Amendments
June 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Recognising Abuse and Neglect | This chapter has been reviewed and updated in line with local procedure. |
| Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | Section 5, Other Harmful Practices has been added. The Health and Care Act 2022 has made it illegal to carry out, offer or aid and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty in any part of the UK. It is also illegal for UK nationals and residents to do these things outside the UK. Information has also been added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance. |
| Forced Marriage | This chapter has been amended in line with local procedure. |
| MAPPA | This chapter has been updated. |
| Pre Birth | Section 3, Safe Sleeping has been added. Additional information has been added into Section 4, Working with Fathers/Partners. |
| Agency Roles and Responsibilities | A new Section, Principles has been added into Section 2, Serious Violence Duty, to include information from the Ofsted Framework Joint Targeted Area Inspections of the Multi-agency Response to Serious Youth Violence. |
| Next Update: December 2024 |
December 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment |
This chapter has been refreshed. Section 6, The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse has also been added. |
| Children at Risk where a Parent has Mental Ill Health | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. |
| Complex (Organised or Multiple) Abuse | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. |
| Forced Marriage | This chapter has been amended to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023. |
| Gang Activity and Youth Violence | Information in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders has been added into Section 6, Support and Interventions. |
| Harmful Sexual Behaviour | Additional links have been added into the Further Guidance and Information section. |
| Self Harm | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed in line with local policy. |
| Suicidal Behaviour | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed throughout in line with local policy. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | This chapter has been refreshed and links to additional guidance have been added into Further Information. |
| Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been refreshed. Section 6.19, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements has been updated to include information on the extension of the duty to co-operate under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. A link to 'Matters of Concern, Safeguarding Concerns, Allegations and Complaints for Children in Custody – Youth Custody Service (Youth Justice Resource Hub)' has been added into Section 6.9, The Secure Estate for Children. A new Section 2, Serious Violence Duty has also been added. |
| Information Sharing | Information in relation to the Serious Violence Duty has been added into Section 5, National Guidance in Information Sharing. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has also been added. |
| Safer Recruitment, Selection and Supervision of Staff | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. Section 2, Choice of Candidate has been updated to note that Keeping Children Safe in Education provides that schools and colleges should only accept copies of a curriculum vitae alongside an application form. A curriculum vitae on its own will not provide adequate information. Information in relation to online searches has been added into Section 2.4, Selection Methods. |
September 2023
| New Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Engaging with Fathers, Male Partners or Carers and Other Significant Adults | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
June 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | This chapter has been updated as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has extended the definition of Position of Trust within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 22A to include anyone who coaches, teaches, trains, supervises or instructs a child under 18, on a regular basis, in a sport or a religion. |
| Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been updated as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has extended the definition of Position of Trust within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 22A to include anyone who coaches, teaches, trains, supervises or instructs a child under 18, on a regular basis, in a sport or a religion. Links have also been added to the HMPP Child Safeguarding Policy. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This chapter has been updated as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has extended the definition of Position of Trust within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 22A to include anyone who coaches, teaches, trains, supervises or instructs a child under 18, on a regular basis, in a sport or a religion. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| MAPPA Protocol | This protocol has been added to the manual. |
| Transitional Safeguarding | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
December 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | A link has been added to Talking to your Child About Online Sexual Harassment (Children's Commissioner). |
| Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | A link has been added to CPS Guidance on Victims of Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Smuggling. |
| Children Missing from Education | Local contact details for Bradford have been updated. |
| Children of Alcohol Misusing Parents | A link has been added in Further Information to NICE Quality Standard QS 204 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. |
| Gang Activity and Youth Violence | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice. |
| Harmful Sexual Behaviour | A link has been added to Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service for the Children's Workforce (Marie Collins Foundation). |
