SafeguardingMATTERS

Issue 17 - April 2018

SafeguardingAdults Board

SafeguardingAdults Board

SafeguardingAdults Board

SafeguardingChildren Board

SafeguardingChildren Board

SafeguardingChildren Board

CONTENTSp2 Modern Slavery & Trafficking

p3 Prospective Adopter and Foster Carer Health Assesments - Consent Forms

p4 Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty

p7 Best Practice in Making Safeguarding Personal

p8 Focus on Safeguarding Children and Young People with SEN and Disabilities

p9 Message in a Bottle

p10 Hoarding Properties

p13 Safeguarding Children Competency Framework

p14 My Role

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Information Sharing Form

Welcome to our latest edition of Safeguarding Matters with articles many and varied

Whilst there are specific items for Children and Adult Services we would ask that you pay particular attention to information that is relevant to all:

• Modern Slavery and Trafficking

• Coercion and Control in Domestic Abuse

• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty - Children and Young People 16 +

• New Family Court rules - Vulnerable persons: participation in proceedings and giving evidence

• Hoarding Properties

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Multi-agency CSE Team

The information you share may include:

• Vehicle details including registration numbers, make, model and colour

• Details or descriptions of suspected perpetrators – names, phone numbers, addresses

• Details of unusual or regular callers to a children’s home

• Third party information e.g. rumours or concerns about people or locations

The form is easy to complete and can be accessed via both LSCB’s websites or directly via this link https://leics.police.uk/contact/community-partnership-information (scroll down to the form).

This form should not be used to report concerns regarding a particular child who may be at risk of harm/and or immediate danger. The numbers for reporting concerns about a child or young person can be found at http://lrsb.org.uk/childreport

All professionals and volunteers have a duty to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation including passing on non-urgent information. This information is very important and will help the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Multi-agency CSE Team build intelligence and better target the response to prevent children and young people from being abused and disrupt CSE.

• Modern Slavery is the exploitation of vulnerable people.

• Trafficking is the movement of people in order to exploit them.

That crudely summarises the two main offences in the Modern Slavery Act.

The profit in human exploitation is what drives this insidious crime.

A kilo of cocaine can be sold only once, but a victim of sexual exploitation can be sold 15 times a day every day until they are broken.

Scott Cairns, Complex Investigation Team Leicestershire Police, recounts what is happening locally:

MODERN SLAVERY &

TRAFFICKING

1. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse, look malnourished or unkempt, or appear withdrawn

2. ISOLATION Victims may rarely be allowed to travel on their own, seem under the control, influence of others, rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work

3. POOR LIVING CONDITIONS Victims may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and / or living and working at the same address

4. FEW OR NO PERSONAL EFFECTS Victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions and always wear the same clothes day in day out. What clothes they do wear may not be suitable for their work

5. RESTRICTED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT Victims have little opportunity to move freely and may have had their travel documents retained, e.g. passports

6. UNUSUAL TRAVEL TIMES They may be dropped off/ collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night

7. RELUCTANT TO SEEK HELP Victims may avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers and fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing who to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation, fear of violence to them or their family

Our Multi-Agency Safeguarding Procedures give you more information on Modern Slavery, Trafficking including Child Trafficking:

http://llrscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/p_modern_slavery.html

http://llrscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/p_safeg_traff_ch.html

www.llradultsafeguarding.co.uk/specific-types-of-abuse-and-related-issues/#18_Modern_Slavery

It has been the case that labour exploitation within Eastern European men and women provides the largest proportion of our victims, but we have also investigated long term exploitation of white British males.

The Modern Slavery Act provides the opportunity to protect the most vulnerable in society and gives us the powers to prosecute and prevent, however the complex needs of the victims we have encountered is a real challenge and that is why we are working with other agencies to support victims and raise awareness. The key aim is to identify and support victims and prevent further vulnerable people falling directly into the same networks of offending.

