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Working Together
Guidance
The
guidance, �Working
Together to Safeguard Children 2006� was published by the DfES in
April 2006.
The
full document is also available on the Every
Child Matters website.
This
guidance is an updated version that was published in 1999 and reflects developments
in legislation, policy and practice, in particular the Children Act 2004
and the Every Child Matters Green Paper.
It aims to provide an inter-agency framework to safeguarding and
promote the welfare of children and young people.
The
guidance is addressed to all practitioners and front-line managers who
have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children, and to senior and operational managers in
organisations that are responsible for safeguarding, commissioning or
providing services to children, young people and their families.
The
Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board (GSCB) which was established
on 1st April 2006 had been awaiting this guidance and Chapter
3 details the roles and responsibilities of the Local Safeguarding
Children Boards.
Changes
include:
�
There
is now no reference to a Child Protection Register (though recording of
those children subject to a Child Protection Plan is mentioned,
alongside recording of what category of abuse or neglect is of concern).
We are expected to stop using the term �Child Protection Register�
by April 2008.
�
There is also
greater prominence given to the strategy discussion, the multi-agency
vehicle to start a Section 47.
�
Clearer advice
about how to respond to the sexual activity of young people under 18, 16
and 13 years of age.
�
New guidance on
dealing with allegations against staff from all agencies.
�
Guidance on the
new child death review responsibilities.
�
The requirement
for stronger links between Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse agencies and
MAPPP.
Why
agencies should work together
The
Working Together Document states:
�Safeguarding
and promoting the welfare of children � and in particular protecting
them from significant harm - depends upon effective joint working
between agencies and professionals that have different roles and
expertise.
Individual
children, especially some of the most vulnerable children and those at
greatest risk of social exclusion, will need co-ordinated help from
health, education, children�s social care, and quite possibly the
voluntary sector and other agencies, including youth justice
services.�
The
GSCB intends to achieve this through building constructive relationships
between Partner agencies.
How
agencies can work together
-
be
alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect;
-
be
alert to the risks which individual abusers, or potential abusers,
may pose
to children;
-
contribute
to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the
child�s
welfare;
-
take
part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the child against
specific plans;
-
work
co-operatively with parents unless this is inconsistent with
ensuring the child�s safety.
Examples
of aiding inter-agency working
Consulting
with Child Protection
Procedures
Ensuring
staff have up to date GSCB
Training
Reading
the GSCB
Newsletter
Appropriate
Information
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