Being Alert to Children's Welfare
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5.1 |
Everybody who works or has contact with children (or pregnant women) should be able to recognise, and know how to act upon, evidence that a child's health or development (or that of the unborn baby) is or may be being impaired and especially when they are suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm. |
5.2 |
Whenever practitioners are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child they should follow these procedures. These concerns may arise during:
- Day to day contact with the child or an isolated contact;
- The process or outcome of an Early Help Assessment.
If the member of staff who has made the referral to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) does not feel the response has been appropriate and concerns remain, then the member of staff should share this view with Children's Social Care Managers and, if problems persist, discuss with their line manager about escalating the issue through their management line - see Complaints, Non-Compliance and Conflict Resolution Procedure
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5.3 |
The Early Help Assessment (formerly CAF) is an assessment of the needs of a child or young person and deciding how those should be met. |
5.4 |
The Early Help Assessment is intended for use by practitioners across all agencies and is designed to facilitate communication and more effective work. The Early Help Assessment enables contribution by children and parents/carers to the assessment, planning and review processes. Click here for further information about the Early Help process in Milton Keynes. |
5.5 |
Those working with children and those working with adults who are parents/carers need to be aware of their duties to share information (with informed consent) about children with additional needs, and need to be aware how they can complete or contribute to an Early Help Assessment. |
5.6 |
Use of an Early Help Assessment should not delay referral to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub if there are concerns that a child is at risk of being abused or neglected (see Quick Referral flowchart). |
5.7 |
If an Early Help Assessment has already been completed (or is in progress) when child protection concerns are identified, it should inform the assessment completed by Children's Social Care (see Quick Referral flowchart). |
5.8 |
If, following an assessment by Children's Social Care, a child does not meet the criteria for services, undertaking an Early Help Assessment to respond to the child's additional needs may be recommended.
In cases where agreement to an early help assessment cannot be obtained, practitioners should consider how the needs of the child might be met. However, practitioners should still inform individuals that their data will be recorded and shared and the purpose explained to them. If at any time it is considered that the child may be a child in need, as defined in the Children Act 1989, or that the child has suffered significant harm or is likely to do so, a referral should be made immediately to local authority children’s social care. This referral can be made by any practitioner.
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Professional Consultation
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5.9 |
Professionals in most agencies should have internal procedures, which identify child protection designated / named managers /staff able to offer advice and decide upon the necessity for a referral. |
5.10 |
Consultation, without giving case details, may also be accomplished directly with Children's Social Care via the child protection co-ordinators or in her/his absence the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). There should be no delay in obtaining advice e.g. by waiting to speak to the co-ordinator, so that any decision to refer can be followed up immediately. |
5.11 |
A formal referral or any urgent medical treatment must not be delayed by the need for consultation. |
Listening to the Child
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5.12 |
Responsibility for making enquiries and investigating allegations rests with Children's Social Care and Police Child Abuse Investigation Units (CAIUs), along with other relevant agencies (see Referral and Assessment Procedure and Section 47 Enquiries Procedure.) |
5.13 |
Where abuse is alleged, the initial response by professionals should be limited to listening carefully to what the child says so as to:
- Clarify the concerns;
- Offer re-assurance about how s/he will be kept safe; and
- Explain what action will be taken.
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5.14 |
The child must not be pressed for information, led, cross-examined or given false assurances of absolute confidentiality. Such well-intentioned actions could prejudice police investigations, especially in cases of sexual abuse. |
5.15 |
If the child can understand the significance and consequences of making a referral to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), s/he should be informed that the referral is being made. |
5.16 |
Regardless of the child's view, it remains the responsibility of the professional to take whatever action is required to ensure the safety of that child and any other children. |
Parental Consultation
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5.17 |
Where practicable, concerns should be discussed with the family and agreement sought for a referral to the MASH unless this may:
- Increase the likelihood of the child suffering Significant Harm e.g. by the behavioural response it prompts or by leading to an unreasonable delay;
- Lead to the risk of loss of evidential material.
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5.18 |
Professional consultation (see Section 5.9, Professional Consultation) should be sought if in doubt about the advisability of informing the parents of the concerns or if there are concerns about the safety of any member of staff. |
Decision not to seek parental permission
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5.19 |
A decision by any professional not to seek parental permission before making a referral to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub must be recorded and the reasons given. |
5.20 |
Formal referrals from named professionals cannot be treated as anonymous, so the parent will ultimately become aware of the identity of the referrer. |
Parental permission given
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5.21 |
Where a parent has agreed to a referral, this must be recorded and confirmed in the referral to Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). |
Parental refusal of permission
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5.22 |
Where the parent refuses to give permission for the referral, further advice should, unless this would cause undue delay, be sought from a manager or the nominated child protection officer and the outcome fully recorded. |
5.23 |
If, having taken full account of the parent's wishes, it is still considered that there is a need for a referral:
- The reason for proceeding without parental agreement must be recorded;
- The MASH should be told that the parent has withheld her/his permission;
- The parent should be contacted to inform her/him that after considering their wishes a referral has been made (unless this action might increase the risk of harm to the child).