UK CITIZENSARE ALSO VICTIMS

33%34 OF THOSE ARE

CHILDREN

VICTIMS OFLABOUR EXPLOITATION

ARE CHILDRENAT REFERRAL

EXPLOITATIONEXPLOITATION

84%26%

IS THE HIGHESTFORM OF CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION WHEN REFERRED TO THE NRM

JUST

OVER

EXPLOITERS FORCE VICTIMS TO CLAIM BENEFITS ON ARRIVAL BUT THE MONEY IS WITHHELD, OR THE VICTIM IS FORCED TO TAKE OUT LOANS OR CREDIT CARD DEBTS

NIGERIA

ALBANIA

POLAND ROMANIA

PEOPLE FORCEDINTO MONETARYFRAUD IN THE UK

CANNABIS CULTIVATION

COMMON AREAS OF LABOUR EXPLOITATION

AGRICULTURE

FOOD PROCESSING FACT

ORIES

CONSTRUCTION

CAR W

ASH

VIETNAM

CHINA

Modern Slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. Victims* are trapped in servitude, which they were deceived or coerced into, and feel they cannot leave.

SEXU

AL

CRIM

INAL

FORC

EDLA

BOUR

DOMESTIC SERVITUDE

24%

CHILDREN

DOME

STIC

SERV

ITUDE

MODERN SLAVERY INCLUDES:

MODERN SLAVERY ISHAPPENING ACROSS THE UK

SEXUALEXPLOITATION

WHERE VICTIMS COMMONLY COME FROM

Calls are free from landlines and most mobile networks

All data is drawn from National Referral Mechanism statistics 2016. This infographic incorporates data from all claimed locations of exploitation.*victims’ referred to above are potential victims identified and referred to the National Referral Mechanism, who are then subject to fuller assessment.

Slavery is closer than you think. It happens all over the world including the UK. Find out more at modernslavery.co.uk or to seek help or report slavery call the helpline.

0800 0121 700

TARMACKING

17% INCREASE IN VICTIMS SINCE 2015

OF VICTIMSARECHILDRENJU

ST OV

ER

OF VICTIMS ARE FEMALEJU

ST OV

ER

34% 22% 22%

41%

A VICTIM OF

If you suspect that someone is a victim or is being exploited for commercial gain: Call the modern slavery helpline on 0800 0121 700 or report it online at www.modernslavery.co.uk

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Domestic Abuse: Understanding Coercive Control with Professor Evan StarkProfessor Evan Stark is a forensic social worker, author of Coercive Control (Oxford, 2007) and a lecturer who has taught at Yale and Rutgers University and held appointments at the University of Essex, Bristol University and the University of Edinburgh.

Professor Stark’s award-winning book was the original source of the coercive control model when the Home Office widened the definition of domestic violence and he has played a major role in the consultation that led to the drafting of the new offence.

Professor Evan Stark gives a lecture to help improve understanding of coercive control, a new offence in the United Kingdom. This 16 minute video clip is very informative and could be used to generate discussion among colleagues.

https://youtu.be/6RCEQpIot34

Prospective Adopter and Foster Carer Health Assessments – Newly amended consent forms

This work has come out of a recommendation from an LSCB Serious Case Review (‘Child B’ January 2016) which was initiated because of the sad and unexpected death of Child B, a child who was placed in an adoption placement.

Whilst the Serious Case Review (SCR) reported upon much good practice, there were also lessons to be learned from the Panel’s findings. One of the recommendations considers the responsibilty upon health professionals regarding sharing information in respect of the prospective Foster Carers and Adoptive Parents and issues which might impact upon a prospective carer’s ability to fulfil their role.

The adoptive parents in this particular case had sought additional support from their GP, after their prospective carer health assessment but before their approval Panel. The SCR concluded that the GP’s decision not to share this information was appropriate within the context of how the information was presented but it was felt that a reminder was necessary to health professionals to share appropriate information regarding issues which might impact upon a prospective carer’s ability to fulfil their role.

The newly amended consent forms inform the health professionals that the applicant has consented for any pertinent information, which has the potential to impact upon their capacity as parents, to be shared with Children’s Social Care and, additionally, that this information may include information about domestic violence, mental health

and substance abuse, including alcohol abuse. The covering letter for the Adult Health Assessment Form urges the health professional to make contact with the Adoption and Fostering Service, if they become aware of any subsequent changes to the applicant’s health and wellbeing which may impact upon their ability to care for an adopted or fostered child.

