Preface
A multi-disciplinary, interagency approach to child
protection work is essential. It is a difficult and
complex area of work which requires a shared
commitment, effective communication and a focus
on achieving the best outcomes for children.
The Standards for Child Protection Services are
grounded in the rights of the child and were
developed to enhance the multi-disciplinary,
interagency approach to child protection. The
standards are a result of widespread consultation
and apply to all public bodies, organisations,
professionals and persons who provide statutory
services to children. They also establish a
framework of best practice in child protection for
voluntary, community and independent sector
organisations and practitioners (including
counsellors and therapists working in a private
capacity) who work with or have significant
contact with children and young people.
The standards are an important part of the overall
framework to deliver continuous improvement in,
and strengthening of, child protection services in
Northern Ireland and their associated
accountability arrangements. They should also
help families and members of the public
understand how services work to protect children
and the important contribution they themselves
can make to the safeguarding of children and
young people.
Paul Martin
Chief Social Services Officer
Department of Health, Social Services and
Public Safety
STANDARDS FOR CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION
- How the standards will be used
- The format of the standards
1
Values and Principles 4
The Standards:
1. Planning, Commissioning, Providing, Quality Assuring and
Auditing Services
6
2. The Purpose of and Access to Services 10
3. Assessment, Case Planning, Case Management and
Record Keeping
13
4. Protecting Vulnerable Children in Specific Circumstances 18
5. The Establishment and Operation of Area Child Protection
Committees (ACPCs) and Trust Child Protection Panels
(CPPs)1
20
6. Case Management Reviews2 22
7. The Interfaces and Joint Working Arrangements for
Children in Need of Residential Care, across Fieldwork,
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS),
Adult Mental Health and other Agencies
24
8. Equality and Human Rights 27
1 Work is underway to establish a Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) and a
Safeguarding Panel (SP) within each HSC Trust which will support the work of the SBNI. It is
anticipated that the new structures will be introduced during 2008 and will ultimately replace
ACPCs and CPPs. It will be necessary to revisit this standard prior to the SBNI and SPs
becoming operational
2 In line with establishing the SBNI, DHSSPS has commissioned a review of the current Case
Management Review process. It will be necessary to revisit this standard when this process
is completed
1
INTRODUCTION
The standards for child protection services were originally developed in draft form as
‘inspection standards’ to assist the process of the regional multi-disciplinary,
interagency inspection of child protection services, whose overview report “Our
Children and Young People – Our Shared Responsibility”3 was published by the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in 2006. The
inspection standards were drawn up by a reference group led by DHSSPS, with
representation from Health and Social Services Boards (HSS Boards) and HSS
Trusts, Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs), Child Protection Panels (CPPs),
the Department of Education (DE), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), the
Regulation and Quality and Improvement Authority (RQIA) and relevant agencies
within the voluntary sector. The standards were subject to widespread consultation
and were also shaped by the views of young people who had experienced child
protection services.
The inspection standards were influenced by:
• a review of existing standards in the area of child protection;
• a review of a wide body of literature and research on child protection;
• the recommendations contained in The Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report.4 This
report made many far-reaching and challenging recommendations for all
engaged in the governance, planning, management and delivery of child
protection services, which are still applicable;
• “Co-operating to Safeguard Children” (CtSC),5 is the current DHSSPS child
protection guidance. This will be periodically updated and amended to reflect
changing practice in the field of child protection;
• the learning from inspection and Case Management Reviews (CMRs) in
Northern Ireland; and
• a series of workshops and wide consultation with the range of disciplines and
agencies involved in child protection work in Northern Ireland.
In light of the learning derived from the regional inspection experience, the inspection
standards have now been reviewed, in collaboration with relevant agencies, whose
roles and responsibilities include the safeguarding of children and young people.
The standards are now produced in final form as “the child protection standards” and
3 “Our Children and Young People - Our Shared Responsibility” can be accessed through:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/oss-child-protection.htm
4 Laming (2003) Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report. The Report can be accessed at:
http://www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk/finreport/finreport.htm
5 “Co-operating to Safeguard Children”, DHSSPS (2003), can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/show_publications?txtid=14022
2
are applicable to all public bodies, organisations, professionals and other persons
who provide statutory services to children. These standards also establish a
framework of best child protection practice for voluntary, community and independent
sector organisations and practitioners (including counsellors and therapists working
in a private capacity) who work with or have significant contact with children and
young people and should be made widely available to such organisations and
practitioners. A requirement to comply with the child protection standards and other
DHSSPS, HSS Boards’ and Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts’ guidance in
relation to safeguarding children and young people should form part of service level
agreements and/or contractual arrangements for services to children and young
people between statutory agencies and non-statutory organisations or individuals
working in a private capacity. The standards should also help families and members
of the public understand how services work to protect children and the important
contribution they themselves can make to safeguard children and young people.
How the standards will be used
The implementation of the standards will assist the planning, delivery, audit, review
and inspection of child protection services across the region and provide the
foundation for informing practice and improving the services to children, young
people and their families.