| Parents with Learning Disabilities/Difficulties | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education regarding allegations that can relate to an adult's behaviour outside work known as transferable risk, and in relation to the importance of sharing any concerns about the behaviour of a person who works with children. Information has been added on the differences between an allegation and a concern. See Section 1, Introduction and Criteria. |
| Local Contacts | The information for Education Bradford Named Person for Children Missing from Education has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Pre Trial Therapy | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
September 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | The to the Calderdale Referral Form has been updated. |
July 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Local Contacts | The information for Wakefield Safeguarding Partnership has been updated. |
June 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Thresholds of Need Guidance | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Recognising Abuse and Neglect | Section 7, Recognising Neglect has been updated and should be re-read. Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Early Help / Early Support / Early Intervention | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Referrals | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Single Assessment | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Bullying | This chapter has been slightly amended and the definition of sexting has been expanded to include taking and distributing nude or semi-nude images. |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | This chapter has been amended and the definition of sexting expanded to include taking and distributing nude or semi-nude images. The Further Information section has also been revised. |
| Child Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Children of Alcohol Misusing Parents | Links have been added in Further Information to Guidance - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Health Needs Assessment and Guidance: Parents with Alcohol and Drug Problems – Adult Treatment and Children and Family Services. |
| Children of Drug Misusing Parents | A link has been added in Further Information to Guidance: Parents with Alcohol and Drug Problems – Adult Treatment and Children and Family Services. |
| Domestic Abuse | This chapter has been updated to reflect the new definition of Domestic Abuse within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and to update the links within Further Information. The provisions of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 are still being introduced and the statutory guidance is still in draft so there will be a further update to the chapter once the statutory guidance is finalised. |
| Perplexing Presentations (PP) and Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) in Children | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
| Interpersonal Violence and Abuse (IPVA) Young People's Relationships West Yorkshire Practice Guidance | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Pre Birth | Local information for Kirklees has been updated in Section 7, Additional Local Guidance and Pathways. |
| Self Harm | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Suicidal Behaviour | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| So Called 'Honour' Based Abuse | Terminology has been updated throughout from Honour Based Violence to Honour Based Abuse. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | A link has been added into Further Information to Guidance - Prevent Duty Self-assessment Tool: Further Education. Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Multi Agency Safeguarding Arrangements | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Agency Roles and Responsibilities | Section 5.4, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (formerly Public Health England) has been updated. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | The LADO Referral Form for Bradford has been updated. Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Local Arrangements for Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Local Arrangements for Child Death Reviews | Local information for Wakefield has been updated. |
| Local Contacts | The information for Wakefield Safeguarding Partnership has been updated. |
January 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Faltering Growth Policy | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice and terminology. |
| Initial Child Protection Conferences | A note has been added to remind all practitioners of the importance of establishing the nationality and immigration status of children and families. This will ensure they can be signposted for immigration advice and support where required. Furthermore - if as EU / EEA nationals they have been granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme - it will ensure that they can be supported to apply for settled status when they accrue 5 years' continuous residence in the UK. |
| Allegations of Harm Arising from Sexual Activity (including Under Age Sexual Activity) | This chapter has been amended to include information on sexual harassment and violence following the Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted) and Keeping Children Safe in Education. See the Ofsted report in Further Information. |
| Bullying | This chapter has been amended to include information on sexual harassment and violence following the Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted) and Keeping Children Safe in Education. |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | This chapter has been amended to reflect that section 69 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 expanded so-called 'revenge porn' to include threats to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress. |
| Child Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | A link has been added in Section 1, Introduction and Links to Local Resources to Calderdale - Child Exploitation Risk Assessment. |
| Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This chapter has been refreshed throughout. Information has been added on piloting devolving decision making for child victims of modern slavery and on Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTG). Links to Further Information have been added and updated, and a link has been added to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Referral Form. In areas where the ICTG service has been implemented, if the first responder considers a child to be a potential victim of modern slavery, they should refer them to the ICTG service by completing the online referral form. Minor amendments have been made to this chapter in line with the UK's exit from the EEA. |
| Children of Alcohol Misusing Parents | A link has been added in Further Information to Guidance: Parents with Alcohol and Drug Problems: Support Resources (GOV.UK). |
| Children of Drug Misusing Parents | A link has been added in Further Information to Guidance: Parents with Alcohol and Drug Problems: Support Resources (GOV.UK). |
| Domestic Abuse | This chapter has been updated to add links to Domestic Abuse Act Factsheets and Domestic Abuse: Specialist Sources of Support (GOV.UK). |
| Gang Activity and Youth Violence | Information has been added on Knife Crime Prevention Orders. |
| Harmful Sexual Behaviour | This chapter has been updated to reflect local practice, the Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted) and Keeping Children Safe in Education. |
| Parents with Learning Disabilities | This chapter has been updated to include information in relation to pre-birth assessments and planning. |
| Pre Birth | Section 2, Identifying Risks has been updated to include information in relation to pre-birth assessments and planning where the mother has learning disabilities. |
| Safeguarding Children who Move Across Local Authority Boundaries / Abroad | A note from Working Together to Safeguard Children has been added to remind all practitioners of the importance of sharing information when a child moves from one local authority into another; due to the risk that knowledge pertinent to keeping a child safe could be lost. |
| Multi-Agency Protocol for the Assessment of Non Mobile Babies with Injuries Including Bruising, Burns and Scalds in Non Mobile Babies | This protocol has been updated. |
| Safer Recruitment, Selection and Supervision of Staff | This chapter has been updated to reflect legal changes following EU exit, including guidance on checking the past conduct of individuals who have lived or worked overseas. |
| Complaints and Appeals (Child Protection Conferences) | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice. |
| Local Contacts | The information for Bradford Safeguarding Partnership has been updated. |
August 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | The Calderdale Referral process for managing allegations made against people who work with children has been added to Section 16, Flowcharts. |
June 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children Missing from Education | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and extensively updated. |
| Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout to reflect the latest statutory guidance on Female Genital Mutilation. |
| Children Visiting Psychiatric Wards and Facilities | This chapter has been refreshed throughout and terminology updated. Additional information has also been added in to Section 3, Visiting Patients in the High Security Psychiatric Services: Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton, in line with the High Security Psychiatric Services (Arrangements for Safety and Security) Directions 2019 and associated Guidance. |
| Children Visiting Prisons | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. |
| Information Sharing | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout to reflect amendments in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE). |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This procedure has been reviewed and updated as required to reflect the most recent versions of the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. A fourth bullet point has been added in Section 1, Introduction and Criteria to include situations where an individual in those settings has behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children. This is to capture concerns around transferable risk; for example where a person who works with children is involved in a domestic abuse incident at home and this may have implications for their suitability to work with children. |
| Safer Recruitment, Selection and Supervision of Staff | This guidance has been updated as a result of the UK's exit from the European Union. Information has been added on how employers can now check that an individual has the right to work in the UK during the recruitment process. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Elective Home Education | A small, but growing number of children are educated at home. Elective home education (EHE) is not, in itself, a risk factor for abuse or neglect, and there is nothing to suggest children who are educated at home experience a higher incidence of abuse or neglect than the wider population of children. However, when children who are educated at home are maltreated, this can be more difficult for professionals to identify. This new section explains the actions practitioners should take if they have concerns that a child who is being educated at home is as risk of abuse or neglect. Links to local EHE contacts are also included. |
February 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Local Contacts | Contact information has been reviewed locally and updated as required. |
December 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Bullying | This chapter has been updated with new links added to resources for addressing bullying linked to race/faith, and resources to help make schools, colleges or other settings LGBT inclusive. See Section 5, Further Information and Sources of Support. |
