with crime or antisocial behaviour. | Attention of ASB team or police. Talks about carrying a weapon. Reports from others that involved in named gang. Glamorises criminal or violent behaviour. | Arrested for possession of offensive weapon, drugs, multiple thefts / going equipped / motoring offences. Non-compliance of conditions. | Charged or convicted of Aggravated Robbery/Use of offensive weapon/ possession of large quantities of Class A drugs. Intentional harm of others / animals. |
Young person has been stopped but not searched. Young person has been stopped and searched with no obvious safeguarding concerns or criminality. | Young person has been stopped and searched in circumstances that cause concern such as time of day and others present but no previous concerns. | Young person regularly stopped and searched indicating vulnerability, exploitation or criminality. Young person arrested as a result of a stop and search. | Young person consistently stopped and searched with risk factors suggested they are being exploited. |
HARMFUL PRACTICES | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
There is no concern the child may be subject to harmful cultural practices. | Concern the child is in a culture where harmful practices are known to have been performed however parents are opposed to the practices in respect of their children. | Suspicion that child may be subject to harmful cultural practices. | There is information to indicate that child has suffered or is at risk of suffering harmful cultural practices |
There are no concerns that the child is at risk of Honour Based Abuse. | There are concerns that a child may be subjected to Honour Based Abuse. | There is suspicion or concern to indicate the child is at risk of Honour Based Abuse. | There are concerns that child has suffered/at risk of suffering honour-based abuse. |
There are no concerns that the child is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation. | History of Female Genital Mutilation with clear assessed parental insight and motivation to work with services to prevent repeat. | Suspicion that a female child is likely to be exposed to Female Genital Mutilation. | Concern that a female has suffered or at risk of being exposed to Female Genital Mutilation. |
There are no concerns a child is at risk of Forced Marriage. | Family with a history of forced marriage and have links with family members who believe in this practice but they have expressed that they are experiencing difficulties with this and seeking support and advice | Family history of forced marriage and concerns regarding their views around this. | Concern that child is at risk of being subjected to or has been subjected to forced marriage. |
There are no concerns that the child is at risk of witchcraft. | Past beliefs in children being exposed to issues of spirit possession or witchcraft but parents/carers have insight and working with agencies to address this. | Suspicion/concern that child is likely to be exposed to issues of spirit possession or witchcraft. | There is evidence that child is at risk of being exposed to issues of spirit possession or witchcraft. |
EXTREMISM & RADICALISATION | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Child and family’s activities are legal with no links to proscribed organisations | Child makes reference to own and family ideologies. | The child expresses sympathy for ideologies closely linked to violent extremism but is open to other views or loses interest quickly. Child and family have indirect links to proscribed organisations. | The child expresses beliefs that extreme violence should be used against people who disrespect their beliefs and values. The child supports people travelling to conflict zones for extremist/ violent purposes or with intent to join terrorist groups The child expresses a generalised nonspecific intent to go themselves. Child, family and friends have strong links / are members of proscribed organisations. |
Child doesn’t express support for extreme views or is too young to express such views themselves. | Child makes reference to own and family extreme views. | A child is known to live with an adult or older child who has extreme views. Child may inadvertently view extremist imagery. | A child is sent extreme imagery / taken to demonstrations or marches where violent, extremist and/or age-inappropriate imagery or language is used. The child/carers/ close family members / friends are members of prescribed organisations, promoting the actions of violent extremists and/or saying that they will carry out violence in support of extremist views including child circulating violent extremist images. Concerns of extremism results in a referral to the Chanel Panel for consideration of the case. Where risks are apparent a safeguarding referral should be made. The safeguarding referral should not be delayed for the Chanel Panel. |
Child engages in age-appropriate use of internet, including social media | Child is at risk of becoming involved in negative internet use that will expose them to extremist ideology, expressing casual support for extremist views. | Child is known to have viewed extremist websites and has said s/he shares some of those views but is open about this and can discuss the pros and cons or different viewpoints. | Child is known to have viewed extremist websites and is actively concealing internet and social media activities. They either refuse to discuss their views or make clear their support for extremist views. Significant concerns that the child is being groomed for involvement in extremist activities. |
Child engages in age-appropriate activities and displays age-appropriate behaviours and self- control. | Child is expressing strongly held and intolerant views towards people who do not share their religious or political views. | Child is refusing to co-operate with activities at school that challenge their religious or political views, they are aggressive and intimidating to others who do not share their religious or political views. | Child expresses strongly held beliefs that people should be killed because they have a different view. Child is initiating verbal and sometimes physical conflict with people who do not share their religious or political views. |
Child engages in age-appropriate activities and displays age-appropriate behaviours and self-control. | The child is expressing verbal support for extreme views some of which may be in contradiction to British law. | Concerns child has connections to individuals or groups known to have extreme views and they are being educated to hold intolerant, extremist views | Child has strong links and is involved in activities and being educated by those with individuals or groups who are known to have extreme views / links to violent extremism. |
DRUG / SUBSTANCE MISUSE | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