The standards will be used by:
• HSC commissioners for the planning, commissioning, quality assuring and
auditing of services;
• organisations, professionals and other persons who provide statutory
services to children for the planning, commissioning, provision and review of
services; provision of information; individual care planning and review;
protection of vulnerable children; important service interfaces and equality and
human rights;
• children, young people and families and their representative groups to
inform them of what they can and should reasonably expect from child
protection services and from the organisations and practitioners commissioning
and providing them;
• practitioners to inform them of the requirements of care planning, service
delivery and review and of what they can and should reasonably expect from
the organisations employing them;
• regulatory and professional bodies and training providers in their
inspection and governance reviews and work to ensure that professional, postqualifying
and in-service training fully prepares and equips staff to work
effectively with regard to the provision of child protection services; and
• members of the public to understand how services work to protect children
and the important contribution they can make to safeguard children and young
people.
3
The format of the standards
The 8 standard statements for Child Protection Services are set out under the
following headings:
1. Planning, Commissioning, Providing, Quality Assuring and Auditing Services;
2. The Purpose of and Access to Services;
3. Assessment, Case Planning, Case Management and Record Keeping;
4. Protecting Vulnerable Children in Specific Circumstances;
5. The Establishment and Operation of Area Child Protection Committees
(ACPCs) and Trust Child Protection Panels (CPPs);
6. Case Management Reviews;
7. The Interfaces and Joint Working Arrangements for Children in Need of
Residential Care, across Fieldwork, Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Services (CAMHS), Adult Mental Health and other Agencies; and
8. Equality and Human Rights.
Under each of these headings, there is a standard statement which explains the
level of performance to be achieved. The standard statement is supported by
criteria which provide further detail of the areas to be considered in the application of
the standard to professional practice, service provision, governance and workforce
issues.
Work is underway to establish a Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) and
a Safeguarding Panel (SP) within each HSC Trust which will support the work of the
SBNI. It is anticipated that the new structures will be introduced during 2008 and will
ultimately replace ACPCs and CPPs. It will be necessary to revisit Standard 5 prior
to the SBNI and SPs becoming operational. Similarly, in line with establishing the
SBNI, DHSSPS has commissioned a review of the current Case Management
Review process. It will be necessary to revisit Standard 6 when this process is
completed.
4
Values and Principles
Legislation and international agreements concerned with the welfare and rights of
children enshrine a number of important themes which have informed the
development of the child protection standards. The Children (Northern Ireland) Order
1995 (the Children Order)6 established the overriding principle that when the ultimate
authority of a court is required to determine any question regarding a child, then “the
child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration”. This principle must
therefore direct the work of each HSC Trust in its general duty under the Children
Order to “safeguard and promote the welfare of children within its area who are in
need” and should also direct the decisions and actions of other agencies and
individuals who provide services to children.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)7 is an
international treaty that grants all children and young people a comprehensive set of
human rights. These include the right to grow up in an environment of happiness,
love and understanding and the right to develop their personalities, abilities and
talents to the fullest potential. The Northern Ireland Government’s 10 year strategy
for children and young people “Our Children and Young People - Our Pledge”8
published in 2006 reflects these rights and identifies “living in safety and with
stability” as a key outcome to be promoted and achieved for all children in Northern
Ireland over the period of the strategy.
The child protection standards are underpinned by the following values and
principles which build on the inspection standards to further reflect the paramountcy
principle of the Children Order, the rights of children under the UNCRC and the
findings and recommendations of “Our Children and Young People - Our Shared
Responsibility”.
These values and principles should always be promoted, where they are
commensurate with the primary duty to safeguard the child.
1. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are abused or at risk of
abuse or neglect is a priority when decisions are made about access to and
eligibility for services.
6 The Children Order can be accessed at:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/UKsi_19950755_en_1.htm#tcon
The Explanatory Note to the Children Order can be accessed at:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/UKsi_19950755_en_55.htm#exnote
7 In 1980, the United Nations General Council adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child (UNCRC). The United Kingdom (UK) government signed the UNCRC on 19 April 1990
and ratified it on 16 December 1991 with some reservations. It entered into force for the UK on
15 January 1992. The current reservations in force are immigration and citizenship and children in
adult offender institutions. The UNCRC can be accessed through:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx
8 “Our Children and Young People - Our Pledge” was launched by the Office of the First and Deputy
First Minister in June 2006 and can be accessed at:
http://www.allchildrenni.gov.uk/ten-year-strategy.pdf
5
2. Listening to and engaging children and their families is a crucial element to
ensuring their full participation in discussions, where decisions are being made
that affect them.
3. Children and their families receive responses and services which engage them
as partners in problem solving, avoiding where possible family breakdown,
preventing harm and promoting children’s development and life chances.
4. Some children are particularly vulnerable due to their circumstances and the
design and delivery of services should promote and safeguard their wellbeing.
5. Child Protection Services promote the inclusion and citizenship of children, are
provided within an ethos that maximises protection, access to appropriate
education, life chances, opportunities and independence and accommodates
religious, linguistic, ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds, individual
circumstances and children and families rights to privacy.