August 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | This chapter contains information about child exploitation (CE) including how to recognise indicators that a child or young person is being exploited, the roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies and the procedures practitioners should follow to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people where there are concerns that they have been, or are at risk of, being exploited. It also links to relevant local resources for each local authority in West Yorkshire. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Interpersonal Violence and Abuse (IPVA) Young People's Relationships West Yorkshire Practice Guidance | This practice guidance covers situations where a young person under 18 years of age has been harmed through interpersonal domestic abuse from a partner (boyfriend or girlfriend) or is causing harm to a partner. |
| Accumulation of Minor Injuries Protocol (Kirklees only) | This protocol, written by Kirklees Safeguarding Children Partnership for practitioners working with children and families in Kirklees, sets out action to be taken by professionals when they identify that a child has suffered 'an accumulation of minor injuries' which may indicate abuse or neglect. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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June 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Single Assessment | The link the digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery has been updated. |
| Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This guidance has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form and the change to a Single Competent Authority (SCA). |
December 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Initial Child Protection Conferences | Information in relation to the timescales for submitting reports to the Chair of the Child Protection Conference has been updated to reflect processes in each of the consortium areas. |
| Child Protection Review Conferences | Information in relation to the timescales for submitting reports to the Chair of the Child Protection has been updated to reflect processes in each of the consortium areas. |
| Resolving Multi Agency Professional Disagreements and Escalation | A new Section 4, Immediate / 24 hour Escalation has been added to explain the process for escalation when a professional is concerned that the situation presents a significant risk to the child and the usual escalation process of 5 days is not viable. Section 3, Process of Resolving Professional Disagreements, has been amended to allow 14 working days for the resolution of disagreements at step 6 in the process. Steps 1 -5 in the process should not exceed 5 working days. |
September 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Fabricated or Induced Illness | This guidance has been completely rewritten and added to the procedures manual. Please note - The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) guidance 'Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) by Carers - A Practical Guide for Paediatricians' 2009 is currently being updated. Once this review is complete the following guidance will be reviewed and updated as required in line with the revised RCPCH guidance. |
June 2019
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
Pre Birth |
This guidance which provides information for practitioners on what to do if they have concerns about a pregnant woman and /or her unborn baby has been added to the procedures. |
May 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | This guidance has been reviewed and refreshed as required. In the further information section, a link has been added to the Catch 22 publication Social Media as a Catalyst and Trigger for Youth Violence. |
| Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and extensively updated. |
| Harmful Sexual Behaviour | This chapter has been reviewed throughout and extensively updated. Information has been added with regard to Technology-assisted harmful sexual behaviour (TA-HSB) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2018. The Further Information section has been reviewed and updated. |
| Parents with Learning Disabilities | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and extensively updated to reflect best practice when working with parents who have a learning disability. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
Deprivation of Liberty online Mental Capacity Act online |
These new online resources provide information on Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty in relation to children and young people. |
January 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Joint Protocol for Children Missing from Home or Care | The Joint Protocol for Children Missing from Home or Care has been updated. |
December 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief | This guidance, which is intended to help raise awareness of Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief (CALFB) has been extensively updated and should be read in full. |
| Information Sharing and Confidentiality | This guidance has been reviewed and updated in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children and DfE, Information Sharing Advice for Safeguarding Practitioners. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | The Leeds Allegations / Concerns Against Staff and Volunteers Flowchart has been updated. See Section 16, Flowcharts. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Criminal Exploitation | This new chapter contains information on risk factors / indicators for Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE). It also explains the process for referring on any concerns, and the action that will follow to safeguard the children and young people concerned. |
| Self Harm | This guidance has been written to help practitioners support young people who have self harmed, who or who may be at risk of self harming. It explains some of ways in which young people may harm themselves and the reasons why they do this. It contains useful advice on how to respond to a young person who has self harmed, as well as links to local and national sources of support and specialist advice / interventions. |
