Amendments

Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. It recognises that the different relationships that young people form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online can feature violence and abuse. Parents and carers have little influence over these contexts, and young people’s experiences of extra-familial abuse can undermine parent-child relationships.

Therefore children’s social care practitioners need to engage with and recognise individuals, spaces and sectors who do have influence over the young person, within extra-familial contexts, and recognise that assessment of, and intervention with, these spaces are a critical part of safeguarding practices.

Contextual Safeguarding, therefore, expands the objectives of child protection systems in recognition that young people are vulnerable to abuse in a range of social contexts.

Contextual Safeguarding Network Briefing

It is important to note that perpetrators of criminal exploitation may themselves be children who are criminally exploited and that the victims of crimial expolitation may also be at risk of becoming perpetrators.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended order of chapters.

Amended formatting.

In September 2015, this chapter was updated to reflect the Serious Crime Act (2015) which introduced an offence of sexual communication with a child. This applies to an adult who communicates with a child and the communication is sexual or if it is intended to elicit from the child a communication which is sexual and the adult reasonably believes the child to be under16 years of age. The Act also amended the Sex Offences Act 2003 so it is now an offence for an adult to arrange to meet with someone under 16 having communicated with them on just one occasion (previously it was on at least two occasions).

Amended formatting of table.

Changed WT2015 to WT2018

Revised order of sections

Paragraph added 

Revised list of concerns

Chapter revised and replaced

Related guidance revised.

'Use of Internet' updated to Serious Crime Act 2015 

'No Apparent Risk' category removed as no longer used by police.

Outdated details removed.

Revised procedure

Corrected spelling.

Changed LSCB to safeguarding partner.

Paragraph 3.2.6 added as per WT2018.

Changed LSCB to safeguarding partners.

Paragraph 3.1.25 added as per WT2018.

Changed wording in light of WT2018: 'Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse.'

Changed LSCBs to Safeguarding partners.

Changed LSCBs to Safeguarding partners and added 2017 Children and Social Care Act.

Changed LSCBs to Safeguarding partners.

Changed LSCBs to Safeguarding partners.

Changed LSCBs to Safeguarding partners.

Changed LSCBs to Safeguarding partners.

Added live streaming and video games.

Additional risk factors added from Home Office county lines guidance, and link to guidance added.

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated WT2018

Updated to WT2018

Updated WT2018.

Added information from Myth Busting Guide 

Remove ref to LSCB Chair

Removed - Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, Flowchart 5, What happens after the child protection conference, including the review?  states that the date of the first Core Group meeting must be within 10 working days of the Initial Child Protection Conference. This date must be arranged at the end of the conference, along with an indication of the required frequency of subsequent meetings.

Addition of WT18

Removed 2015, replaced 2018

Removed 2015 and replaced with 2018

Dispute Resolution & Escalation Protocol  added in November 2018

The Data Protection Act 1998 requires that:

Personal information is obtained and processed fairly and lawfully; only disclosed in appropriate circumstances; is accurate, relevant and not held longer than necessary; and is kept securely.

The Act balances the rights of the information subject (the individual whom the information is about) and the need to share information about them. Never assume sharing is prohibited – it is essential to consider this balance in every case. The Information Commissioner has published a statutory code of practice on information sharing to help organisations adopt good practice

Removed

Working Together 2015 states that:

“… all organisations should have arrangements in place which set out clearly the processes and the principles for sharing information between each other, with other professionals and with the LSCB; and no professional should assume that someone else will pass on information which they think may be critical to keeping a child safe. If a professional has concerns about a child’s welfare and believes they are suffering, or likely to suffer, harm, then they should share the information with local authority children’s social care.

Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers (2015) supports frontline practitioners working in child or adult service who have to make decisions about sharing personal information on a case- by-case basis. The guidance can be used to supplement local guidance and encourage good practice in information sharing.” (Working Together 2015) 

Removed

Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services (March 2015) states that:

Wherever possible, you should seek consent or be open and honest with the individual (and/or their family, where appropriate) from the outset as to why, what, how and with whom, their information will be shared. You should seek consent where an individual may not expect their information to be passed on and they have a genuine choice about this. Consent in relation to personal information does not need to be explicit – it can be implied where to do so would be reasonable, i.e. a referral to a provider or another service. More stringent rules apply to sensitive personal information, when, if consent is necessary then it should be explicit. But even without consent, or explicit consent, it is still possible to share personal information if it is necessary in order to carry out your role, or to protect the vital interests of the individual where, for example, consent cannot be given. Also, if it is unsafe or inappropriate to do so, i.e. where there are concerns that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm, you would not need to seek consent. A record of what has been shared should be kept.

Removed-

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 states that:

“Effective sharing of information between professionals and local agencies is essential for effective identification, assessment and service provision.

Early sharing of information is the key to providing effective early help where there are emerging problems. At the other end of the continuum, sharing information can be essential to put in place effective child protection services. Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) have shown how poor information - sharing has contributed to the deaths or serious injuries of children.

Fears about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the need to promote the welfare and protect the safety of children.” (Working Together 2015)

Reviewed in October 2018

Reviewed in October 2018

Reviewed in October 2018

Reviewed in October 2018

This definition is inclusive of internal trafficking or trafficking of children within borders.

Care of Unaccompanied and Trafficked Children: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on the Care of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Trafficked Children (2014) provides that where the age of a person is uncertain and there are reasons to believe that they are a child, they are presumed to be a child in order to receive immediate access to assistance, support and protection in accordance with Article 10(3) of the European Convention on action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Age assessments should only be carried out where there is significant reason to doubt that the claimant is a child. Age assessments should not be a routine part of a local authority’s assessment of unaccompanied or trafficked children. Where age assessments are conducted, they must be Merton Compliant.

