Safeguarding_Children

Unit 202 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people Worksheet 3 Roles and Responsibilities Describe the roles of different agencies involved in safeguarding the welfare of children and young people Local Authority The welfare of children is a corporate responsibility of the entire local authority, working in partnership with other public agencies, voluntary sector and services users and carers. All local authority services have an impact on the lives of children and families, and local authorities have particular responsibility towards those children and families most at risk. Local Authorities have a duty to plan services for children in need, in consultation with a wide range of other agencies. The local authority should also take the lead responsibility for the establishment and effective functioning of Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs) – the inter agency forum which acts as a focal point for local co-operation to safeguard children. Local Authorities, acting in order to fulfil their soclal services functions, have specific legal duties in respect of children under the Children Act 1989. They have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area who are in need and provided that this is consistent with the child’s safety and welfare to promote the upbringing of such children by their families, by providing services appropriate to the child’s needs in partnership with parents in a way which is sensitive to the child’s race, religion and culture. Some of these services might be day care for young children, after school care for children, counselling and respite care family centres or practical help at home. The LA’s social services departments also have a duty to make enquiries if they suspect a child in their area is being harmed. Their social care staff have responsibility for undertaking an assessment. They should respond to allegations swiftly and in accordance with local inter-agency arrangements. Because of their responsibilities, duties and powers in relation to vulnerable children, social services departments act as the principal point of contact for children about whom there are child welfare concerns. They may be contacted directly by parents or family members seeking help, concerned friends and neighbours or by professions and others from statutory and voluntary agencies. Police Within the police force they have implemented Child Abuse Investigation Units (CAIU) they have access to databases that quickly check information on particular individuals. They provide regular updates with a ‘vetting and barring’ scheme. It is also their responsibility to share information with other agencies regarding children who may be suffering or likely to suffer harm. The police are committed to sharing information and intelligence with other agencies where this is necessary to protect children. This includes a responsibility to ensure that those officers representing the Force at a child protection conference are fully informed about the case as well as being experienced in risk-assessment and the decision making process. They can also expect other agencies to share with them information and intelligence they hold be enable the police to carry out their duties. The police should be notified as soon as possible where a criminal offence has been committed, or is suspected of having been committed against a child. Area Child Protection Committees (ACPC’s) should have in place a protocol agreed between social services department and the police, to guide both agencies in deciding how child protection enquiries should be conducted. Health Services All health professionals, in the NHS, private sector and other agencies, plan an essential part in ensuring that children and families receive the care, support and services they need in order to promote children’s health and development. The involvement of health professionals is important at all stages of work with children and families: * recognising children in need of support/and or safeguarding, and parents who may need extra help bringing up their children * contributing to enquiries about a child and family * assessing needsof children and the capacity of parent to meet their needs * planning and providing support to vulnerable children and families * participating in child protection conferences * planning support for children at risk of significant harm * providing therapeutic help to abused children and parents under stress * playing a part, through the child protections plan, in safeguarding children from significant harm * contributing to case reviews The health authority should take the overall strategic lead for health services in local inter-agency working on child protection matters. Schools and FE Institutions All those working in the education service can contribute to the safeguarding children and child protection processes. They can play a part in the prevention and abuse and neglect through their own policies and procedures. Throughout the education service: * all staff should be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and know to whom they should report concerns or suspicions * all schools and colleges should have designated member of staff with knowledge and skills in recognising and acting upon child protection concerns. * All schools and colleges should be aware of child protection procedures established by the ACPC and, where appropriate, the Local Education Authority * All schools and colleges should have procedures for handling suspect cases of abuse, including procedures to be followed if a staff member is accused of abuse * staff with designated responsibility for child protection should receive appropriate training CAFCASS Cafcass has been set up under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act. Their function is to : * safeguard and promote the welfare of children * give advice to the family courts * make provision for children to be represented * provide information, advice and support to children and their families Cafcass champions the interests of children involved in family proceeding, advising the family courts in England on what it considers to be in the best interests of individual children. Cafcass professionally qualified social work staff, called Family Court Advisers (FCA’) work exclusively in the family courts