The child has no history of substance misuse or dependency. | The child is known to be using drugs and alcohol frequently with occasional impact on their social wellbeing. | The child’s substance misuse dependency is affecting their mental and physical health and social wellbeing – Child presents at hospital due to substance / alcohol misuse. Parent/carers indifferent to underage smoking / alcohol / drugs etc | The child’s substance misuse dependency is putting the child at such risk that intensive specialist resources are required |
Parents/ carers/other family members do not use drugs or alcohol or the use does not impact on parenting. | Drug and/or alcohol use is impacting on parenting but adequate provision is made to ensure the child’s safety, concerns this may increase if continues. | Drug/alcohol use has escalated to the point where the child is worrying about their carer/family member. | Parent/ carer/other family members drug and/or alcohol use is at a problematic level and are unable to provide care to child. |
No signs or suspicion of drug usage | Child or household member found in possession of Class C drugs | Previous concerns of drug involvement / drug supply and child or household member found in possession of Class A or Class B drugs / drug paraphernalia found in home. | Family home is used for drug taking / dealing / illegal activities. |
No signs or suspicion of drug usage | Concerns of drug and / or alcohol usage during pregnancy | Evidence of substance/drug misuse during pregnancy – pre 21 weeks gestation. | Evidence of substance/drug misuse during pregnancy – post 21 weeks gestation. |
DISABILITY | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Parents /carers/ other family members have disabilities which do not affect the care of their child. | Parents need to provide significant care to other dependants who would otherwise be at risk OR child’s disability needs are significantly impacting on parent’s personal or social lives. Carers / other family members have disabilities which occasionally impedes their ability to provide consistent patterns of care but without putting the child at risk, additional support required. | Child’s needs met but at significant cost to parental physical or mental health OR serious risk of family breakdown. Carers / other family members have disabilities which are affecting the care of the child | Parents /carers/other family members have disabilities which are severely affecting the care of the child and placing them at risk of significant harm |
Child has no apparent disabilities | Disabled Child requires support to access services to broaden experiences and/or prevent build up of stress in family. Need can be met through universal or targeted support Disabled Child’s level of need results in them being unable to participate in community activities which increase impairment. Additional help required to meet the demands of the child’s disabilities through Short Break Services. | Disabled Child’s level of need results in lifelong impact with likely lifetime support from statutory social care and health services. Parents unable to fully meet the child’s disability needs, requiring significant support under CIN Plan. | Disabled Child’s essential care or medical needs or need for emotional development and stimulation cannot be met OR to prevent the need for long term accommodation. Child’s disability needs not being met and child is at risk of significant harm |
YOUNG CARER | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Child does not have caring responsibilities. | Child occasionally has caring responsibilities for members of their family and this sometimes impacts on their opportunities. | Child is regularly caring for another family member resulting in their development and opportunities being adversely impacted by their caring responsibilities. | Child’s outcomes are being adversely impacted by their unsupported caring responsibilities. |
DOMESTIC ABUSE | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Expectant mother or parent is not in an abusive relationship. | Expectant mother or parent is a victim of occasional domestic abuse. | Expectant mother or parent has previously been a victim of domestic abuse | Expectant mother or parent is a victim of domestic abuse |
No history or incidents of violence, emotional abuse / economic control or controlling or coercive behaviour in the family. | There are isolated incidents of physical / emotional abuse / economic control or controlling or coercive behaviour in the family, however mitigating protective factors within the family are in place. Even if children reported not to be present when incidents have occurred. | Children suffering emotional harm when witnessing physical / emotional abuse / economic control / coercive and controlling behaviour within the family. Perpetrator/s show limited or no commitment to changing their behaviour and little or no understanding of the impact their behaviour has on the child. | Evidence suggesting child is directly subjected to verbal abuse, derogatory titles, threatening and/or coercive adult behaviours. Child suffering emotional harm and possibly physical harm when witnessing / involved with physical / emotional abuse / economic control / coercive and controlling behaviour within the family especially if they are trying to protect the adult victim. Frequency of incidents increasing in severity / duration |
Information has become known that a person living in the house may be a previous perpetrator of domestic abuse, although no sign of current or recent abuse is apparent. | Confirmation domestic abuse perpetrator residing at property. Parent/carer minimises presence of domestic abuse in the household contrary to evidence of its existence. | Serious threat to parent’s life or to child by violent partner. Child injured in domestic abuse incident. Child traumatised or neglected due to a serious incident of DA or child is unborn. | |
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Child has good quality early attachments, confident in social situations with strong friendships and positive social interaction with a range of peers, demonstrating positive behaviour and respect for others. | Child has few friendships and limited social interaction with their peers. Child has communication difficulties and poor interaction with others. Child exhibits aggressive, bullying or destructive behaviours which impacts on their peers, family and/or local community. Support is in place to manage this behaviour. Child is a victim of discrimination or bullying. | Child is isolated and refuses to participate in social activities, interacting negatively with others including aggressive, bullying or destructive behaviours, early support has been refused, or been inadequate to manage this behaviour. Child has experienced persistent or severe bullying which has impacted on his/her daily outcomes. Child has significant communication difficulties. | Child is completely isolated, refusing to participate in any activities, positive interaction with others is severely limited due to displays of aggressive, bullying or destructive behaviours impacting on their wellbeing or safety. Child has experienced such persistent or severe bullying that his/her wellbeing is at risk. Child has little or no communication skills |