6. Services are planned and delivered in a way which empowers children
requiring to be safeguarded, respects their dignity and assists them to lead as
full a life as possible, while ensuring that professionals discharge their
responsibilities for safeguarding children.
7. Children and their families are involved in the assessments of their needs and
in the co-ordinated approaches designed to meeting these.
8. Children have a right to equality of access to services, which are developed/
tailored to best meet their assessed need.
Definition of a Child
For the purpose of these standards, and in accordance with the definition of a child
under relevant Parts of the Children Order, “child” means a person under the age of
18 years.
6
1. Planning, Commissioning, Providing, Quality Assuring and Auditing
Services
STANDARD 1
There are arrangements in place for planning, commissioning, providing,
quality assuring and auditing child protection services across relevant
disciplines and agencies, which meet the legislative, statutory duty of quality
and clinical and social care governance requirements. These arrangements
take account of the assessed needs of children and families, service options
and choice, the resources available, including education, and value for money.
Criteria
Planning and Commissioning
1.1 Arrangements have been established across the range of appropriate
disciplines, agencies and communities for planning, commissioning, providing,
quality assuring and auditing child protection services, which meet statutory9
and governance requirements10 and are provided within the context of
departmental guidance and the Children’s Services Plan (CSP).
1.2 The processes for commissioning child protection services ensure that they
are located within a continuum of services to children in need, those in need of
safeguarding and their families and that a range of appropriate interventions
for the prevention and treatment of significant harm is available. The process
is outcome-focused and takes into consideration:
• assessed local need, including identification of unmet need;
• service options and choice;
• the diversities arising from differing cultural and community identities,
which are respected and inform the commissioning and planning of
services to children and their families;
• budgetary constraints;
• value for money; and
9 “Responsibilities, Accountability and Authority of the Department of Health, Social Services and
Public Safety, Health and Social Services Boards and Health and Social Services Trusts in the
Discharge of Relevant Personal Social Services Functions to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of
Children” - Departmental Circular HSS (Statutory Functions) 1/2006 can be accessed through:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/ssi_circulars.htm
10 “The Quality Standards for Health and Social Care - Supporting Good Governance and Best
Practice in the HPSS” (March 2006) can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/qpi_quality_standards_for_health___social_care.pdf
7
• issues arising from research and evidence-based practice.
1.3 There are agreed arrangements to manage the interface and joint working
across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts and other agencies within the
planning, commissioning and provision of services, which include:
• joint protocols, guidance and procedures for delivering all aspects and
stages of the child protection process, including the interagency
arrangements. These provide clarity on the roles, responsibilities and
accountability of those involved; and
• arrangements for staff within HSC Trusts and relevant professionals in
partner organisations to gain and update their knowledge of child
protection policy and procedures and of the services available for the
protection and support of children and families.
Provision of Services
1.4 Where services are provided on a partnership or commissioned basis, Service
Level Agreements (SLAs) clearly state the required and agreed expectations
in regard to the level and quality of the service to be provided and the
arrangements for monitoring the SLAs.
1.5 There are agreed effective mechanisms for assessing, quantifying and
managing the level of need, and the level of unmet need, for children and their
families involved in the child protection process, which inform the planning,
allocation of resources and delivery of services (see also Standard 7.5).
1.6 Commissioners, providers and other relevant agencies have clear workforce
strategies in place for all staff working in child protection. These conform to
best employment practice, relevant codes of conduct and practice for
employers and employees and to the guidance and standards set. They
include:
• effective recruitment processes and workforce planning;
• coherent organisational structures and clarity about the roles and functions
of staff, the level of responsibilities and accountability arrangements;
• the necessary skills, knowledge and experience required by staff working
with children who need to be safeguarded;
• a clear multi-disciplinary training strategy for child protection;
• arrangements for staff induction, Continuous Professional Development
(CPD), uni-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and post-qualifying training, the
organisation’s training plan and evaluation of the programmes provided;
and
8
• the requirements of the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults
(Northern Ireland) Order 200311 and any subsequent legislation, when
selecting, recruiting, managing and retaining staff and volunteers who
have access to children and reporting incidents under the legislative
requirements.
Quality Assurance and Audit
1.7 The organisation has explicit leadership and defined roles and responsibilities
for the management, co-ordination, monitoring and audit of child protection
services, which takes account of legislation, the statutory duty of quality,
clinical and social care governance and professional codes of conduct.