| Suicidal Behaviour | This guidance has been written to help practitioners support young people who experiencing suicidal thoughts. It explores issues which can increase vulnerability to suicide, as well as identifying risks and warning signs. It contains links to advice on how to respond to a young person who expresses suicidal thoughts, as well as links to local and national sources of support and specialist advice / interventions. |
September 2018
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment | This new guidance has been added to the online procedures. It contains advice for practitioners on how to identify and respond to concerns in relation to Child Sexual Abuse in the family environment. |
May 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | The Bradford SCB Multi Agency Female Genital Mutilation Pathway has been added to Appendix 1: Local FGM Protocols, Pathways and Strategies. |
| Forced Marriage | This guidance has been updated to reflect relevant points from the 'Protocol on the handling of 'so-called' Honour Based Violence/Abuse and Forced Marriage Offences between the National Police Chief's Council and the Crown Prosecution Service' (November 2016). |
| Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploration Affecting Children | This chapter has been updated to include a link to the Home Office publication Criminal Exploitation of Children and Vulnerable Adults: County Lines. Information has also been added throughout to describe how organised criminal groups exploit young people and use them to distribute money and illegal drugs along 'county lines'. |
| Safeguarding Children who Move Across Local Authority Boundaries / Abroad | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and substantially updated, new sections have been added in relation to children who are receiving Early Help services and Children in Need. (See Section 3, Children who were Receiving Early Help / Early Intervention Services, and Section 4, Children in Need). |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This document has been reviewed locally and updated throughout. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Concealed Pregnancies | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Dangerous Dogs and Safeguarding Children | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| West Yorkshire Guidance for Families who are Relocating Due to Risk | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
February 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Resolving Multi Agency Professional Disagreements and Escalation | This protocol, which sets out the steps to be taken to resolve Multi Agency Professional Disagreements when working with children and families, has been reviewed and updated throughout. The process it describes should be followed whenever there is a disagreement between professionals / agencies regarding the best course of action to safeguard a child. |
December 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | A new Appendix 1: Local FGM Pathways has been added containing links to Local FGM Protocols, Pathways and Strategies. |
| Trafficked Children | This guidance has been updated to include links to the following: Care of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Child Victims of Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities (DfE, 2017); Modern Slavery Duty to Notify - Factsheet and posters that explain what you need to do if you think someone has been a victim of modern slavery. |
May 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Bullying | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | This guidance has been updated to include a reference to Outcome 21 which can be used by the Police in situations where young people are voluntarily sending/sharing sexual images or content with one another. Outcome 21 records that a crime has been committed but that it is not considered to be in the public interest to take criminal action against the people involved. Thereby reducing stigma and distress for children and helping to minimise the long term impact of the situation. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Child Sexual Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | The definition of Child Sexual Exploitation contained in this guidance has been updated to reflect the 2017 Department for Education publication Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and Guide for Practitioners. |
| Safeguarding Children Affected by Gang Activity and Youth Violence | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout as required. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | Section 4, Protection and Action to be Taken, has been updated to include a link to information for use by practitioners in Calderdale when referring concerns about an individual who may be at risk of radicalisation or violent extremism. |
December 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | A link has been added to recently published Government guidance for parents and carers whose children use social media. |
| Children Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries / Abroad | A new Section 5, Moving Abroad has been added to provide guidance for professionals who have concerns that a child they are working with (for whom there are outstanding welfare concerns) has been taken abroad. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | Section 5, Issues, has been updated to include a link to the GOV.UK website to report online material promoting terrorism or extremism. |
| Information Sharing and Confidentiality | The Inter Agency Information Sharing Protocol which is linked from Appendix 1: Local Information Sharing Protocols has been updated. The protocol contains a general agreement on information sharing between several organisations and bodies across the West Yorkshire region, and signatories include Leeds City Council, City of Bradford MBC, Calderdale MBC, Kirklees MBC, Wakefield MBC and West Yorkshire Police. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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August 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Local Contacts | Contact information has been reviewed locally and updated as required. |