There is a positive family network and good friendships outside the family unit. | There is a significant lack of support from the extended family network which is impacting on the parent’s capacity. | There is a weak or negative family network. There is destructive or unhelpful involvement from the extended family. Child has multiple carers; may have no significant or positive relationship with any of them/child has no other positive relationships. | The family network has broken down or is highly volatile and is causing serious adverse impact to the child |
Child engages in age-appropriate use of internet, gaming and social media. | Child is at risk of becoming involved in negative internet use, lacks control and is unsupervised in gaming and social media applications | Child is engaged in or victim of negative and harmful behaviours associated with internet and social media use or is obsessively involved in gaming which interferes with social functioning. Evidence of sexual material being shared without consent or them sharing inappropriate sexual material and putting themselves at risk . Multiple SIMs or phones. | Child is showing signs of being secretive, deceptive and is actively concealing internet and social media activities. Regularly coerced to send / receive indecent images. Coerced to meet in person for sexual activity. Devices need to be removed and access restricted at all times |
The family feels integrated into the community. | The family is partially socially excluded and/ or there is an absence of supportive community networks. | The family is socially excluded and isolated to the extent that it has an adverse impact on the child | The family is completed excluded and the child is seriously affected but the family actively resists all attempts to achieve inclusion and isolates the child from sources of support. |
The neighbourhood is a safe and positive environment encouraging good citizenship and knowledgeable about the effects of crime and anti-social behaviour. | Child is affected and possibly becoming involved in low level anti-social behaviour in the locality due to others engaging in threatening and intimidating behaviour | The neighbourhood or locality is having a negative impact on the child resulting in the child coming to notice of the police on a regular basis both as a suspect and a victim, concerns by others re exploitation. | The neighbourhood or locality is having a profoundly negative impact on the child resulting in the child coming to notice of the police on a regular basis both as a suspect and a victim, concerns by others re high risk of exploitation, being groomed and any other criminal activity. |
Child and family is legally entitled to live in the country indefinitely and has full rights to employment and public funds. | Child and family’s legal entitlement to stay in the country is temporary and/or restricts access to public funds and/or the right to work placing the child and family under stress. | Child and family’s legal status puts them at risk of involuntary removal from the country / having limited financial resources/no recourse to public funds increases the vulnerability of the children to criminal activity. | Evidence a child has been exposed or involved in criminal activity to generate income for the family / family members are being detained and at risk of deportation or the child is an unaccompanied asylum-seeker. |
Young person is positively engaging with services. Has awareness of the risks and grooming processes. Motivated and positive outlook. | Perceived inability or reluctance to access more mainstream support. Reduced access due to their ethnicity / cultural background / being in care / Identifying as LGBTQ / Educational Needs (SEN). | Isolated and refuses to participate in activities. Experiencing bullying or social isolation that may be exacerbated by personal, cultural, sexual identity or education needs. Targeted by groups or individuals due to their vulnerability or perceived reputation. | Negative sense of self and abilities that risk causing harm. Completely isolated, refusing activities. High levels of social isolation that may be exacerbated by personal, cultural, sexual identity or education needs. |
RISKS OUTSIDE THE HOME (EXTRA-FAMILIAL HARM) | |||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Places / Spaces | |||
Good services in area and young person is aware / engaging positively. | Spending time in areas known for antisocial behaviour or where more vulnerable. Child/ young person identifies and informs professionals of unsafe locations and reason for this. | The neighbourhood or locality is having a negative impact on the child. Frequently spending time in locations, including online, where they can be anonymous or at risk of experience harm / violence / exploitation. | Found in areas/properties known for exploitation / violence. Taken to hotel / B&B / another property with intention of being harmed or harming others. Area having profoundly negative effect on the child. |
Relationships with Peers and Adults | |||
Peer group engage in positive activities / clubs / communities. The group understands risk and harm. Age appropriate and safe. | Some indications that unknown adults and/or other exploited children have contact with the child/young person. Some indications of negatively influential peers. | Unknown adults and/or other exploited children/young people associating with the child/young person. Escalation in behaviour of peer group. Accompanied by an adult who is not a legal guardian. Arrested with individuals who are at risk of exploitation / violence. | Staying with someone believed to be exploiting them. Person with significant relationship is coercing child / young person to meet and child is sexually or physically abused. Found with adults / high risk individuals out of county/city. Is being exploited to ‘recruit’ others. |
Professional Engagement | |||
Peer group engage in positive activities / clubs / communities. The group understands risk and harm. Age appropriate and safe. | Limited referral history with services. Lack of confidence in worker / service to manage risk or work with adolescents. Multiple workers confused or disagreeing on risk. | Services previously involved and closed; new referral received for similar concerns. Despite attempts, professionals have been unable to engage the young person to date. Several services involved but little change. | History of multiple services / referrals with little change or escalation in risk. Services report unable to keep child / young person safe. |
Missing | |||
Child comes homes on time and is not missing from home. Their whereabouts are always known to their parents/carers and they answer their phone. | Child has run away from home on one or two occasions or not returned at the normal time. Concerns about what happened to them whilst they were away, whereabouts unknown. | Child persistently runs away and / or goes missing, serious concerns about their activities whilst away. Parent does not report them missing. Child is unable to give explanations for whereabouts. | Child persistently runs away and/ or goes missing and risk of exploitation is clear as a result. Pattern of sofa surfing, whereabouts unknown. 3 missing episodes in 90 days. Missing over 48 hours. |