1.8 There are mechanisms in place to manage the performance of staff and to
ensure that:
• those seeking and receiving a service are treated sensitively and with
respect, and services are provided in line with the standards set;
• staff have the capacity to develop and sustain effective working
relationships with colleagues in other agencies;
• staff are clear about their responsibilities and they;
- are held to account for the quality of their work, professional practice
and adherence to standards;
- routinely review and self-audit their performance; and
- build-in opportunities to develop and enhance their knowledge, skills
and practice;
• supervision arrangements are in place and comply with the standards
set.12 The process ensures that managers manage, support, monitor, and
assess practice, acknowledge good performance and actively address
practice deficits. It includes:
• staff appraisal and performance management;13 and caseload
management;14
11 The 2003 Order can be accessed at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20030431.htm
Also, “Choosing to Protect – A Guide to Using the Protection of Children, Northern Ireland Service”
can be accessed at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/poc.pdf
12 Supervision Policy, Standards and Criteria, (HSS (OSSPOL/RIT) 1-2008) issued in April 2008 can
be accessed through: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/oss-childrens-services.htm
13 Quality Assurance and Performance Management, (HSS (OSSGUIDE/RIT) 2-2008) issued in April
2008 can be accessed through: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/oss-childrens-services.htm
14 Caseload Management Model, (HSS (OSSGUIDE/RIT) 1-2008) issued in April 2008 can be
accessed through: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/oss-childrens-services.htm
9
• staff are assisted to provide feedback on the usefulness of guidance and
procedures and are helped to build into their work, ways of measuring
outcomes for children and families; and
• effective participation by children, families and staff is promoted and
feedback on service planning, resource allocation and service provision is
actively sought.
1.9 There is an agreed planned programme of audit for the full range of child
protection services, which informs the development of services and
governance arrangements across HSS Boards, HSC Trusts and Agencies.
This includes the regular review and audit of:
• compliance with statutory functions;
• access to services which seeks to ensure easy access by members of the
public to report any concerns about a child and that these are dealt with
appropriately;
• integration into practice of lessons from Case Management Reviews
(CMRs), (see also Standard 6.8).
• therapeutic interventions and professional practice and their effectiveness
in achieving specified outcomes for children;
• the effectiveness of the arrangements for joint working across the
disciplines and agencies; and
• complaints and representations, in line with guidance issued.
10
2. The Purpose of and Access to Services
STANDARD 2
The organisation has a written Statement of Purpose about the range of
services available for children who require protection, including their statutory
basis, expected standards, and the purpose of and how to access to services,
which is informed by legislation, departmental and professional guidance.
Criteria
Purpose of Services
2.1 The organisation’s Statement of Purpose about the range of services available
for children who require protection sets out the nature and purpose of the
services, their basis in legislation, statutory functions and responsibilities and
is informed by departmental and professional guidance.
2.2 The Statement of Purpose focuses on the importance of promoting a
partnership approach with children, parents and families, which is
commensurate with the duty to safeguard children, and:
• provides clarity about the respective roles and responsibilities of all parties
to achieve positive outcomes for children; and
• includes guidance on how to assist children, parents, the wider family and
community networks, to provide suggestions for the improvement and
development of child protection services and, where necessary, to make
complaints.
Access to Services
2.3 There are agreed communication strategies for promoting access to child
protection services and these ensure that:
• the community is advised of the need to safeguard children, how they can
contribute to protecting children and how their views are sought;
• written information is provided to actual and potential users about the
range of family support services available, including child protection and
this is provided in a range of formats; and
• the needs of black and minority ethnic groups, people with communication
difficulties and disabled persons are fully considered and they are
supported in accessing services. Assistance, including access to
interpreting services, is provided during interviews, assessments and
meetings to enable the views of children, parents, family members and
others to be fully communicated with, where they do not have English as a
11
first or as a competent second language and where there is a deaf or hard
of hearing difficulty.
2.4 Organisations work effectively together to provide advice and encourage
appropriate referrals from children and families, members of the public and
others who work with children, where there are child protection concerns.
2.5 Children and their families receive responses and services which seek to
engage them in accessing services, contribute to problem solving, strengthen
resilience, avoid family breakdown, wherever possible, prevent harm and
promote children’s life chances.
2.6 Those who make referrals and enquiries about safeguarding children are
responded to in line with CtSC, and in a way which ensures:
• an appropriate response to the concerns raised within 24 hours;
• written acknowledgement of the referral within 2 working days of it being
received; and
• referrer/agencies are appropriately kept informed of the progress and
outcome in line with the standards set.15
2.7 Where there is a concern about child abuse or where children present with
high risk and challenging behaviour, self-injurious behaviour, or suicidal
ideation:
• strategy discussions/case planning meetings are convened in line with
CtSC, the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures16 and child protection
procedures are initiated appropriately;
• actions required are clearly defined;
• processes are applied consistently, irrespective of setting;
• relevant disciplines are consulted and involved in the assessment, risk
assessment and care planning process; and
• key working and lead agency responsibilities are clearly identified.
2.8 Complaints or allegations of abuse to a child, made to and/or by a
professional, staff member, counsellor or therapist working in a private
capacity, carer, volunteer, child, member of the public, are immediately
15 Information Sharing Policy, Standards and Criteria will be issued for consultation in the near future
16 The ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures (April 2005) can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/acpcregionalstrategy.pdf
A Short Guide to Regional Policy and Procedures can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/acpcregionalstrategyshortguide.pdf
12
responded to and in accordance with CtSC, and other departmental guidance,
and the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures.
2.9 Disclosures made by children are immediately responded to and appropriate
interventions and support is provided following a full assessment of need,
including a risk assessment.
2.10 Public access, reception and duty arrangements, including out-of-hours or
emergency arrangements enable appropriate access to services and support.