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5.24 |
For a full discussion about information sharing and confidentiality, see Information Sharing and Confidentiality Procedure. |
Urgent Medical Attention
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5.25 |
If the child is suffering from a serious injury, medical attention must be sought immediately from the hospital Emergency Department. |
5.26 |
If abuse is suspected, the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and the duty consultant paediatrician must be informed. |
5.27 |
Except in cases where emergency treatment is needed, Children's Social Care and the CAIU are responsible for ensuring any medical examinations required are initiated as part of a Section 47 Enquiry. |
Report to Child Health
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5.28 |
In all cases of injury presented at the Emergency Department or walk in service, the emergency service must inform the GP, health visitor and/or school nurse. |
Duty to Refer to Children's Social Care
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5.29 |
Staff in Milton Keynes agencies and contracted service providers must make a referral to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) if there are signs that a child under the age of 18 years or an unborn baby:
- Is suffering or has suffered Significant Harm;
- Is likely to suffer Significant Harm; or
- (With agreement of a person with Parental Responsibility) would be likely to benefit from family support services.
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5.30 |
The timing of such referrals must reflect the level of perceived risk, but should usually be within 1 working day of the recognition of risk. |
5.31 |
In urgent situations, out of office hours, the referral should be made to the Emergency Social Work Team 01908 265545. |
Making the Referral
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5.32 |
Referrals should be made to the Children's Social Care office where the child is living or is found. |
5.33 |
If the child is known to have an allocated social worker, referrals should be made to her/him, or, in her/his absence to the manager or a duty officer. In other circumstances, referral should be to the MASH 01908 253169 or 01908 253170 by email children@milton-keynes.gov.uk. |
5.34 |
Where available, the following information should be provided with the referral (but absence of information must not delay referral):
- Cause for concern including details of any allegations, the source/s of these, timing and location of incident/s;
- Child's current location and emotional and physical condition;
- Whether the child needs immediate protection;
- Full names, date of birth and gender of child/ren;
- Family address (current and previous);
- Identity of those with parental responsibility;
- Names and date of birth of all household members and any known regular visitors to the household;
- Details of child's extended family or community who are significant for the child;
- Ethnicity, first language and religion of children, parents / carers;
- Any need for an interpreter, signer or other communication aid;
- Any special needs of child/ren and other household members;
- Any significant / important recent or historical events / incidents in child or family's life, including previous concerns;
- Details of any alleged perpetrators (if relevant);
- Background information relevant to referral e.g. positive aspects of parents care, previous concerns, pertinent parental issues e.g. mental health, domestic abuse, drug or alcohol abuse, threats and violence towards professionals;
- Referrer's relationship and knowledge of child and parents / carers;
- Known current or previous involvement of other agencies / professionals e.g. schools, GPs;
- Information regarding parental knowledge of, and agreement to, the referral.
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5.35 |
The referrer must confirm verbal and telephone referrals in writing, within 48 hours, using a multi-agency referral form. Any Early Help Assessment that has been undertaken should be attached to the referral. |
5.36 |
Referrals must be acknowledged, in writing, within 1 working day of receipt. Where no acknowledgement is received within 3 working days, the referrer must contact the MASH again. |
Ensuring immediate safety
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5.37 |
The safety of children is paramount in all decisions relating to their welfare. Any action taken by members of staff from a local agency should ensure that no child is left in immediate danger. |
5.38 |
The law (s.3 (5) Children Act 1989) empowers anyone who has actual care of a child to do all that is reasonable in the circumstances to safeguard her/his welfare. |
5.39 |
A teacher, foster carer, childminder or any professional should for example, take all reasonable steps to offer a child immediate protection from an aggressive parent. |
5.40 |
Where abuse is alleged, suspected or confirmed in a child presented at the Emergency Department / admitted to hospital, s/he must not be discharged until:
- Children's Social Care are notified by phone that there are child protection concerns;
- Written confirmation is provided within 48 hours on an inter-agency referral form;
- A Strategy Discussion/Meeting has been held including relevant hospital staff.
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Recording
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5.41 |
The referrer should keep a written record of:
- Discussions with child;
- Discussions with parent;
- Discussions with managers;
- Information provided to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH);
- Decisions taken (clearly timed, dated and signed).
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