Youth Violence | |||
Young person has no involvement with crime or antisocial behaviour. | Coming to attention of ASB team or police. Talks about carrying a weapon. Linked with others that are involved in named gang. Glamorises criminal or violent behaviour. | Arrested for possession of offensive weapon, drugs, multiple thefts / going equipped / motoring offences. Non-compliance of conditions. Evidence indicates likely to be habitual knife carrier. Credible threats made towards young person that they will be harmed. | Charged or convicted of Aggravated Robbery/Use of offensive weapon/GBH Intentional harm of others. Evidence indicates very likely to be habitual knife carrier. Victim of serious violent offence (e.g. stabbing) or evidence indicates this is highly likely. |
Child Criminal Exploitation | |||
Young person has no involvement with crime or peer groups/adults of concern. | Emerging Risk There is more than one risk indicator that child is vulnerable to harm. Child has some tentative connections with other children, spaces, and networks where there are contextual concerns. | Moderate Risk There are a number of risk indicators and some evidence of harm. There is clear evidence of links to peers/associates, places, and adults of concern in relation to criminality or drug supply. | Significant Risk There are multiple risk indicators and clear evidence of harm. Child is strongly linked to other children or adults/associates, places and networks where there are concerns about criminality or drug supply (e.g. found in a cuckooed address). Child has been arrested for possession with intent to supply drugs. |
Child Sexual Exploitation | |||
Young person has no involvement with crime or peer groups/adults of concern. | Emerging Risk There is more than one risk indicator that child is vulnerable to harm. Child has some tentative connections with other children, spaces, and networks where there are contextual concerns. | Moderate Risk There are a number of risk indicators and some evidence of harm. There is clear evidence of links to peers/associates, places, and adults of concern in relation to sexual exploitation. Child has shared indecent images of themselves online. | Significant Risk There are multiple risk indicators and clear evidence of harm. Child is strongly linked to other children or adults/associates, places and networks where there are concerns about sexual exploitation (e.g. found in a hotel room with adults of concern). Child has been a victim of sexual offences associated with grooming. |
Radicalisation and Extremism | |||
The child and family respects other religions, races and cultures and there is no evidence of involvement in or support for extremism. | The child is using language which could incite hatred against another person or group. Some support for extreme views or ideology, but no evidence of active involvement with extremist organisation. | Family members, parents or carers expose child to involvement in activity that supports or endorses extremism. The child is being groomed by adults within or external to the family to incite hatred against another person or group and is at risk of extremism. | Evidence that child is involved in / actively promoting violent extremism; evidence that parent / carer / child planning to travel to conflict zone to participate in extremist activity. The child is acting violently towards another person or group and is at risk of extremism. |
The following government guidance can also be used to help:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-if-youre-worried-a-child-is-being-abused
www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children–2
In any situation where you believe a child has been, is being or is at risk of being harmed then you should contact:
If a child is at risk of immediate harm, call the police 999 |
Peterborough Children | Cambridgeshire Children |
Professionals Making a Referral Professionals – Making a Referral | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk)
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Referral Portal Professional (peterborough.gov.uk) | |
Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm: 01733 864170 | Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm: 0345 045 5203 |
Out of Hours: 01733 234724 | Out of Hours: 01733 234724 |
If you are a professional and unclear on the threshold application, you can call the Peterborough professional consultation line to discuss the case: Monday- Friday 9am to 5pm: 01733 864180
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Finding more resources and support services
For up-to date information on Cambridgeshire services supporting
| For up-to-date information on Peterborough services supporting |
Children and young people please visit: Parenting And Family Support – Cambridgeshire County Council Early years children and families please visit: Childcare and early learning – Cambridgeshire County Council Children and young people with special educational needs: SEND Information Hub (Local Offer) (cambridgeshire.gov.uk) | Children and young people please visit : Peterborough Information Network | Families Information Service (FIS) Early years children and families please visit: Peterborough Information Network | Early Years & Childcare Children and young people with special educational needs Peterborough Information Network | Peterborough SEND Information Hub (Local Offer) |
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Assessment Tools
To sign up to multi-agency training opportunities please visit: Multi-Agency Safeguarding Training | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk
Appendix 2: Supporting children and young people in need of targeted early help support
The majority of families will be able to access universal services and are encouraged to make use of the Family Information Service to identify services in the community that may be able to support them and the needs of their children. They can use their own agency internal guidelines or by using specific forms / letters when requesting involvement of other additional need services. Any practitioner, child, young person or family member can directly access the Family Information Service by following this link: Peterborough Information Network | Families Information Service (FIS)
This directory provides a detailed list of a variety of services that are available in the community by typing in a keyword search.
IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS A Practitioner becomes aware that a child has needs which are not currently being met. Practitioner has a conversation with their line manager/safeguarding lead about the level of risk to the child’s safety and/or development. | |
Is the child at risk of significant harm?