The joint work between social care and health in respect of this issue, and the subsequent amendments made to the relevant documentation, fulfils the specific recommendation from the SCR and we hope that it will go some way to ensure that health and social care can continue to work together into the future to safeguard children.

The Fostering and Adoption Assessment Team have been working closely with Medical Advisors to Adoption Panel (for both Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland) to amend the covering letter and consents which accompany the forms which are completed for prospective carer health assessments.

consent form

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Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of LibertyChildren and Young People 16 + 12 key pointsBen.Troke@brownejacobson.com 0115 976 6263

#UnderstandMe campaignChildline has launched a campaign to encourage young people to speak out and seek help for race and faith based bullying. The campaign #UnderstandMe includes a short video; information on what young people can do if they have been stereotyped or discriminated against; a link to message boards to talk to other young people who have had similar experiences; and information on how to contact Childline counsellors for help and support.

Source: Childline: Understand me campaign Date: 23 March 2018

Further information: #UnderstandMe

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) = The “Making a Decision” Act

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) applies to everyone over 16 years of age. It is about a person’s capacity to make any decision for him or herself i.e. where you live, who you have contact with, as much as medical treatment etc. The key principles are as much (or more) about empowerment and autonomy as about paternalism:

• A Presumption of capacity - unless it is established otherwise.

• Empowerment - should not treat someone as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps have been taken to encourage and support the person to make a decision. If lack of capacity has been established, it is still important to involve the person as much as possible in making decisions.

• Unwise decision – it does not mean someone lacks capacity if you do not agree with the decision made or would decide differently.

• Best interests – anything done for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity for a specific decision must be done in their best interests.

• Least restrictive option - When considering best interests, consider whether there is a less restrictive option available to achieve those best interests.

Does P have the capacity to make a decision?

The MCA starts with a presumption of capacity. Lack of capacity means an inability to understand or retain or weigh information relevant to the particular decision that must be made due to an impairment or disturbance in the function of the mind or brain or (less often) to communicate that decision.

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The decision

It is important to identify the relevant decision before assessing if the individual has capacity.

What is the decision? An individual can have capacity for some decisions but not others.

When does the decision need to be made? Individuals may regain capacity. Does the decision have to be made now or can it wait?

What options are available?

The options

Baroness Hale in N v ACCG - Supreme Court (2017) said “… just like P, the court can only choose between the ‘available options’”.

Lack of capacity for a particular decision does not allow for “demands” of treatment/care package if that option is not available to them (regardless of capacity) – for example, no clinician will offer particular treatment, a local authority or CCG will not fund a particular package, or if it is impossible in practice. ‘Best interests’ cannot ‘trump’ prior questions about resource allocation, or what is clinically appropriate to offer.

Who decides?

It is important to look for a collaborative decision making process and involve:

• The decision maker (try the test of who would need to rely on MCA s5)

• “Those engaged in caring for P and interested in their welfare” (MCA s4(7))

• And any LPA / deputy

• And P – their own involvement, wishes, values and beliefs (MCA s 4(6))

• And, if need be, the Court of Protection (COP)

Nb. There is no such thing as ‘Next of Kin’ for these purposes.

What about “children” and transition to adulthood?

Parental responsibility is best seen as responsibilities rather than rights, and can only be exercised with a view to the child’s welfare – and should be challenged if you think it is not.

Though the Children Act 1989 says that you are a child until the age of 18, and parental responsibility persists until that age, since the Family Law reform Act 1969 (s8) it is assumed that at age 16 you can give consent to medical treatment, and the MCA 2005 makes the same presumption for all decisions at age 16 years.

Below age 16 a child may be “GIllick competent” to make a particular decision if they have sufficient maturity and understanding to make the decision for themselves.

Once they are competent for a decision, whether by their development under 16, or the assumptions made in law over 16, it becomes more inappropriate to simply rely on parental responsibility for decision making, especially where this overrides the child’s decision.

Conflicts should be referred to Court, where the welfare of the child will be paramount.

