2.1 |
Each local authority should designate a manager, normally an experienced social worker, who has responsibility for:
- Ensuring that records on children who have a Child Protection Plan are kept up to date;
- Ensuring enquiries about children about whom there are concerns or who have child protection plans are recorded and considered;
- Managing other notifications of movements of children into or out of the local authority area such as children who have a Child Protection Plan and Children in Care;
- Managing notifications of people who may pose a risk of Significant Harm to children who are either identified with the local authority area or have moved into the local authority area; and
- Managing requests for checks to be made to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children.
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2.2 |
The above manager should be accountable to the Director of Children's Social Care. |
2.3 |
Information on each child known to Children's Social Care should be kept up-to-date on the local authority LCS IT system, and the content of the child's record should be confidential, available only to legitimate enquirers. This information should be accessible at all times to such enquirers. |
2.4 |
The details of enquirers should always be checked and recorded on the system before information is provided. |
2.5 |
If an enquiry is made about a child and the child's case is open to Children's Social Care the enquirer should be given the name of the child's Lead Social Worker and the Lead Social Worker informed of this enquiry so that they can follow it up. |
2.6 |
If an enquiry is made about a child at the same address as a child who is the subject of a Child Protection Plan, this information should be sent to the Lead Social Worker of the child who is the subject of the Child Protection Plan. |
2.7 |
If an enquiry is made, but the child is not known to Children's Social Care, this enquiry should be recorded on a contact sheet together with the advice given to the enquirer. |
2.8 |
In the event of there being a second enquiry about a child who is not known to Children's Social Care, the, designated manager in Children's Social Care should ensure that the local authority considers whether this is or may be a Child in Need. |
2.9 |
The Department for Education holds lists of the names of designated managers and should be notified of any changes. |