If yes, follow the LEVEL 3 or 4 guidance within this document | Can your agency meet the additional needs of the child or family? If yes, please complete an agency check to see if the child or family are already being supported by a statutory or early help service by checking the child’s record on Liquid Logic EHM or by contacting the Early Help Hub via email on earlyhelphub@peterborough.gov.uk If no, consider whether an Early Help Assessment is needed to identify the strengths and needs of the family and what services might be required to support them. This may include support from the local authority Targeted Support team or another specialist service. |
COMPLETE AN EARLY HELP ASSESSMENT Step 1 – Gain consent from the family to initiate an Early Help Assessment and share a copy of the Privacy notice with them. Step 2- Speak to the child and the family to gain an understanding of what is working well, what could be better and how you will work together. Step 3 – Record this information in the Early Help Assessment within EHM. For further support and advice speak to your local Early Help Support Officer. | |
SUBMIT THE COMPLETED EARLY HELP ASSESSMENT (EHA) TO THE EARLY HELP HUB & CREATE A FAMILY PLAN Following the submission of the EHA, the Early Help Hub will check that the required information has been recorded and advise on the next steps of support. Step 1 – The lead professional should set a date fora TAF meeting with the family & any other professionals working with the family, using the assessment to develop an action plan. Step 2 –Hold a TAF meeting with the family to review the plan. Step 3 – Share the plan with the TAF and family. | |
REVIEW THE PROGRESS Step 1- The TAF are asked to feedback on their actions and whether they think the plan is working. The family should also have an opportunity to feedback on how things are going. Step 2 – Decision is made to: 1. Continue as is 2. Amend the plan 3. End the plan as needs have been fully met 4. Escalate case via a safeguarding referral. | |
END OF THE PLAN/ CLOSURE If you think the needs of the child have been met and the family’s outcomes have been achieved, then you are ready to close the EHA on EHM but only once you’ve consulted with the TAF and family. | |
Appendix 3: Thresholds for eligibility for intervention by specialist Children with Disabilities service
The following guidance is to be used in determining eligibility for intervention by Children and Young People with Disabilities Service.
The Children with Disabilities Team works with disabled children and young people who need support through Child in Need, Child Protection and Child in Care through the same Threshold as all Social Care Teams. However, in addition the Children with Disabilities Team has a statutory duty to assess for Short Breaks this is through Level 2 (and above) of the eligibility threshold, and this is processed through EHM on the CSDPA pathway. PCC has commissioned services that have open access to those who meet Level one on the eligibility threshold.
As with any child or family the expectation is that universal and targeted services and resources are utilised before a referral is accepted into the service.
The working definition to whether a child or young person should be open to the Children with Disabilities Service is that the needs arising from the disability are likely to require lifelong support from statutory services (i.e. it is likely they will have Care Act eligible needs into adulthood). For those young people with a learning disability this means it is most likely that they will be in a learning disability special school (not SEHM) or are eligible for a special school placement. Children and Young people with physical and or sensory needs will most likely will be in a mainstream school with an EHCP.
If there is a new referral into PCC of a sibling group which includes a child with a disability, then a decision needs to be made to whether the referral relates specific to the child with a disability or not. If it is not specific to the child with a disability, then the case should sit with The Assessment/Safeguarding Team and the Children with Disabilities Team will allocate a secondary worker to ensure the disability needs of the disabled child are understood and met. At the end of the Assessment/Safeguarding Team’s interaction the disabled child is often transferred to the Children with Disabilities Team.
The principle should be that the Children with Disabilities Team should not have nondisabled children open to the service, unless this is agreed by the HOS. Therefore, if a referral about a sibling is referred through the MASH there should not be an automatic triage to the Children with Disabilities Team. Decisions will need to be made to what the better outcome will be for that family on a case-by-case discussion. This may mean that the Children with Disability Social Worker becomes a secondary worker for a period rather than the allocated worker. It may also mean that the case is open on LCS and EHM at the same time. In the first instance MASH should discuss with the Children with Disabilities Team Manager.
Understanding the Short Break Threshold
Level 1
The disabled child or young person’s needs may require to be supported through disability targeted services to enable them to broaden experiences and/or prevent build-up of stress in family. Families should be signposted to Peterborough Information Network | Activities and Support for Disabled Children (short breaks).
Support
Our team will provide information about things that are available to all and some that are available for children and young people with disabilities.
- The child or young person and their parents and carers can use universal support services and activities available to all in the local area as well as community and voluntary sector support.
- There is a range of activities, groups and support for children and young people with disabilities and their families that you can access yourself without the need for a social care assessment. For some you may need to show proof of disability.
- Term time and holiday clubs and sports activities including adapted cycling, swimming, sensory swimming, Boccia and archery run by Vivacity
- Groups and activities run by Circles Network including Circles Stars. A weekly dance and drama workshop
- Term time and holiday activities for children, young people and families, trips, family support, information, access to counselling and therapies, youth clubs and more run by Little Miracles
- A referral to Sleep Right, an individually tailored service that helps with getting the right techniques routines and support in place so that everyone gets a good night’s sleep
Level 2 Need
The child or young person requires services to prevent impairment of health or development and or alleviate stress within the family. The child’s level of need results in them being unable to participate in community activities which increases their impairment. Parents and siblings’ lives are impacted and may require support/assessments as Carers.
A referral should be accepted for a Short Break and Early Intervention assessment through EHM on Liquid Logic on the CSDPA pathway. The assessment will be completed by a Team Support Worker. Following the assessment the Team Support Worker may complete a short piece of intervention work and or put a care package in place to meet the short break needs of the family and to ensure the disabled young person is able to access the community.