The website “My Adult Still My Child” offers useful resources - http://myadultstillmychild.co.uk/

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MCA s5 – power to act reasonably

There is no liability for an act taken in connection with the care or treatment of another person if you reasonably:

Think P lacks capacity for a decision, and do something you think will be in their best interests

BUT

s5 does not cover “restraint” unless:

• Reasonably believed to be necessary to prevent harm, and

• Proportionate to likelihood / seriousness of that harm (as outlined in s6 MCA).

Deprivation of Liberty

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Article 5 – the right to liberty – Deprivation of liberty without due process is a breach of Article 5.

Nothing authorises “Deprivation of Liberty” on the basis of lack of capacity, except:

- MCA Schedule A1 – the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) – care homes and hospitals only

- COP Order

Necessary for life sustaining treatment or “vital act”, while a decision is sought from the Court.

The Road to Cheshire – when is someone “deprived of their liberty”

The Supreme Court case of Cheshire West (2014) provided the ‘acid test’ to define this: ‘under continuous supervision and control and was not free to leave.’

• Continuous supervision – does not need “line of sight”/recording/1:1

• Control – control is the power to intervene in someone’s life, even if not constantly used (don’t avoid this by terming it ‘support’).

• Not free to leave? i.e. are they able to decide to live elsewhere? What would happen if they tried to leave (it is irrelevant that they may never have tried to leave), or if family tried to move them?

Cheshire West has widened the scope of cases that come under the definition of “deprivation of liberty”, and the number of cases under DOLS has vastly increased since then.

Deprivation of Liberty and Children

• There is no lower limit for Article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

• Where their care package amounts to being under continuous supervision and control and not free to leave, and this is not required solely as a result of their age (setting aside any disability) then they may be regarded as DoL and this needs proper authorisation.

• A secure placement under Children Act s25, or by using the Mental Health Act can comply with the procedural requirements of Article 5.

• Case law has held that for a child under 16 years, parental consent to the care package / placement can mean that there is no DoL.

• It is not appropriate to rely on parental consent where the child is under a care order or an interim care order. In such cases the local authority should take the case to Court for approval, and courts have done so for children as young as 10 years.

Reform?

• The Law Commission reviewed and recommended a whole new scheme to replace DOLS as it considers the system is in crisis.

• However, the significant cost of implementing a new scheme and the parliamentary time may be difficult to find in the foreseeable future.

What to do?

• Assess, note and review a person’s capacity;

• Minimise restrictions as much as possible – consistent with best interests;

• But if they might be DOL i.e. subject to “continuous supervision and control and not free to leave” remember that DOL is not a bad thing – but demands scrutiny – DOLS (or COP) are safeguards.

• DOL is far more widespread than previously recognized – and unlawful DOL can create liability for damages.

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On 29 November 2017, the Local Government Association (LGA) issued guidance on

Making Safeguarding Personal: What might “good” look like for those working in the housing sector?.

The LGA’s guidance recommends steps that the Local Government housing sector should take in order to ensure that safeguarding best practice is achieved. These include considering and implementing statutory care responsibilities in housing contracts, policies and staff development in order to satisfy local authorities’ responsibilities under the Care Act 2014 (CA 2014), the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

National Making Safeguarding Personal Guidance includes work undertaken by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board Audit Group

www.adass.org.uk/media/6137/msp-resources-2017-for-safeguarding-adults-boards.pdf

Appendix 4a and 4b

Best Practice in Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP)

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Multi-Agency Audit work: An example of Best Practice

Making Safeguarding Personal in the Housing sector

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Focus on Safeguarding Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesThe Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Board continues to make the Safeguarding of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) a priority in the 2018/19 Business Plan

Research shows that disabled children are at an increased risk of being abused compared with their non-disabled peers (Sullivan and Knutson 2000; Kvam 2004; Spencer et al. 2005; Jones et al. 2012). They are also less likely to receive the protection and support they need when they have been abused and are less likely than other children in need to become the subject of child protection plans (Ofsted 2009, 2012; Brandon et al. 2012; Taylor et al. 2014).

The learning from national case reviews emphasises the importance of child focused practice. It highlights the need for a holistic approach to supporting disabled children and their families. It stresses the importance of considering all a child’s support needs, rather than just those related to their disability.