May 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child Protection Review Conferences | Section 2, Criteria for Discontinuing the Child Protection Plan has been reviewed by the Consortium and updated as required to reflect local practice. |
| Children from Abroad (including Migrant Children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children) | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. Links to new practice guidance developed by the ADCS Asylum Task Force and the Home Office for frontline workers on conducting age assessments and sharing information have been added into Section 7, Establishing the Child's Identity and Age. Section 15, National Referral Mechanism is new and sets out the requirements for practitioners to inform the National Referral Mechanism if they have concerns that a child is a victim of trafficking. |
| Domestic Violence and Abuse | This procedure has been reviewed and updated throughout. Information on the new offence of coercive or controlling behaviour where perpetrated against an intimate partner or family member introduced by the Serious Crime Act 2015 has been added into Section 1, Introduction. |
| Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | Section 5, Law Relating to Female Genital Mutilation has been updated to include a link to the revised reporting form which regulated professionals should use when reporting known cases of FGM to the West Yorkshire Police. A note has also ben added reminding professionals that, in line with safeguarding best practice, they should notify the girl and / or her parents / guardians as appropriate to explain the report, why it is being made and what it means. However should professionals have any concerns that informing the parents or child of the report may result in the risk of serious harm to the child or anyone else, or that then family may flee the county, then they should not be notified. |
| Information Sharing and Confidentiality | The Inter Agency Information Sharing Protocol which is linked from Appendix 1: Local Information Sharing Protocols has been updated. The protocol contains a general agreement on information sharing between several organisations and bodies across the West Yorkshire region, and signatories include Leeds City Council, City of Bradford MBC, Calderdale MBC, Kirklees MBC, Wakefield MBC and West Yorkshire Police. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This procedure has been reviewed and updated as required to reflect practice across the consortium area. |
| Reviewing All Childhood Deaths | This chapter has been reviewed locally and updated as required to reflect local practice in reviewing child deaths. |
| Local Contacts | Contact information has been reviewed locally and updated as required. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Multi-Agency Protocol for the Assessment of Bruising, Burns and Scalds in Non Mobile Babies | Bruising is the most common accidental injury experienced by children. However, it is extremely rare for a non-mobile baby (for example one that is not yet crawling) to sustain accidental bruising. Therefore bruising in non mobile babies should considered as an indicator of physical abuse and thoroughly investigated in a multi agency setting. This protocol requires that all actual or suspected bruising, burns or scalds to babies who are not yet independently mobile are subject to multi-agency investigation in order to assess risk of harm. In particular, any decision that a child has not suffered abuse must always be a joint decision, and not taken by a single agency. The protocol contains guidance for staff working across the Consortium areas on how to respond when they become aware of a non mobile baby with suspected bruising, burns or scalds. The protocol goes on to describe the process which be followed to ensure a prompt and thorough multi agency investigation of any such injuries. |
February 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Local Contacts | Local contacts have been updated. |
November 2015
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Referrals | This procedure has been amended to reflect a change of practice in the Wakefield area; any professional in Wakefield who makes a telephone / verbal referral to Children's Social Care Services must now follow this up in writing within 24 hours (rather than 48 hours as previously required). Practice within the other four authorities making up the West Yorkshire Consortium is unchanged. |
| Single Assessment | Single Assessment Guidance for practitioners in Kirklees has been added. |
| Child Protection Enquiries - Section 47 Children Act 1989 | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. It should be read in full. |
| Abuse by Children and Young People who Display Sexually Harmful Behaviour | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout; it should be read in full. |
| Bullying | Links have been added to advice documents on online (or cyber) bullying for Headteachers, school staff, parents and carers which have been issued by the Department of Education. |
| Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. It should be read in full. |
| Children Missing from Education | This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect revised Statutory Guidance on Children Missing Education (2015). |
| Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | This guidance has been updated throughout, and should be read in full. Information on the new mandatory reporting requirements for FGM have been added into Section 5, Law Relating to Female Genital Mutilation. |
| Forced Marriages | A link to an information leaflet produced by HM Courts and Tribunal Service explaining how Forced Marriage Protection Orders work has been added. |