Level 3 Need
The child or young person’s needs result in lifelong impact with likely lifetime support from statutory social care services. There is significant impact upon the wellbeing of parents and siblings and there may be a risk of family breakdown. It is likely there is a need for a complex MDT to meet the child’s needs. The child needs support to access and participate in their community. Child in Need processes will be followed alongside a care package to meet the needs, this could include overnight short breaks alongside support in the home and community.
Level 4 Need
The child or young person’s needs result in lifelong impact with likely lifetime support from statutory social care services and services are required to prevent immediate risk of significant impairment which might directly affect the child’s growth, development, physical or mental wellbeing OR to prevent the need for long term accommodation. Child in Need/Child Protection processes will be followed alongside a care package to meet the needs, this could include overnight short breaks alongside support in the home and community.
Appendix 4 : Thresholds for eligibility for Peterborough Youth Justice Service (including Diversion)
The following guidance is to be used in determining eligibility for intervention with Peterborough Youth Justice Service, including early diversion.
Diversion
The Diversion Team delivers preventative intervention to children at risk of entering the criminal justice system. There is, national criteria for this project. Children cannot be open to Early Help/Targeted Support, be subject to a Child Protection Plan or be a Child in Care. Children can be open as CIN, if they have a clear unmet need. The criteria is outlined below:
Turnaround Referral Criteria |
The child come to notice of agencies with enforcement powers for one of the following:
|
Referral must be received within 3 months of above incident |
Aged 10 -17 |
Not received turnaround support previously |
Not previously on YJ statutory caseload |
Serious Youth Violence
For children at risk of Serious Youth Violence there is targeted youth outreach projects. This is funded through two grants; the Home Office and Police Operation Dante (focussing on specific ASB/Serious Youth Violence Hotspots in Peterborough); and an Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) Serious Youth Violence Grant.
Operation Dante Referral Criteria (Home Office) |
Children aged 10-17 coming to notice of agencies for one of the following:
|
|
Not previously on YJ statutory caseload |
Key criteria of Operation Dante focuses on three strands – people, places and partnerships.
People – Working with local policing teams to ensure that children identified through patrols and problem-solving, are referred into prevention and diversionary activity, if they are engaged in, or at risk of ASB or serious violence.
Places – Working with local policing teams to conduct detached youth work and patrols. Providing a joint visible presence to engage, understand, and intervene to prevent children becoming involved in ASB and violence.
Partnerships – Working in partnership with local policing teams to build joint understanding of risk presented in hot spot areas and develop upstream prevention models to support CSPs with long term prevention strategies and tactics.
Detached Youth Work and Primary School Outreach Referral Criteria (SYV – OPCC) |
Children in year 5 to year 11 (aged 10 – 16) coming to notice of agencies for one of the following:
|
Could be open as Early Help, Child in Need, Child Protection or Child in Care, with a clear unmet need |
Not previously on YJ statutory caseload |
Level of Need
Children identified for the Diversion and Serious Youth Violence project are likely to sit at Level 2: Early Help on the Threshold Document: Continuum of Help and Support. Children receiving one to one intervention will be screened using a Prevention and Diversion Tool which could also identify them as Level 3: Children with Complex Multiple Needs. For those at Level 3 a children’s social care assessment and service could sit alongside the Diversion and SYV intervention.
Referral Process
If children meet the criteria for referral to Diversion or Serious Youth Violence the following process occurs:
Referrals for Diversion (turnaround) will primarily be received through police, schools, partners, CSC professionals or via MASH. For relevant MASH contacts, referrals will be sent to the Early Help Hub. These will be triaged to determine whether criteria is met for Early Help, SYV intervention or Diversion (turnaround). Outside MASH processes, referrals should be sent to diversion@peterborough.gov.uk This should include: – consent from child – contact details – reason for referral (see criteria for guidance) |
Out of Court Disposals
Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs) for children are processed by police and the majority are referred to an Out of Court Disposal Panel chaired by the Youth Justice Service. With exception of a first Community Resolution (CR) that can be issued by police for low level offending. A first outcome 20/21 can also be issued if police have determined that concerns have already been addressed by a third party i.e. school/social care (outcome 20) or if it is not in the interests of justice to take investigations further (outcome 21).
A PENY should be submitted to the Youth Justice Service notifying them of the outcome where the YJS has not been involved in the decision making, the YJS will screen the children involved and offer voluntary support if appropriate. The YJS Seconded Police Officer will ensure allocated social worker or early help professional are aware of outcomes.
All other OOCDs are referred direct to the Youth Justice Service for screening and decisions through an Out of Court Disposal Panel where multi-agency information will be gathered and considered. Representatives at the OOCD Panel are seconded police officers, social care, health, education, restorative justice officer, education officer, CASUS, and Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) officer. OOCDs are only suitable for children who have been involved in low level and offending deemed low in seriousness. Children must admit guilt and the views of victims will be considered, however final decisions remain the responsibility of the police and OOCD Panel.
The type of OOCDs available to the panel are:
Community Resolution – The child’s participation in an intervention programme for a Community Resolutions is voluntary. There are several interventions that can be offered to prevent re-offending including Restorative Justice, Referrals to SM providers and requirements to complete online courses.