This guidance provides information about trafficking, the roles and functions of relevant agencies and the procedures practitioners should follow to ensure the safety and well-being of children who it is suspected have been trafficked

The organised crime of child trafficking into the UK has become an issue of considerable concern to all professionals with responsibility for the care and protection of children. Any form of trafficking children is an abuse. Children are coerced, deceived or forced into the control of others who seek to profit from their exploitation and suffering. Some cases involve UK-born children being trafficked within the UK.

changed title 

Caps - Young Witness Service

Addition of Emotional, physical or sexual abuse of the parent or any behaviour in another adult which leaves the parent involved in prostitution in fear.

AMENDMENT

In October 2013, paragraph 8.8.4 and paragraph 8.8.20 were amended to include further information on investigations being defined as complicated rather than complex.

In October 2018 the following was removed Further advice for the police can be found in Appendix I to the Force Child Protection Policy.  Detailed guidance for senior investigating officers is also contained in the ACPO document The Investigation of Historical / Institutional Child Abuse - The Senior Investigating Officers' Handbook. This guidance is no longer referred to. 

updated details for B&H

Amended B&H details 

Brighton & Hove use the Strengthening Families Assessment

Added link to NHS England FGM website.

Added sentence on children's services and housing services working together and link to government guidance. 

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education link and date.

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education link and date.

Section 8.8.6 was amended to include new Department for Education guidance.

udpated with new links

Updated to include WT2018

updated to reflect publications in 2018

removed link Department of Health Best Practice Guidance for Doctors and other Health Professionals on the provision of Advice and Treatment to Young People Under 16 On Contraception, Sexual, and Reproductive Health.

Replaced with guidance issued in Feb 2018

removed link Department of Health Best Practice Guidance for Doctors and other Health Professionals on the provision of Advice and Treatment to Young People Under 16 On Contraception, Sexual, and Reproductive Health.

Replaced with guidance issued in Feb 2018

removed link Department of Health Best Practice Guidance for Doctors and other Health Professionals on the provision of Advice and Treatment to Young People Under 16 On Contraception, Sexual, and Reproductive Health.

Replaced with guidance issued in Feb 2018

Request at Pan Sussex Procs meeting to remove references to interagency referral form (Meeting July 2018)

Replace Absent with No Apparent Risk

Replaces - Where the child's location or reason for absence is unknown and/or there is cause for concern for the child because of their vulnerability or there is a potential danger to the public. A child in this category must be reported to the police.

Replaces  -

Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are out of character, or the context suggests the person may be the subject of crime or at risk of harm to themselves or another.

Additon of - Across Sussex, Police attend a number of information sharing meetings alongside partner agencies. These meetings aim to support in finding resolutions to issues regarding repeat missing children or missing incidents of concern. These meetings also focus on reviewing cases and raising concerns in relation to missing children.

Not suggested as a new paragraph.

Removes- Often such children are immediately labelled as 'the problem' and insufficient consideration is given to why they are persistently absenting themselves.

Replaces - If appropriate the child should have this policy explained to them so that they understand what actions will be taken if they absent themselves without permission.

Removed Absent and added No Apparent Risk 

 Provides wider narrative 

Replaces - The top 5 repeat callers for missing reports were from Children’s Homes. These 5 Children’s Homes equate to a total of 7% of all calls received regarding missing children. Children in Care Homes may have been placed by one of the local authorities within Sussex or by another, more distant Local Authority with the residential homes often managed within the Private Sector. Looked after children are at high risk of being reported missing. 1 in 10 looked after children are reported missing each year compared to 1 in 200 total children. Looked after children who are reported missing will be reported on average 6 times (Missing People, 2016).

Updated figures from 62% of the 4,820 

Removed - A school based study in 2005 showed that 52% of runaways stayed away for one night, 27% stayed away for 2-6 nights, 11% stayed away for 1- 4 weeks and 10% stayed away for longer than 4 weeks.

Addition of definition and removal of RHI provider

Updated link to Brighton & Hove Channel Panel referral form

Formatting

b

Added ADCS/Cafcass agreement (February 2017) as related guidance.

Added Department for Education child sexual exploitation defintion and guide (February 2017) to the list of related guidance.

Updated to reflect Department for Education guidance issued February 2017.

Definition updated to reflect Department for Education guidance issued in February 2017.

Clarified status and timing of pre-birth CP conferences following feedback (May 2016)

Clarified status and timing of pre-birth CP conferences following feedback (May 2016)

Clarified status and timing of pre-birth CP conferences following feedback (May 2016)

Clarified status and timing of pre-birth CP conferences following feedback (May 2016)

Clarified status and timing of pre-birth CP conferences following feedback (May 2016)

Clarified status and timing of pre-birth CP conferences following feedback.

Updated details for East Sussex following introduction of Single Point of Advice from 3 May 2016.

Local flowchart pathways and leaflets for parents added

Missing People Pan Sussex Missing Children’s Service Operational Instructions added

Whole chapter updated 

Whole chapter updated

Contact details updated 

Added additional bullet: 'Children not in stable accommodattion/between local authorities/sofa-surfing'.

Guidance added for SARC medicals 

Added SARC Guidance 

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan throughout chapter.

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safetyguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Throughout chapter changed CAF to Early Help Plan.

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Throughout chapter changed CAF to Early Help Plan.

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Throughout chapter changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Throughout chapter changed Police CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Thoughout chapter changed Police CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Police CPT changed to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Changed CPT to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

CPT changed to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Police CPT changed to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Police CPT changed to Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

'All disclosures of historic abuse should be referred into the MASH/CAP' added to paragraph.

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan

Changed CAF to Early Help Plan

Changed Common Assessment Framework to Early Help Plan

Flowcharts added

East & West Sussex Procedures added