13
3. Assessment, Case Planning, Case Management and Record Keeping
STANDARD 3
Written policies and procedures provide direction and guidance to staff
regarding assessment, including risk assessment, case planning, case
management, including risk management, and record keeping, at all stages of
the child protection process.
Criteria
Policies and Procedures
3.1 Written policies and procedures are made available to staff and these and the
agreed multi-agency guidelines take account of:
• statutory responsibilities, CtSC and other departmental guidance,17 and
the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures;
• the need for children and families, assessed to require child protection
services, to receive a skilled multi-disciplinary assessment, which looks
holistically at the child’s circumstances and includes health and
development, education and social needs, parenting capacity, the wider
family and environmental context;
• the need for staff to understand the short and long term effects on children
of neglect in their early years; and the short and long term effects on
children, cared for by adults with alcohol, substance misuse, mental health
or other problems;
• the timescales, standards and systems for:
- responding to a concern about significant harm or risk of significant
harm;
- allocating referrals and work based on the expertise and competence of
staff, and their current workload;
- screening of referrals, and subsequent actions taken, by the line
manager; and
- tracking and monitoring actions taken in response to the referral;
• the roles, responsibilities, and accountability of those involved in individual
case management and decision making processes; and
• planning and managing child protection investigations as required under
Article 66 of the Children Order.
17 “The Guidance and Regulations produced by the Department in the context of the Children
(Northern Ireland) Order 1995 can be accessed through:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/hss/child_care/child_care_guidance.htm
14
3.2 Referral, assessment and case planning guidance and criteria are made
available to assist staff to reach professional judgements about risks to
children and recourse to child protection processes.
3.3 Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities and are complying with
professional standards, legislative requirements, departmental guidance and
related policies and procedures.
3.4 Procedures and guidance are reviewed and revised in the light of new
developments, changes in legislation, regulation, policy and guidance,
learning emerging from CMRs, audit, and research in child protection.
Strategy Discussions
3.5 Strategy discussions are held in accordance with CtSC and the ACPCs’
Regional Policy and Procedures. Decisions and actions taken and the
outcome of these inform the progression of the case and are reflected in
writing in the case record and on the appropriate Protocol for Joint
Investigation forms.
Assessment and Analysis of Risk
3.6 Assessments are carried out on a single agency and multi-disciplinary basis
and are consistent with the Children Order, CtSC and the “Understanding the
Needs of Children in Northern Ireland”, (UNOCINI) assessment framework.
3.7 Assessments bring together all aspects of the case at each stage of the
process and contain an analysis of the needs of and risks to the child and
indicate a clear direction for current and future work. They are based on:
• a partnership with children and parents;
• clear information from the interviews with the child and with the family;
• analysis of the needs of and risks to the child;
• identified resilience and protective factors;
• family and environmental circumstances, including the strengths and
capacity of the parents and the wider family and the outcomes from family
group conferencing;
• professional knowledge and expertise acquired from relevant disciplines
and agencies; and
• evidenced-based practice and research.
3.8 All assessments are carried out within the time frame established in CtSC, the
ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures and the Guide to UNOCINI. The
written document includes:
15
• the identified issues in the case, how these are being dealt with and the
timescale for delivery;
• the work programme, identifying who is responsible for carrying out each
element including therapeutic interventions and the intended outcomes;
• the risk assessment and risk management action plan and the
communication of risk and its management to others with a need to know
in accordance with guidance issued;
• the services provided alongside the assessment process; and
• next steps and actions required.
Child Protection Conferences and Reviews
3.9 Child Protection Conferences (CPCs) and reviews are conducted in line with
CtSC and the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures, in respect of children
who have suffered or are likely to suffer significant harm. These are effectively
planned and managed to facilitate:
• the attendance at and input of appropriate professionals/agencies; and
• the attendance at and input of children and parents.
3.10 The CPC is chaired by a senior manager who is responsible for fulfilling the
responsibilities detailed in departmental guidance and ensuring that:
• the initial CPC is held within 15 working days of the decision taken to
convene a it;
• the assessments (UNOCINI), written reports and the range of information
are available to the CPC to enable decisions and recommendations to be
made;
• the tasks identified in CtSC and the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and
Procedures are completed;
• a person trained to take minutes of the meeting is in attendance. The
minutes include the:
- record of invitees, those who attended, or sent apologies;
- list of all reports to be considered by the CPC, including the reports
received from those not attending;
- summary of the essential facts of the case;
- summary of views expressed and analysis of information;
- record of all decisions reached, including any dissenting views and how
these were resolved;
- actions to be taken, by whom and timescales for each action;
16
- summary of decisions taken, which should be circulated within 14
working days of the CPC being held;
- identification of the case co-ordinator, membership of the core group
and date of its first meeting; and
- time-frame for subsequent reviews.
Child Protection Plans
3.11 Child protection plans are “fit for purpose”, fulfil the requirements as set out in
CtSC and the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures and are agreed with
those involved. Copies are provided to the relevant staff and to parents/carers
and children.
