1. What will happen once I refer a concern to the Local Authority's Children's Social Services (CSS hereafter)?

If you contact CSS about the welfare of a child they will want to establish the nature of the concern, how and why it has arisen and as much information as possible about the family involved.

If you make the referral by telephone, CCPAS strongly recommend that confirm the referral in writing to CSS within 48 hours. CSS should acknowledge a written referral within one working day of receiving it. If you have not received an acknowledgement within three working days then contact them again.

An initial assessment will be made by CSS to determine whether a child is in need, and the nature of that need, and whether a more detailed assessment is required. The initial assessment should be made within 7 days of receiving a referral. At the end of this process it should be made clear to the referrer what will happen next, the contact person at CSS and the timescale of any action that needs to be taken.

Where no further action is necessary, CSS should decide this within one working day and notify the referrer with the reasons for their decision.

2. What about confidentiality, will my details or the churches need to be shared with the family I have concerns about?

Parents’ permission, or the child’s where appropriate, should be sought before discussing a concern with CSS (or any other agency), unless permission-seeking may itself place a child at increased risk of significant harm. Working Together 2010 is very clear that:

‘when responding to referrals from a member of the public rather than another professional, LA children’s  social care [Children’s Social Services (sic)] should bear in mind that personal information about referrers, including identifying details, should only be disclosed to third parties (including subject families and other agencies) with the consent of the referrer.’

There may be legitimate reasons why you wouldn’t want your details shared e.g. that it may damage the relationship you have with the child or family and/or put the child at increased risk of significant harm. You may be concerned for the welfare of yourself or church members because of the reaction of the family concerned. Discuss these concerns with CSS and agree what personal information (if any) about the referrers will be shared.

In ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused’ (DOH 2003) it states that a key factor in determining whether or not to disclose confidential information without the consent of the family is proportionality i.e. ‘is the proposed disclosure a proportionate response to the need to protect the welfare of the child.’

3. Who makes up Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB); are faith groups represented?

Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) replaced Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs) in April 2006. Under the Children Act 2004 LSCBs are placed on a statutory footing. LSCBs develop policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the area of the local authority where they operate. They consist of statutory members (CSS, local government representatives, police, probation, Strategic Health Authorities / Primary Care Trusts, CAFCASS etc) and other members including the NSPCC, and local organisations. As a minimum, local organisations should include faith groups, state and independent schools, colleges and GP’s and all other relevant local organisations.

4. In the CCPAS Safeguarding manual ‘Safe and Secure’, CCPAS refers to Schedule 1 Offenders. I have been told this term is no longer used, is this right?

We do refer to ‘Schedule 1 Offenders’ in Safe and Secure, as this is a common term used to describe those who have a conviction for an offence against a child listed in Schedule One of the Children and Young Person’s Act 1933. The government in Working Together 2010 points out that committing an offence under Schedule One of the Act does not trigger any statutory requirement in relation to child protection issues and inclusion on the schedule is determined solely by the age of the victim and offence for which the offender was sentenced, not by an assessment of future risk of harm to children.  Therefore the term ‘Schedule One offender’ is no longer  used.  It has been replaced with ‘Risk to Children’ indicating a person has been identified as presenting a risk or potential risk of harm to children.

5. Is the child protection or ‘at risk' register changing?

Children’s Social Services now operate under the Integrated Children's System (ICS), an IT based system that has been fully operational since 2007. ICS is a framework for working with children in need and their families. The principal purpose of it is to make agencies and professionals aware of children who are judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm and who are the subject of a child protection plan. ICS will record information about children that can be analysed and used locally and nationally in planning the provision of services. Rather than describing a child as being on the Child Protection Register, frequently termed the ‘At Risk Register’, the ICS system will report whether a child is the subject of a ‘child protection plan’.

6. Where can I find key documents such as “Safe from Harm”?

The 13 recommendations contained in “Safe from Harm” can be found in the CCPAS online safeguarding manual ‘Safe and Secure’.

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