Child protection practice and procedures  (A level 2 course) 

PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED AN INTRODUCTION TO CHILD PROTECTION

Course Outline

A two-day course focusing on a multi-agency approach and response to Child Protection issues. The course includes joint investigation, preparation for case conferences and the role of the various agencies in these processes within new government guidance, including core assessments. The course outlines the policies and procedures of various agencies in working in the field of Child Protection.

Aims / Objectives

• To encourage participants to work across agencies in managing child protection concerns.
• To increase participants knowledge of the role of other agencies in child protection and that of their own.
• To increase knowledge of local and government policies and guidance in child protection, the Children Act and related issues.

Learning Outcomes – at the end of this course participants will;

• Understand the legal framework and national guidance that frames child protection practice.
• Understand the process by which child abuse is investigated and agency roles within this.
• Understand what is expected of their agency in relation to case conferences and core assessments.
• Be able to confidently discuss concerns and assess risk in collaboration with other agency members.

Target Staff

This course is for staff who are involved in child protection matters as part of their work. Participants should have a good working knowledge of the current policies and procedures within their own organisations in the field of child protection. Participants must have completed Stage 1 (An Introduction to Child Protection) BEFORE attending this course.

Trainer[s] Nikki Bennett, Inter-agency training Co-ordinator and members of the LSCB Training Team

Related Common Core of Knowledge and Skills

Effective communication and engagement with children, young people, their families and carers

Consultation and negotiation

• Understand the key role and value of parents and carers; know when to refer them to further sources of information, advice and support.
• Inform, involve and help the child or young person to assess different courses of action, understand the consequences of each and, where appropriate, agree next steps.
• Know when and how to hand over control of a situation to others

Child and young person development

Observation and judgement

• Evaluate the situation, taking into consideration the individual, their situation and development issues.
• Make considered decisions on whether concerns can be addressed by providing or signposting additional sources of information or advice

Understand context

• Know and recognise the child or young person’s position in a family or caring network, as well as a wider social context, and appreciate the diversity of these networks.

Be clear about your own job role (tier 3)

• Have a broad knowledge of the laws and key policy areas related to children.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Relate, Recognise and take considered action

• Give the child or young person the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them as appropriate to age and ability and taking their wishes and feelings into account.
• Make considered judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote a child or young person’s welfare, where appropriate consulting with the child, young person, parent, carer to inform your thinking.
• Understand what is meant by safeguarding and the different ways in which children and young people can be harmed (including by other children and young people and through the internet).
• Understand the key role of parents and carers in safeguarding and promoting children and young people’s welfare and involve them accordingly, while recognising factors that can affect parenting and increase the risk of abuse (for example domestic violence).

Communication, recording and reporting

• Undertake (formal or informal) assessments and be alert to concerns about a child or young person’s safety or welfare, including unexplained changes in behaviour and signs of abuse or neglect.

Legal and procedural frameworks

• Know about Government and local guidance and procedure and how they apply to the wider working environment.
• Be aware of national guidance and local procedures, and your own role and responsibilities within these for safeguarding and promoting children and young people’s welfare.
• Be aware of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and its remit.

Wider context of services

• Understand the roles of other agencies, local procedures on child protection and variations in use of terminology
• Understand that different confidentiality procedures may apply in different contexts

Self-knowledge

• Know that assumptions, values and discrimination can influence practice and prevent some children and young people from having equality of opportunity and equal protection from harm.

Multi-agency working

Procedures and working methods

•  Know what the triggers are for reporting incidents or unexpected behaviour.

Sharing Information

Awareness of law and legislation

• Understand the difference between permissive statutory gateways (where a provision permits the sharing of information) and mandatory statutory gateways (where a provision places a duty upon a person to share information) and their implications for sharing information.
• Understand the principles governing when young people are considered sufficiently mature to give consent to their information (in particular, taking into account the Gillick test of competence).