3.12 There are arrangements in place to ensure that:
• each child whose name is on the child protection register has a named
social worker allocated;
• the social worker co-ordinates the contributions of other disciplines and
agencies to achieve the completion of tasks identified in the child
protection plan; and
• when tasks set out in the child protection plan are not carried out there are
mechanisms to quickly identify and resolve any disagreements and
difficulties, so as to ensure that the identified work takes place with the
child and family.
Record Keeping
3.13 Guidance on record keeping is in line with the standards set18 and includes:
• the quality and standard of recording practices, how records/case files are
to be structured and maintained, from referral through to closure of the
case;
• the required content of children’s case files, including the need for:
18 Administrative Systems, Recording Policy, Standards and Criteria (HSS (OSSPOL/RIT) 2-2008)
issued in April 2008 can be accessed through:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/oss-childrens-services.htm
Reference should also be made to:
Good Management Good Records, which can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/dhs-goodmanagement.pdf
Good Medical Practice (November 2006), which can be accessed at:
http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/GMC_GMP.pdf
NMC Record Keeping guidance, which can be accessed through:
http://www.nmc-uk.org/aDefault.aspx
17
- accurate and up-to-date records and an up-to-date chronology of
events;
- referral information, initial and subsequent multi-disciplinary
assessments/inputs, review CPC minutes and the child protection plan;
- evidence of professional analysis, opinions, action and decisions,
which are endorsed by line management at each stage of the child
protection process;
- summary of intervention and agreed action plans; and
- evidence of monitoring by line management and senior management.
3.14 There is evidence within the child’s case file that records and interventions
provided comply with the standards, and:
• are agreed, signed and dated regularly by the line manager or senior
professional adviser;
• are reviewed and audited regularly by senior management; and
• timely and appropriate information is exchanged verbally and in writing
between disciplines and relevant agencies.19
19 Information Sharing Policy, Standards and Criteria will be issued for consultation in the near future
18
4. Protecting Vulnerable Children in Specific Circumstances
STANDARD 4
There are agreed interagency arrangements in place for the protection of
children in groups known to be vulnerable and in specific circumstances.
Criteria
4.1 There are agreed interagency arrangements for the protection of children in
groups known to be vulnerable and in specific circumstances, and these take
account of children at high risk in community, hospital and residential settings.
4.2 The organisation’s operational guidance, child protection training and support
systems for staff includes the procedures to follow in respect of:
• children who have been sexually abused;
• children who have been physically abused;
• children who have been emotionally abused;
• children who have been neglected;
• children who present with faltering growth/failure to thrive;
• children who present with fabricated or induced illness;
• children who present with high risk and challenging behaviour, selfinjurious
behaviour and suicidal ideation;
• children living away from home20 and children placed outside the Trust’s
area;
• children with ill health or who have a disability;
• children with significant language, speech and communication impairment;
• children in need of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
and psychological support services;
• children who are homeless;
• children who are exploited, including those exposed to child/human
trafficking;
20 Children “looked after” in care, either foster care or children’s home for respite, short term or long
term; children staying with host families on exchanges/holidays; children in hospital, residential or
boarding schools; and children in youth justice custody settings
19
• children who abuse others;
• children who are bullied;
• children who are under age parents;
• children who are carers;
• children whose parents/carers have a disability;
• children who are victims of domestic violence;
• children whose parents/carers have a mental illness;
• children whose parents/carers misuse drugs/alcohol;
• children who live with or have contact with families or individuals who may
pose a risk to children, including persons where there is risk of sexual
and/or violent behaviour;
• children who are exposed to potential abuse on the internet;
• children from black and minority ethnic groups and from the travelling
communities;
• unborn children, where risks are posed by parents.
20
5. The Establishment and Operation of Area Child Protection Committees
(ACPCs) and Trust Child Protection Panels (CPPs)21
STANDARD 5
The lead responsibilities for the establishment and effective working of ACPCs
and CPPs are clearly defined and in line with departmental guidance.
Criteria
Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC)
5.1 The ACPC is constituted as required by CtSC and has representation and
contribution from the relevant agencies, at an appropriate senior level of
authority.
5.2 Policies, procedures, information and amendments are agreed regionally by
the relevant agencies for interagency, multi-disciplinary work and within the
framework provided by CtSC and subsequent departmental guidance.
5.3 Each ACPC child protection strategy and business plan is agreed and
adhered to by all disciplines and agencies involved in the safeguarding of
children and these documents are widely available.
5.4 Outcome-focused objectives and performance indicators for safeguarding
children have been established and these take account of the multidisciplinary
and interagency contribution.
5.5 Policy and procedures are in place for access to, and use of, information
entered on the child protection register and this information has been
disseminated across the relevant services.