In 2015, the National Working Group ‘Safeguarding Disabled Children in England (2016)’ carried out a survey of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to establish the effectiveness of local arrangements to protect disabled children. In particular, the survey gauged the progress LSCBs have made to implement recommendations from Ofsted’s 2012 thematic inspection on protecting disabled children. They identified actions for local authorities and local safeguarding children boards to take to ensure that the welfare of disabled children is safeguarded and promoted.

What the LSCB has done so far

In order to effectively benchmark present practice in Leicestershire and Rutland against the recommendations and actions in the reports, the Local Safeguarding Children Board asked the key stakeholders across partner organisations to complete a self-assessment tool individually or in teams. The 19 completed assessments were returned and assessed in December 2017.

Multi-agency case file audits have been undertaken during February /March 2018.

What the LSCB will do next

A report will be produced outlining the findings and recommendations from the self-assessment and the case file audits.

An action plan will be produced.

Further Reading

Published case reviews highlight that professionals often struggle to identify safeguarding concerns when working with deaf and disabled children. NSPCC Deaf and disabled children: learning from case reviews

OFSTED (2011) The voice of the child: learning lessons from serious case reviews. Manchester: OFSTED

Miller, D. and Brown, J. (2014) ‘We have the right to be safe’: protecting disabled children from abuse. [London]: NSPCC.

Department for Children, Schools and Families Safeguarding Disabled Children; Practice Guidance (2009)

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These new rules, The Family Procedure (Amendment No.3) Rules 2017, and Practice Direction 3AA, came into effect on Monday, 27 November 2017. They set out a court’s duty to consider how a party can participate in the proceedings (other than by way of giving evidence) and how a party or a witness can best give evidence.

Previously, these matters were pretty much left to the discretion of individual judges and how much effort was made by the lawyers (on both sides) to identify vulnerability (e.g. a learning disability/difficulty) and to adapt procedures to enable the person to participate fully and to give their best evidence.

Now, all courts are required to think about these matters, so the lawyers (on both sides) will have to apply their minds to the issues at the earliest stage. The court can then make Participation Directions and adjust things such as the structure and timing of the hearing, the formality of the language to be used, the way in which cross-examination takes place etc. Good news!

The Rules and Practice Direction can be found here:

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1033/made/data.pdf

www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family/practice_directions/practice-direction-3aa-vulnerable-persons-participation-in-proceedings-and-giving-evidence

New Family Court rules - Vulnerable persons: participation in proceedings and giving evidenceThis may be of interest to anyone working with a parent with a Learning Disability who is involved in family court proceedings.

Paramedics, police, fire-fighters and social services know to look in the fridge when they see the ‘message in a bottle’ stickers. It saves the emergency services valuable time if they need to enter a property in an emergency situation and provides peace of mind to carers.

WHERE CAN I GET A BOTTLE ?Some doctors surgeries, pharmacies and police stations in Leicestershire have these bottles but if not the Midlands HQ of the Lions Club can be contacted:

Tel: 0845 833 9502

Tel: 0121 441 4544

Email: mdhq@lionsclubs.co.uk

Message in a Bottle and Order Form

Where can i get a Bottle from? !!

FAQs Message in a Bottle

Information for Lions Clubs

Message in a Bottle Medical Form

A simple idea enabling people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location

– THE FRIDGE

in a bottleMessage

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Conditions inside a hoarding property can pose extra risks of slips trips and falls to the occupier and those who enter the property, but also, in the event of fire, for the occupier and attending fire crews from fire, smoke etc.

Following fatal fires across the country in hoarding properties, Coroners Courts have made recommendations that hoarding is a shared risk that needs to be dealt with in a coordinated way between partner agencies.

The LFRS are therefore issuing this short guidance in order that you can help them to reduce risk to occupiers, neighbours, staff and fire crews.

Risk can be reduced in three ways:

1. Carry out a home fire safety check and provide advice on reducing fire risks.

2. Increase the pre-determined attendance of fire engines to the property in the event of a fire in order to increase crew safety.

3. If the problem is particularly severe, working with partners to reduce all the hazards within the property, not just fire.

The most common way of deciding whether a property should be classified as a high risk hoarding property is to start by using a common standard known as the Clutter Image Rating (CIR). The images at the end of this guidance show a range of clutter for Lounges, Kitchens and Bedrooms.