Youth Caution – The child’s participation in an intervention programme for a Youth Caution is voluntary. However, unreasonable non-engagement with a Youth Caution with voluntary intervention can be cited in any future criminal proceedings and will be recorded on both YJ and police databases.
Youth Conditional Caution – The child’s participation with conditions imposed as part of a Youth Conditional Caution is compulsory and the YJS’s must explain to the child and their parents/carers that non-engagement may lead to prosecution for the original offence if considered in the interests of justice.
Route 22 Diversionary Programme – The child’s participation in diversionary activity for Route 22 is voluntary, however if these are not completed an alternative outcome may be given. Should the child fail to complete the diversionary activity, the police have the power to enforce a different disposal outcome. This could be a No Further Action, Youth Caution or Youth Conditional Caution.
Route 22 – Deferred Prosecution Scheme – The child’s participation in diversionary activity for a Deferred Prosecution Scheme is voluntary, however where evidential threshold has been met, the police have the power to charge/summons the young person to Court if they do not comply.
Level of Need
All Children with Out of Court Disposals are assessed using a Prevention and Diversion Tool. It is likely that these children will sit at Level 2: Early Help or Level 3: Children with Complex Multiple Needs on the Threshold Document: Continuum of Help and Support. For a few children with acute needs, they could sit at Level 4: Children in Acute Need. This would be for children identified as significant harm as result of their own safety and wellbeing, or risk to others e.g. when very specialised services are required in residential, complex Tier 4 health provision, and those remanded or sentenced to custody or other secure welfare settings.
Court Ordered Disposals
All offending by children that meets a higher severity and seriousness score will be referred by the Police and Crown Prosecution Service direct to a Youth Court and then to the Youth Justice Service. Where offences are considered severe the magistrates can refer them onto a Crown Court. All children will be supported by the Youth Justice Service at Court and duty systems are in place to ensure we are present, including at Saturday and Bank Holiday Courts. The Youth Justice Service will be there to advocate for the child, make risk assessments and recommendations to the court on outcomes.
Bail and Remand –
The Court has the following outcomes available to the court whilst a child is waiting to be sentenced:
- Unconditional bail
- Conditional bail – this could include residence (including live as directed by the local authority), exclusion areas, not to approach victims/witnesses, curfews etc
- Bail support and supervision – this would be supervised by the youth justice with regular 1:1 contact and support to manage risk
- Conditional Bail with Intensive Supervision and Surveillance – this would include intensive support from youth justice and a curfew
- Remand to the Care of the Local Authority – This would require an assessment being undertaken by social care and the child would be referred through the MASH. The child would become a Child in Care. The Youth Justice Service would also supervise the child, support any CSC assessment, provide 1:1 support and oversight to manage risk
- Remand to Custody – This would require an assessment being undertaken by social care and the child would be referred through the MASH. The child would become a Child in Care. The child would be placed by the Youth Custody Service (YCS) in a Secure Children’s Home, Secure Training Centre or Young Offender Institute and youth justice would make the placement request.
Court Orders –
The following sentencing outcomes are available to the court and will be informed by Pre-sentence Report and Asset Plus assessment completed by youth justice. All will be supervised by youth justice and enforced if the child fails to engage and comply:
- Referral Order – Will be 3 months – 12 months in length. A contract will be agreed and monitored by a ‘Referral Order Panels’ with the children, with agreed interventions they need and how they can repair the harm caused and give back to the community.
- Reparation Order – Working unpaid hours in a local community project or with the victim to repair harm caused.
- Youth Rehabilitation Order – This is normally between six months and 3 years. The Child will have regular appointment with the YOS that will be guided by an intervention plan.
- Youth Rehabilitation Order with conditions – As above but could include Intensive Supervision and Surveillance programmes, Curfew and residence requirements
- Detention and Training Order – Will result in the child being place by YCS in a Secure Children’s Home, Secure Training Centre or Young Offender Institute for between 4 and 24 months, and youth justice would make the placement request. Child is released into the community at the half-way point. Not considered a child in care unless are at the point of sentence and are unable to live with family.
- Section 90/91 Sentence – Will result in the child being place by YCS in a Secure Children’s Home, Secure Training Centre or Young Offender Institute for over 2 years and more, and youth justice would make the placement request. They will be eligible to apply for release into the community through an application to the parole board at the half-way point. Not considered a child in care unless are at the point of sentence and are unable to live with family.
Level of Need
All Children with Court Ordered disposals are assessed using a YJB Asset Plus Assessment Tool. It is again likely that these children will sit at Level 2: Early Help or Level 3: Children with Complex Multiple Needs on the Threshold Document: Continuum of Help and Support. For a few children with acute needs, they could sit at Level 4: Children in Acute Need. This would be for children identified as significant harm as result of their own safety and wellbeing, or risk to others e.g. when very specialised services are required in residential, complex Tier 4 health provision, and those remanded or sentenced to custody or other secure welfare settings.
When a child is opened or closed on a Youth Justice Disposal, including Diversion, Out of Court and Court Ordered, a secondary worker will be added to Liquid Logic LCS and a case note will be added detailing the child’s disposal. Youth Justice will also contact previous and current allocated social workers and early help professionals to gather information to inform assessments and develop plans jointly. A further case note will also be added at the point of closure to Youth Justice.