5.6 The ACPC has an audit subgroup and, in collaboration with the CPP, has an
agreed multi-disciplinary, interagency planned programme of audit to measure
outcomes for children and families, which ensures:
• services are working effectively together to safeguard children and the
resources needed are identified;
• governance and corporate responsibilities for safeguarding children are
complied with;
• child protection issues and developments are shared across disciplines
and agencies and are appropriately acted upon;
21 Work is underway to establish a Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) and a
Safeguarding Panel (SP) within each HSC Trust which will support the work of the SBNI. It is
anticipated that the new structures will be introduced during 2008 and will ultimately replace
ACPCs and CPPs. It will be necessary to revisit this Standard prior to the SBNI and SPs
becoming operational
21
• uni-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and interagency training is based on the
child protection process, and the identified needs of all levels of staff
involved in child protection work;
• access to and use of the child protection register is promoted across the
region and is in line with CtSC and subsequent departmental guidance,
and the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures; and
• child protection activity is regularly monitored and reviewed and staff are
assisted to build into their work ways of measuring outcomes for children
and families.
Trust Child Protection Panel (CPP)
5.7 The CPP is constituted as required by CtSC and subsequent departmental
guidance, and has representation and contribution from the relevant agencies,
at an appropriate senior level of authority.
5.8 Terms of reference have been established and activities are carried out within
the framework of the ACPC business plan and objectives set.
5.9 The CPP, in collaboration with the ACPC, has an agreed multi-disciplinary,
interagency planned programme of audit for measuring outcomes for children
and families, which ensures:
• services are working effectively together to safeguard children and the
resources needed are identified;
• governance and corporate responsibilities for safeguarding children are
complied with;
• the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures are implemented;
• child protection issues and developments are shared across disciplines
and agencies and are appropriately acted upon;
• uni-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and interagency training is based on the
child protection process, and the identified needs of all levels of staff
involved in child protection work;
• access to and use of the child protection registers is promoted across the
region and is in line with CtSC and subsequent departmental guidance,
and the ACPCs’ Regional Policy and Procedures; and
• child protection activity is regularly monitored and reviewed and staff are
assisted to build into their work ways of measuring outcomes for children
and families.
22
6. Case Management Reviews22
STANDARD 6
Case Management Reviews (CMRs) are conducted in accordance with CtSC
and subsequent departmental guidance and outcomes effectively inform
practice at all levels. Lessons are communicated clearly to all those who need
to know and changes are implemented, audited and reviewed to maximise the
safeguards provided to children.
Criteria
6.1 There are policies and procedures for undertaking CMRs and these have
been appropriately disseminated across the relevant agencies and are
conducted in accordance with CtSC and subsequent departmental guidance.
6.2 Arrangements are in place to audit compliance with the policies and
procedures for undertaking CMRs, as outlined in CtSC and subsequent
departmental guidance.
6.3 Arrangements are in place to ensure that all decisions not to proceed to CMR
are in line with CtSC and endorsed by DHSSPS.
6.4 The CMR Panel is made up of individuals who are independent of HSC Trusts
and other agencies concerned with the case under examination and include
the range of relevant disciplines and agencies required to carry out the Review
to achieve impartiality, openness and independence.
6.5 The CMR Panel has terms of reference and a plan to progress its work is
drawn together, in line with departmental guidance and addresses the specific
issues in the case.
6.6 The ACPC has systems in place to monitor the progress of the CMR report
which ensure that:
• the individual agency reports are compiled in line with the guidance in
CtSC;
• the CMR report addresses relevant issues and is presented in the format
prescribed in CtSC;
• the CMR report is completed within the timescales established in CtSC;
• the CMR action plan is immediately constructed and the recommendations
are implemented, in collaboration with all relevant agencies and
professionals;
22 In line with establishing the SBNI, DHSSPS has commissioned a review of the current CMR
process. It will be necessary to revisit this Standard when this process is completed
23
• the CMR action plan clearly identifies who is responsible for specific action
within set targets and includes the process for reviewing and auditing how
changes implemented have improved outcomes for children; and
• the CMR report and action plan is shared with DHSSPS within the
timescale established by departmental guidance.
6.7 There are systems in place to monitor and audit how the recommendations
have been progressed and to ensure outcomes have been achieved in a
timely manner.
6.8 The recommendations and learning emerging from CMRs have been promptly
and effectively disseminated to frontline and management staff in the relevant
agencies, within appropriate timescales. The outcome of this informs the
development of best practice and service improvement across the region (see
also Standard 1.9).
24
7. The Interfaces and Joint Working Arrangements for Children in Need of
Residential Care, across Fieldwork, Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Services (CAMHS), Adult Mental Health and other Agencies
Criteria
7.1 There are agreed protocols to effectively manage the interfaces with
residential, fieldwork, CAMHS, adult mental health services and other
agencies. These set out clearly the respective roles and responsibilities of
professionals and agencies, the arrangements for joint working and making
and tracking referrals, in particular to CAMHS, Intensive Support Services and
other agencies.