| Trafficked Children | This guidance has been updated to include information on changes to the process for referring suspected trafficking or modern slavery cases to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The West Yorkshire Police area is one of a number of areas piloting the introduction of Slavery Safeguarding Leads. Cases of suspected trafficking or modern slavery should be reported to the Slavery Safeguarding Lead, who will then make a decision as to whether or not there are reasonable grounds to believe the child / young person has been trafficked. See Section 4.1, Identification of Trafficked Children for further details. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young people against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | This guidance has been revised throughout to reflect the updated Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales. It should be read in full. |
| Local Safeguarding Children Board - Role and Function | This chapter has been updated to reflect the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been updated to reflect publication of Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Statutory Framework | This section explains the legislation most relevant to work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It is taken directly from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015. |
| Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This guidance has been updated throughout, following publication of the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. |
| Learning and Improvement Framework | This chapter has been updated to reflect the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. Links to updated Local Learning and Improvement Frameworks published by Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield SCBs have also been added. |
| Serious Case Reviews | Guidance in this section of the procedures has been reviewed and updated to reflect the publication of Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Local Contacts | Contact information has been reviewed and updated. |
April 2015
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Early Help / Common Assessment Framework | Updated information has been added in Section 2, Assessing Children and Families with Additional Needs, linking to the different processes used in each of the West Yorkshire authorities. |
| Implementation of the Child Protection Plan - Lead Social Worker and Core Group Responsibilities | A link has been added to recently published Departmental Advice for local authorities, social workers, service managers and children's services lawyers on Working with foreign authorities: child protection cases and care orders. |
| Abuse Linked to Spiritual and Religious Beliefs | A link has been added to the Safe Network Multi Faith Safeguarding Hub which provides support and resources with a multi faith focus. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Child Sexual Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | Section 1, Introduction and Links to Local Resources has been updated to include links to the most up to date CSE resources available in each LSCB area. |
| Children from Abroad (including Migrant Children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children) | This chapter has been updated to reflect new Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on the Care of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Trafficked Children. Additional information has been added into Section 6, Establishing the Child's Identity and Age emphasising that where the age of a person is uncertain and there are reasons to believe that they are a child, they are presumed to be a child in order to receive immediate access to assistance, support and protection in accordance with Article 10(3) of the European Convention on action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. |
| Children Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries | This chapter has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. Section 2, Ensuring Continued Access to Universal Services is new. |
| Female Genital Mutilation | A link has been added to the Home Office Female Genital Mutilation Resource Pack. The Resource Pack contains comprehensive information for practitioners is, including free e-learning on how to recognise and prevent FGM, case studies, examples of good practice from around the country and suggested questions for local areas when developing responses to FGM. |
| Trafficked Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect new Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on the Care of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Trafficked Children, Information has been added into Section 2, Definitions explaining that where the age of a person is uncertain and there are reasons to believe that they are a child, they should be presumed to be a child in order to receive immediate access to assistance, support and protection in accordance with Article 10(3) of the European Convention on action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Age assessments should only be carried out where there is significant reason to doubt that the claimant is a child. In Section 4.3, Referrals, the importance of carrying out any assessment of a child who has been trafficked immediately is emphasised, as the opportunity to intervene is very narrow. Many trafficked children go missing from care, often within the first 48 hours. |
| Cross-Border Child Protection Cases Under the 1996 Hague Convention | A link has been added to guidance produced by the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU). The guidance summarises how the ICACU can help by making a request for co-operation to another country, in particular for the collection and exchange of information and provides details of how to contact the Unit and to make a request for co-operation. |