Appendix 5 : Children and Young People’s NHS Continuing Care (‘Continuing Care’)
Some children and young people (up to their 18th birthday) may have such complex health needs that they cannot be met by the services which are routinely available from GP practices, hospitals or in the community commissioned by Integrated Care Boards or NHS England. The Children and Young Peoples NHS Continuing Care Framework provides guidance for Integrated Care Boards when assessing the health care needs National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care (publishing.service.gov.uk).
A package of additional health support may be needed which known as continuing care. (N.B. For Young adults aged 18 and over the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care and the supporting guidance and tools should be used National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).
Children with complex needs may not only need support from health services. They may also have special educational needs and need support from social care. Usually, continuing care should be part of a wider package of care, agreed and delivered by collaboration between health, education and social care.
All children and young people with a disability, a long-term illness or who has experienced a significant or life changing accident is a Child in Need under the 1989 Children’ Act and therefore a social work assessment should be offered upon consent. There are clear limits to what care should be funded by the local authority, which should not be a substitute for additional NHS care for children. The duty under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 does not extend to meeting essential medical needs, this is known as the Haringey Judgement.
Requests for NHS Continuing Care can be made by a variety of professionals with consent from the child or their parents or guardians, where necessary. All NHS Continuing Care referrals with the required evidence, such as 24-hour care needs, are triaged by the ICB clinical team who decides whether the child should proceed to a formal assessment. During the assessment phase of the process the nominated clinical assessor gathers information and evidence, including the preferences of the child and family, a holistic assessment of the child, and reports and risk assessments from the professionals in the child’s multidisciplinary team. The Decision Support Tool provides a means of making a summative judgment of the child’s needs. Every need considered under the Decision Support Tool should have evidence to support it.
A child is likely to have continuing care needs if assessed as having a severe or priority level of need in at least one domain of care, or a high level of need in three domains of care.
The level of need in a single domain may not on its own indicate that a child or young person has a continuing care need but will contribute to a picture of overall care needs across all domains. Levels of need are relative to each other as well as to those in other care domains. It is not possible to equate a number of incidences of one level with a number of incidences of another level – that needs assessed as ‘moderate’ in two domains are the equivalent of one ‘high’ level of need, for example. In presenting recommendations to a multi-agency forum, nominated children and young people’s health assessors consider the level of need identified in all care domains in order to gain the overall picture.
The domains of the Decision Support Tool for children and young people allows consideration of actual needs, how these are being met, what is working and what interventions or referrals must be made to facilitate unmet needs. There is also scope for considering the workforce and any training options necessary.
Care package options, shaped by the child’s and their families support needs, are developed which should have regard to other packages of care the child may have, working to ensure that the care fits seamlessly. Joint commissioning, or tri/bi-partite agreements may need to be arranged, to ensure health, education and social care needs are catered for in a package of care.
The child or young person’s continuing care needs are reviewed three months after the package of care has commenced, and annually thereafter, or when their health function is known to have changed.
Referrals and advice for NHS Continuing Care assessments is through email cpicb.childrenscontinuingcare@nhs.net
For further information please see Children and young people’s continuing care national framework.
Appendix 6 : Private Fostering
There are occasions where a child or young person may need to live with people other than their parent(s) or direct members of their family.
In his report into the enquiry about Victoria Climbie’s death, Lord Laming highlighted concerns about privately fostered children. As a result, Local Authorities have been issued with guidance pertaining to their duties to safeguard children who are privately fostered.
What is Private Fostering?
Private Fostering is when a child or young person under the age of 16 years or under 18 years if they are disabled, are cared for on a full-time basis by a person who is not their parent, a person with parental responsibility or a “close relative” for 28 days or more.
Close relatives are defined as:
- Grandparents
- Brothers and sisters
- Uncles and aunts, or
- Stepparents (if married to the partner or in civil partnership).
Private Fostering arrangements are those where it is intended for the placement to last 28 days or more. They are generally made with the agreement of the child’s parent, but this may not always be the case.
The statutory responsibility for Private Fostering lies with the Local Authority and is carried out by Peterborough City Council’s and Cambridgeshire County Council’s children’s social care service. In Peterborough, the Head of Service for Children in Care in the Children and Families Service has been appointed as the Responsible Officer for Private Fostering. In Cambridgeshire, the Service Manager for Fostering has been appointed as the Responsible Officer for Private Fostering.
When to Refer
All Private Fostering arrangements should be referred to the Local Authority via the MASH portal or via telephone call to the children’s social care team in the MASH.
Any parent proposing to have their child looked after by someone other than a close relative for more than 28 days, or a Private Foster Carer who is proposing to look after someone else’s child, must notify the Children and Families Service at least 6 weeks before the arrangement is due to begin or as soon as arranged if less than six weeks.
A person who proposes to accommodate a child or children at school in circumstances in which some or all of them will be treated as Privately Fostered children must give written notice of their intention to the Local Authority, stating the estimated number of children, not less than 2 weeks before the arrangements begin.
Where a Private Fostering arrangement is in existence or an emergency arrangement has been put in place, the Private Foster Carer or parent should tell the Children and Families Service within 48 hours.
For further detail please refer to the Private Fostering Guidance at the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership website. Private Fostering | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk)
