1.4.6 Notifiable Events

Contents

1. Definition of Notifiable Events and Timescales for Notifying  
2. Recording of Notifiable Events 
3. Post Notification Meeting 

1. Definition of Notifiable Events and Timescales for Notifying

Any Incident, for example, serious or persistent bullying, must be reported to the home/team Manager and Social Workers without delay as set out in relevant procedures.

Some Incidents are also defined as ‘Notifiable Events’, in that they also have to be notified to senior Managers and outside agencies.

Notifiable Events are listed in the table below.

In each event, it is assumed the home/team Manager, Line Manager and the Placing Authority or Social Worker is always notified. 

The home/team Manager or Line Manager should notify the Responsible Individual for each service.  Outside agencies (listed below) should then be notified.

The Responsible Individual should decide whether to notify other Directors or the Chairperson.

All notifications must be made without delay.

All notifications must initially be made verbally, and confirmed in writing (see Section 2, Recording of Notifiable Events). If, for good reason, verbal reporting has not been possible, the reason for not doing so and details of  efforts made must be recorded.

EVENT	WHO TO NOTIFY
Death of a child See also: Unexpected Death of a Child Procedure	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority, Secretary of State, Placing Authority, Local Authority, Health and Safety Executive
Referral to the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2(1)(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1999(a) of a Continuum Group employee or volunteer	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority and Placing Authority
Serious illness or serious accident sustained by a child or employee.  This includes serious or persistent self harming or attempted suicide.	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority, Health and Safety Executive, Placing Authority (under certain circumstance a may include reporting to Environmental Health e.g. highly contagious diseases).
Allegation that a child  has committed a serious offence	Outside Agencies: The Placing Authority and Police
Involvement or suspected involvement of a child in prostitution	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority, Placing Authority, Police and Local Authority Safeguarding Unit (LADO)
Any incident necessitating calling the Police or Emergency Services (e.g. Fire Brigade).	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority and Placing Authority
Any serious complaint about the Continuum Group or it’s employees	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority and Placing Authority
Instigation and outcome of any Child Protection Enquiry involving a child in receipt of services from The Continuum Group	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority and Placing Authority
Instigation and outcome of any Child Protection Enquiry involving a child.	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority and Placing Authority
Outbreak of any infectious disease which in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner attending children is sufficiently serious to be so notified	Outside Agencies: The Regulatory Authority, Placing Authority, Health and Safety Executive Incident Contact Centre and Health Authority

2. Recording of Notifiable Events

Notifiable Events must be recorded on a detailed Record Sheet for relevant children and an Incident Form/Record or Notifications Form.

The Regulatory Authority

ENGLAND: The Regulatory Authority for England is Ofsted, for information about informing Ofsted of Notifiable Events, go to the following link:

Click here for Ofsted Guidance re Notification form for providers of children's homes

WALES: The Regulatory Authority for Wales is CSSIW, the form that should be completed and forwarded to CSSIW can be downloaded and completed: Click here to download the form.

Health and Safety Executive

For information on notifying the Health and Safety Executive Incident Contact Centre, go to the following link:

Health and Safety Executive Incident Contact Centre

3. Post Notification Review

See also: Incidents Reporting Procedure.

The Home's Manager must ensure that a report is written, together with a copy of any Incident Report, outlining any actions taken. 

A Management Review should be completed, to discuss proposed action following any Notifiable Event, in relation to individual Children's placements or Care/Placement Plans, or for improving/changing the Home's policies or procedures.

The Management Review should be attended by relevant Social Workers/Placing Authorities.  Where a review is not held, this is with the agreement of the placing authority.

Any proposed actions concerning the Home's policies or procedures must be forwarded to, and acted upon, by the Designated Manager (Notifiable Events).

End