Hertfordshire Children, Schools and Families Child Protection Unit

2. Hertfordshire Children, Schools and Families Child Protection Unit Presenters: • Jane Stuart Deputy Head of Child Protection • Gail Valentine Child Protection Schools Liaison Officer • Mel Leicester-Evans Local Authority Designated Officer

3. SEMINAR AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this seminar is to: • Develop and enhance Headteachers’ understanding of the role and function of the CSF Child Protection Unit By the end of the seminar Headteachers will be able to: • Demonstrate clarity about the Child Protection Conference process • Identify how the Child Protection Schools Liaison Team can support schools to develop effective safeguarding arrangements and practice • Effectively respond to and manage allegations

4. DELEGATE NEEDS What do you hope to learn by attending this seminar?

5. Child Protection Conferences

6. CHILD PROTECTION UNIT

7. THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE Where agencies most involved judge that a child may continue to or suffer significant harm, Local Authority Social Care should convene a Child Protection Conference. (Working Together to Safeguard Children DCSF 2010)

8. THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE To enable those most involved with the child and family and the family themselves, to assess all relevant information and plan how best to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child. (Working Together to Safeguard Children DCSF 2010)

9. THE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE Should: • Bring together and analyse all information. • Consider all information shared including past and present information. • Make a judgement about likelihood of the child suffering SIGNIFICANT harm in future. • Agree future action, planned outcomes.

10. SCHOOL ROLE INTHE CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010) states those attending conferences should be there because they have a significant contribution to make, arising from professional expertise, knowledge of the child or family or both. At every conference there should be attendance by the Local Authority Children’s Social Care and at least two other professional groups or agencies that have direct contact with the child.

11. THE EXPECTATION OF SCHOOLS • No surprises. Any concerns should have already been shared with parents / carers (exceptions). • Prepare a written report. • Any reports shared in advance with parents / carers and CSF. • Attend or organise an appropriate school representative with copies. • Fully participate as a professional with expertise and knowledge of the child. • Support the development of the plan, which should be specific, achievable and safe. • Follow through the plan and review at each Core Group.

12. CHILD PROTECTION UNIT’S ROLE • Set up the Conference within 15 working days of final strategy meetings. • Provide a venue, independent Chair and report writer. • Manage the complex meeting considering needs of child, family and professionals. • Separate discussions if needed. • Distribute record and plan from the meeting within 10 working days.

13. INDEPENDENT CHAIR’S ROLE • Available for consultation from any professionals. • Undertake a quality assurance role for the progress of the plan. • Challenge the team if Core Groups are not held, plan not progressing, key worker not accessible and significant change without full consultation. • Available to escalate concerns raised by other professionals.

14. EXPRESSING CONCERNS CPSLO, Deputy Head or Head of Child Protection are available if you need to escalate any practice issues.

15. SAFEGUARDING SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS

16. SAFEGUARDING SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS Child Protection Schools Liaison Officers: • Safeguarding Consultations • Safeguarding Children Training • Safeguarding Audit/Quality Assurance

17. SAFEGUARDING CONSULTATIONS Targeted Advice Service – 01438 737511 • CPSLO on duty to provide safeguarding consultations to DSPs • Copy of consultation emailed to the DSP and recorded on TAS database/Integrated Children’s System • Centralised, consistent and comprehensive

18. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN TRAINING Single Agency Safeguarding Training Stage onetraining • School staff • One course ‘Safeguarding Children’ • Refreshed every three years Stage two training • DSPs/Heads • Three courses: ‘One Day DSP’ ‘DSP Refresher’ ‘Reducing and Managing Allegations Against Staff’

19. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN TRAINING Access inter-agency safeguarding training. Provided or agreed by the HSCB. Refresh every two years. Completion of single agency stage two safeguarding training. In addition to basic child protection training the designated member(s) of staff undertakes training in inter-agency working that is provided by, or to standards agreed by, the Local Safeguarding Children Board, and refresher training at two yearly intervals to keep her or his knowledge and skills up to date (DCSF/Ofsted)

20. SAFEGUARDING AUDIT/QUALITY ASSURANCE • Safeguarding checklist • Safeguarding visit • Safeguarding signposting • Support and challenge safeguarding practice

21. HEADTEACHERS AND SAFEGUARDING Headteacher: • Part of the school safeguarding team (DSP, Head and nominated Safeguarding Governor). • Responsible for ensuring DSP role is allocated and safeguarding practice is implemented across the school. • Accountable to Governing Body

22. ALLEGATIONS MANAGEMENT

23. LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED OFFICER • Involved in the management and oversight of individual cases • Provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations • Liaises with police and other agencies • Monitors the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with a thorough and fair process

24. LADO MONITORING LADO monitors progress: • Fortnightly or monthly • Via strategy discussions / management meetings • Through direct liaison with Police / Social care / DSM (employer) Police set target review dates: • Within 4 weeks of Initial Evaluation • Further fortnightly or monthly reviews

25. GUIDANCE • Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010) 6.32 - 6.42 and Appendix 5 • Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education – Chapter 5 • Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child Protection Procedures (2007) – Module 10

26. APPLIES TO ALL ORGANISATIONS All organisations providing services for children or staff or volunteers to work with or care for children, should operate procedures for dealing with allegations which are compliant with the guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF 2010) 6.32 - 6.42 and Appendix 5

27. CRITERIA The procedures cover all concerns where a person who works with a child has: • Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed a child, OR • Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child, OR • Behaved towards a child / children in a way that indicates ‘unsuitability’ to work with children

28. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Named Senior Officers (NSO) • LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) • Designated Senior Managers (DSM)

29. CONTACT DETAILS Frazer Smith Mobile: 07920283106 Office: 01992 556935 E-mail: frazer.smith@hertscc.gov.uk Mel Leicester-Evans Mobile: 07795288271 Office: 01992 556935 E-mail: mel.leicester-evans@hertscc.gov.uk LADOs WILL WORK ON A DUTY ROTA

30. SEMINAR AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this seminar is to: • Develop and enhance Headteachers’ understanding of the role and function of the CSF Child Protection Unit By the end of the seminar Headteachers will be able to: • Demonstrate clarity about the Child Protection Conference process • Identify how the Child Protection Schools Liaison Team can support schools to develop effective safeguarding arrangements and practice • Effectively respond to and manage allegations

31. Questions?

32. thank you