| Joint Protocol for Children Missing from Home or Care | This revised protocol has been produced jointly by West Yorkshire Police and Children's Social Care Services in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. It This protocol defines the roles and responsibilities of parents and carers (including kinship carers and foster carers), residential staff, the Police, Children's Social Care Services and other relevant practitioners when a child goes missing. Children who go missing from home or care place themselves and, at times, others at risk; they are also at increased risk of being harmed. Every individual absent episode should warrant professional attention, and practitioners need to offer a consistent and coherent response to safeguard a child from harm. It is therefore important for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people using services in West Yorkshire, that all practitioners who work with children are familiar with this protocol and its contents. |
| Investigation Strategy for Harbourers of Children and Young People | This chapter has been updated in light of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policy Act 2014. Under the Act, Risk of Sexual Harm Orders and Sexual Offences Prevention Orders have been replaced with Sexual Risk Orders and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders. See Section 2, Relevant Legislation for more information. |
| Information Sharing and Confidentiality | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. It should be re-read in full. |
| Safer Recruitment, Selection and Supervision of Staff | A link has been added to Raising Concerns at Work which is recently published whistle blowing guidance for workers and employers in health and social care. |
| Learning and Improvement Framework | A link to the new Calderdale Multi Agency Learning and Improvement Framework has been added to this chapter. |
| Investigation of Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Childhood | A link has been added to the most recent ACPO guidance on Investigating Child Deaths. |
| Local Contacts | Contact information has been reviewed and updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| So Called 'Honour' Based Violence | This chapter contains information to help practitioners from all agencies to recognise and respond to Honour Based Violence. |
October 2014
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Referrals | References to Initial and Core Assessments have been replaced with Single Assessment throughout to reflect the Single Assessment Process introduced by Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013. |
| Section 47 Enquiries | This chapter has been amended throughout to reflect the introduction of the Single Assessment under Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013. |
| Abuse by Children and Young People who Display Sexually Harmful Behaviour | References to Initial and Core Assessments have been replaced with Single Assessment throughout to reflect the Single Assessment Process introduced by Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013. Additional Guidance and tools for use by professionals when assessing Sexually Harmful Behaviour have also been added. It should be read throughout. |
| Bullying | A link to the updated Department for Education Guidance for Headteachers, Staff and Governing Bodies on Preventing and Tackling Bullying has been added. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation: Policy, Procedures and Guidance | A link has been added to recently issued guidance on Sex and Relationships Education in the 21st Century). This is advice for schools (written by Brook, the PSHE Association and the Sex Education Forum) which supplements, and should be read alongside, Sex and Relationship Education Guidance for schools The new guidance provides information for teachers on topics that are missing from the 2000 document, including pornography, the safe use of technology, sexual consent, violence and exploitation. |
| Children Missing from Education | A link has been added to new statutory guidance for local authorities on Children Missing from Education. |
| Domestic Violence and Abuse | This chapter has been updated to include information on Domestic Violence Protection Orders and the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme ('Clare's Law') which came into force March 2014. |
| Female Genital Mutilation | Section 4, NHS Actions is new, and outlines new data recording and reporting requirements for NHS Hospitals which have been introduced in April 2014. |
| Forced Marriages | Section 3, Legal Position, has been updated to reflect the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014) which makes it a criminal office to force someone to marry. |
| Reluctant and Hostile Families | A link to the Non-Engagement Pathway developed for workers in Bradford wad added. |
| Agency Roles and Responsibilities | Links to new Statutory Guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Education, and recently published guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics on Role and Competencies for Health Care Staff in Safeguarding Children and Young People have been added to this chapter. |
| Information Sharing and Confidentiality | A link to the updated Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield Information Sharing Protocol has been added to the chapter. |
| Learning and Improvement Framework | Links to the Learning and Improvement Frameworks developed locally in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield have been added to this chapter. |
| Local Contacts | Contact information has been reviewed and updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Thresholds | This new chapter provides links to thresholds guidance produced in Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds and Kirklees. |
| Single Assessment | This new chapter provides an overview of the Single Assessment process which has been introduced by Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013. This Single Assessment replaces Initial and Core Assessments as the means by which Children's Social Care will, following acceptance of a referral, determine whether the child is in need and the nature of any services required. The chapter should be read alongside relevant local guidance. |