7.2 Each HSC Trust has a Children’s Resource Panel23 with clearly agreed Terms
of Reference which ensures:
• representation from the appropriate disciplines, including, residential child
care services, which enables the full utilisation of expertise in the decision
making process; and
• implementation of the standards expected in relation to the comprehensive
assessment, risk assessment and care plan and the standards for
children’s homes in respect of admission requirements.24 These facilitate:
- appropriate decision making regarding the placement of children prior
to admission;
- consideration of the impact of emergency/unplanned admissions to
residential care of children who present with high risk and challenging
behaviour and the effective management of safeguarding arrangements
in the home, including adjusting staffing levels, where necessary;
23 The purpose of the Children’s Resource Panel is to manage access to service provision for children
on the edge of care or in the care system by establishing a dedicated mechanism for ensuring that
the needs of children are identified and the referral pathways to systems and services that promote
best outcomes for children and families are based on a clear and robust assessment of need.
Further guidance will be issued to HSC Trusts in the near future
24 “Children’s Homes – Minimum Standards” will be issued in the near future. The Children’s Homes
Regulations can be accessed at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/sr2005/nisr_20050176_en.pdf
STANDARD 7
There are agreed protocols, structures, staffing, management and auditing
arrangements in place for ensuring effective interfaces and joint working
arrangements for children in need of residential care, across fieldwork,
CAMHS, adult mental health services and other agencies. These facilitate
the comprehensive assessment, risk management and care planning
process and the provision of the appropriate therapeutic interventions and
supports that are required for children and families.
25
- the identification of a comprehensive range of placements in a timely
way for children in need of protection, to ensure individual assessed
needs can be met.
7.3 Formal admission contracts are agreed between the staff, child and family,
which provide:
• clarity on the purpose and expected outcome of the admission and
ensures planned visits to the home are provided for the child and family
members, wherever possible, in advance of admission; and
• clarity on the respective roles and responsibilities and contact
arrangements of the residential, fieldwork, CAMHS, adult mental health
services and other agencies in relation to the work plan and the follow-up
arrangements, including their expected input regarding therapeutic
interventions, statutory visits, family contact and reviews.
7.4 Staff in residential, fieldwork, CAMHS, adult mental health services and other
agencies have sufficient training, knowledge, skill and experience in working
with children and families, where there are child protection and high risk
situations.
7.5 The resources needed for CAMHS and Intensive Support Services are clearly
identified and are in place. These provide for the assessed therapeutic needs
of looked after children and support residential child care staff in working with
and managing children’s challenging and high risk behaviours (see also
Standard 1.5)
7.6 There are agreed management information systems for collating and
analysing information on unmet need and critical incidents in order to identify
high risks requiring action. There are mechanisms for bringing these to the
attention of the appropriate authorities, agencies and committees, to quality
assure decisions and service provision and to assist in service planning. The
systems have been agreed with other agencies e.g. PSNI, RQIA and other
relevant bodies.
7.7 Practice and case records demonstrate that each assessment of need and
risk is robust and that children in children’s homes have timely and appropriate
access to therapeutic interventions, which is informing work with the child and
family, in seeking to achieve the goals agreed in the admission contract.
7.8 Decisions regarding discharge or “home on trial” 25 are based on a full
assessment and risk assessment of the child and the likely benefits, strengths,
weaknesses and risks within the family situation. The care plan sets out the
contact and the follow-up arrangements of the various disciplines and
agencies.
25 Placement of Children with Parents etc Regulations in Northern Ireland 1996 (Article 27 of the
Children Northern Ireland Order 1995). The Regulations can be accessed at:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/sr1996/Nisr_19960463_en_1.htm#tcon
26
7.9 The training strategy and training plans are discussed and agreed across all
the relevant professionals and agencies and include joint training on:
• identifying the symptoms of abuse; recognising and managing allegations
of abuse and disclosures made by children including self-injurious
behaviour and suicidal ideation;
• identifying and managing risk, including children who sexually abuse
others or display sexually harmful behaviour;
• initiating timely child protection procedures and referrals to mental health
services;
• understanding the short and long term effects on children of neglect in
their early years;
• understanding the short and long term effects on children cared for by
adults with alcohol and substance misuse problems, mental health
problems or learning disability; and
• improving the interfaces and joint working arrangements across
residential, fieldwork, CAMHS, adult mental health services and other
agencies.
27
8. Equality and Human Rights
STANDARD 8
Organisations fulfil their statutory duties in respect of human rights and
equality legislative requirements. Human rights and equality principles are
integrated into practice within all aspects of child protection services.
Criteria
8.1 Organisations can demonstrate that the rights of children under the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Act 1998
are respected, valued and promoted.
8.2 All relevant policies have been subject to appropriate screening and
consultation in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.26
8.3 The age and stage of development of children and young people, their
disability, religious belief, gender, sexual and ethnic orientation and political
opinion are recognised and respected when consulting with children and
young people, and in planning and delivering services.
8.4 Organisations can provide evidence that the wishes and feelings of the child
or young person is ascertained and considered in actions taken on his/her
behalf and the child or young person, where appropriate, is actively involved in
measuring the outcome of the service provided.
26 Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a duty on public authorities to promote effective
equality of opportunity for all and good relations between those of different religions belief, political
opinion or race. The Act can be accessed at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980047.htm
Produced by: Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Castle Buildings, Belfast BT4 3SQ
Telephone: (028) 9052 0701 Textphone: (028) 9052 7668
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
June 2008
Ref: 63/08
Printed by Central Print Unit