When using the CIR it is imperative that the person who is hoarding understands why it is important that they receive a Home Fire Safety Check, but the referral MUST be done with their consent.

If a CIR cannot be obtained for any room because access is denied, but a relative/friend/neighbour or social care professional has seen the extent of the hoarding, get them to give a CIR rating.

Agencies should let the fire service know about a hoarding property when:

• The average CIR for the living room, bedroom and kitchen is five or greater (e.g living room is a 7, bedroom is a 6, kitchen is an 8, giving a total score of 21 and an average of 7)

• In addition to a CIR of 5 or greater, when assessing a property as suitable for a referral to the fire service, partners should also consider the following conditions as relevant:

• There is limited access and egress (exits) to the property (e.g. blocked exits/narrow walkways)

• Where the hoard is chaotic, involves refuse, and/or is filthy and verminous

• Where utility shut off equipment (gas, electricity and water) cannot be easily reached

• Where there is obvious fire risk (use of candles, combustibles next to potential sources of ignition, smoking indoors, electrics used hazardously etc.)

When a hoarding property is discovered, if the property is in private ownership, then the consent of the occupier must be obtained before a referral is made. However if the condition of the property is causing a breach of the tenancy, and the landlord (public or private) wishes to take action, then an early measure to reduce risk should always be to request a Home Fire Safety Check.

When referring a hoarding property to LFRS for a Home Fire Safety Check, refer in the normal way, but please indicate that it is a hoarding property and high risk. This will allow us to prioritise the visit.

Hoarding PropertiesMaking referrals to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) when hoarding is discovered

Leicestershire Fire and

Rescue Service has produced

this helpful guide.

Occasionally, public sector staff and those working in the voluntary sector will encounter both private and local authority rented properties that could commonly be described as ‘hoarding properties’.

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Scale 1

Scale 2

Scale 3

Scale 4

Scale 5

Scale 6

Scale 7

Scale 8

Scale 9

CLUTTER IMAGE RATING

LIVING ROOM KITCHEN BEDROOM

March 2018 LSCB Procedures updates Updated Chapters

Chapter Name Details

Responding to Abuse and NeglectA link has been added to NSPCC Core Information Leaflets on Aspects of Physical Child Abuse. This information will be of use to a wide range of professionals in different disciplines.

Paediatric Safeguarding MedicalsThis chapter previously called Paediatric Medical Assessments has been updated and should be read throughout.

Initial Child Protection Conferences

Section 12.2, Other Agency Reports to Conference and the Agency Report for Child Protection Conference Template has been updated with regards to the secure electronic methods that should be used to send sensitive and personal information.

Multi-Agency Report to Conference: Guidance Notes

Section 3, What Needs to Happen? has been updated with regards to the secure electronic methods that should be used to send sensitive and personal information.

Historical (non recent) Abuse Allegations

Section 3, Action to Safeguard has been updated to reflect that Adult Social Care should also be informed if the victim has needs for care and support now and it will have met a safeguarding threshold if the victim is currently experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

All practitioners involved in an allegation should ensure that support is offered, particularly with consideration to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre based in Leicester, which can take place even if the individual does not wish to pursue a criminal investigation.

Safeguarding Children and Young People from Child Sexual Exploitation

A link to the Centre of expertise on Child Sexual Abuse – Key messages from research on child sexual exploitation. A further link has been added to Child sexual exploitation: Practice Tool (2017) (open access) - further background information about child sexual exploitation and additional commentary around some of the complexities of practically responding to the issue.

Children Moving Across Boundaries

Section 8, A Child (not Looked After or Subject of a Child Protection Plan) in Receipt of Services from Originating Authority has been updated particularly in relation to children in need, early help and private fostering. The notification form has also been updated.

Dangerous Dogs and Safeguarding Children This chapter has been reviewed and updated.

People Posing a Risk to Children - Guidance and Procedure

This chapter has been extensively updated and includes the addition of new Section 5, Disclosure of Information by Local Authority and Section 6, Disclosure Process.

Sexual AbuseThis chapter deals with the definition, risk and indicators. It also covers action to be taken and learning from Serious Case Reviews.

