POLICY AIM
To ensure that CAFCASS promotes the welfare of the child and complies fully with government guidance about safeguarding children.
POLICY OBJECTIVE
The key objective of this policy is to:
- define the roles, responsibilities and actions of all CAFCASS staff where there is suspicion or information about significant harm to a child;
- inform staff of how to contribute to any subsequent assessments undertaken by other agencies;
- ensure effective communication with all the professionals working with families; and
- incorporate the implications of serious case reviews for policy and practice within CAFCASS in the field of child protection.
POLICY STATEMENT
The welfare of the child is the paramount concern of all CAFCASS staff. CAFCASS does not have a formal investigative responsibility under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 when considering possible significant harm to a child. This role is specific to the local authority. All CAFCASS employed staff and self-employed contractors must be alert to the signs of possible significant harm to a child and ensure that appropriate action is taken so that the needs of the child can be properly considered by those agencies with primary responsibility for child protection.
Significant harm is defined in the Children Act 1989 as the ill treatment or impairment of the health and development of a child. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 is to extend this to include harm suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another, so when the amendment comes into force this will cover for instance harm caused by witnessing domestic violence.
All employed staff, including administrative staff, managers and self-employed practitioners, must follow the CAFCASS Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
Ongoing advice on the CAFCASS Child Protection Policy and Procedures can be sought from the Policy Officer listed under Operations Policies on the CAFCASS intranet site.
REVIEW
Policy, procedures and guidance will be reviewed within 12 months following the date of implementation. The review completion date is 1st May 2005, and the review will be initiated by the responsible Policy Officer.
The process to be followed is:
- all staff and contractors are asked to make a note of any issues of concern or suggestions for improvements during the first eight months these procedures are in operation;
- comments should be submitted to the respective Service Managers by 1st January 2005, who will in turn pass any comments on to their Regional Manager;
- Regional Managers will collate comments from staff in their regions and send them to the Policy Officer at Headquarters by 1st February 2005;
- the Operations Directorate will review issues raised by Regional Managers on behalf of their staff, and, if necessary, prepare a revised draft;
- the Policy Officer will provide feedback to Regional Managers on comments received, and consult them on any new draft;
- changes to the Procedures will require the approval of the Operations Management Team; and
- any new procedures will be re-issued using the revised CAFCASS Document Management System.
DIVERSITY
The CAFCASS Diversity Policy is published on the CAFCASS website.
CAFCASS recognises that society is enriched by diversity, and actively and consciously values diversity. CAFCASS aims to provide a high quality service, treating all service users fairly. All staff are provided with appropriate communication and training so that they know their responsibilities.