Gangs, Group Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children

This chapter deals with the definition, risk and indicators. It also covers action to be taken and links to related guidance.

Contents

Next update: September 2018If you have any comments or feedback regarding the manual, please e-mail: sbbo@leics.gov.uk

CLICK ON CHAPTER NAME

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Hello

I would like to thank everyone who filled in the Safeguarding Children Competency Framework Questionnaire. As you know this is being reviewed and so the responses were welcome, and are being included in the work I am doing with partners. If you would like to be further involved, or would like the chance to have your say, then please look out for workshops that will be advertised on the LSCB website later in April.

With regard to training, this, too, is being reviewed and I am working with the Multi-Agency Training Group to put together a Training Programme for

2018-19. Obviously, I will let you all know how to access this when it is available.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me (Elizabeth.Dunn@leicester.gov.uk) if you have any queries around training or the Competency Framework....

Thank You

Liz

Safeguarding Children Competency Framework

A Note form Liz Dunn – LLR Safeguarding Learning Project Development Officer

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Safeguarding Children Boards Procedures ManualMaking the most of the procedures − Some Quick Links

Thresholds for Access to Services

Quick Guide

Register for Updates

Working Together to Safeguard Children

LSCB Websites

National Contacts & Keywords

Assessment Protocol. This protocol is to clarify arrangements for how cases will be managed when a child is referred into Children’s Social Care

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Name Sue Ashwin

Job title Vice Principal (VP)

Organisation Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College (WQE)

Contact usLeicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults Board The Safeguarding Boards Business Office, Room 100, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA. Telephone: 0116 305 7130 Email: SBBO@leics.gov.uk

My Role

WQE is a Sixth Form College in Leicester with around 2,200 16-18 year old students currently enrolled. WQE is planning to merge with Regent College in the very near future and will then be a place of learning for around 3000 young people from Leicester, Leicestershire and beyond.

Most of our young people study with us for two years and then progress into Higher Education, Higher Level Apprenticeships or a professional career.

How long have you been in this role?

This is my 11th year as VP at WQE having previously been in the leadership team at a Sixth Form College in Somerset where the safeguarding agenda and demands were very different.

Tell us about your role

As Vice Principal I have a number of areas for which I am the senior strategic lead. As safeguarding lead I work with a team of six staff from different levels across the organisation who take on a caseload of students and who work closely together to ensure support and intervention as necessary. Part of my role is to ensure compliance with regard to Safeguarding; I work alongside our designated governor, draw up plans and contribute to training and ensure all policies and procedures in place to support our young people. I also train and update our Corporation and provide reports on this and other areas of work.

My role is most definitely diverse, interesting and demanding.

Tell us about a typical day

This is a really hard thing to do; no two days are the same – and in reality no two hours are! I could be in a leadership meeting at WQE and then have to rush to a Child Protection Conference, a liaison event at a partner school, undertake peer review work with a partner College or attend a Prevent Steering Group. My diary is most certainly always full!

Much of my time currently is of course concentrating on our merger to ensure the best experience for our students.

Tell us about your responsibilities or duties

I’ll focus on safeguarding here. We are finding the demand for support growing year on year and the complex needs of our students are requiring us to become skilled and knowledgeable in a range of fields that a few years ago I probably could not have imagined. We have to often remind ourselves that we are not health professionals but educators. We are, like most other organisations, trying to come to terms with the complexities and demands of the effects of mental ill health; something we see increasingly impacting negatively on the life chances of our students. It is my job to ensure we always do our best and make decisions that are in the best interest of each young person when they face difficulties. WQE is always quick to take opportunities to get involved in new initiatives and activities that aim to help and support.

What is your safeguarding best practice top tip?

Have a team around to support you and check your thoughts and plans out with.

What one thing would you find most beneficial to help you in your safeguarding role?

Everyone who knows me well and sees my ongoing frustrations knows this is what I would say in response to this question…Better understanding across agencies and communication about the ever changing and complex needs of young people before they join WQE. Nobody wants to find something out only when it starts to go wrong we just want to be there to help and support and aid transition through different stages of education; from school to College and from College to University or wherever.

14 Safeguarding MATTERS

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