5. Safeguarding Sexually Exploited Children |
Contents
AcknowledgementThe LCPC thanks the Camden Area Child Protection Committee for providing a comprehensive and high quality original draft to form the basis for this London Procedure. |
1. Introduction
| 1.1 | The sexual exploitation of children is child sexual abuse. The sexual exploitation of children defines a broader context of abuse than formal 'prostitution'; the full spectrum of sexually exploitative situations includes children and young people exchanging sex for accommodation, food, gifts and drugs. |
| 1.2 | Sexually exploited children are rarely visible on the streets, it is therefore difficult to gather meaningful data. Moreover, street based sexual exploitation of children is only a small part of the bigger picture of sexual exploitation of children by adults and other children and young people. A recent Barnardos study (Note: Mapping the Sexual Exploitation of Children in London, Barnardos [2005]) identified a total number of 507 separate cases of child sexual exploitation in London and the total number of children likely to be at risk across London was 1,002. |
| 1.3 | A growing number of the young people are being sexually exploited by adults and older young people they met via the internet. This "hi-tech" access to groom children for abuse has contributed to the invisibility of the sexual exploitation of children. |
| 1.4 | Originally, it was thought that the 16 - 18 age group was most at risk of being sexually exploited. However, feedback from London boroughs indicates that increasingly, victims are children under 16 years of age, across all cultures and including a significant proportion of looked after children. Vulnerability and low self esteem are the most common factors amongst children who are at risk of being sexually exploited. |
| 1.5 | In some cases children may be drawn into sexual exploitation by peers who are already involved. Girls in particular are frequently coerced into sexual exploitation by an older man, who poses as, and who they view as their boyfriend. They are physically and emotionally dependent upon him, and this may be reinforced by the use of alcohol and drugs. Over time, access to friends and family becomes curtailed and the child becomes alienated from agencies which may be able to identify and interrupt the abuse. |
2. Principles
| 2.1 | The principles underpinning multi-agency response to the sexual exploitation of children include that:
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| 2.6 | Sexually exploited children are Children in Need of services under the Children Act 2004. They are also children in need of protection. A Multi-agency network or Planning meeting/discussion should take place for all children considered at risk of sexual exploitation (see section 4 - Intervention). The younger the child, the more likely it is that Child Protection Procedures should be followed. Child Protection Procedures should be followed where:
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3. Risk-vulnerability factors, categories, indicators and responses
| 3.1 | Vulnerability factors to sexual exploitation |
| 3.1.1 | Children are more vulnerable to abuse through sexual exploitation if they have experience of:
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| 3.2 | Risk Assessment Framework |
| (Note: Pearce, J.J. with Williams, M and Galvin, C [2002] It's Someone Taking a Part of You, London: National Children's Bureau) | |
| 3.2.1 | The Framework has been developed to help practitioners in all agencies assess whether a child for whom they have a concern is at risk, at medium risk or high of harm through sexual exploitation. Indicators of risk of harm are grouped in the categories:
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| 3.2.2 | The framework needs to be used flexibly to take account of each child's individuality, the uniqueness of their circumstances and the changes that may occur for them over time. |
| 3.2.3 | The Risk Assessment Framework is set out in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 See also the London Procedure for Safeguarding Sexually Active Children & Young People |
| 3.3 | Multi-agency response to indicators: categories 1 - 3 |
| 3.3.1 | Practitioners in all agencies should be alert to the possibility that a child for whom they have concerns may be being sexually exploited; they should discuss their concerns with their agency's Designated Safeguarding Children Adviser (Designated Adviser), and together with the Adviser, they should use the Risk Assessment Framework to make an initial assessment of risk of harm to the child. |
| 3.3.2 | In cases where risk of harm is considered to be low (category 1), a plan for focused early intervention and diversion should be made to safeguard the child/young person. Agencies should consider, in discussion with Children's Social Services Lead Practitioner for Sexually Exploited Children (Lead Practitioner) or the Child Protection/Service Manager, the extent to which the agency is able to meet the child/young person's needs themselves as a single agency, and how to proceed if not. |
| 3.3.3 | In cases where the risk is considered to be medium or high (categories 2 and 3), the practitioner and/or their Designated Adviser should make a referral to Children's Social Services in accordance with the London Child Protection Procedures - section 6. Referral and assessment Process. |
4 Intervention
| 4.1 | Early Intervention |
| 4.1.1 | Interventions to interrupt abuse through sexual exploitation and support children to recover a healthy lifestyle are more likely to be successful if a child who is at risk can be identified, and information about concerns shared within a multi-agency support network, as early as possible. |
| 4.1.2 | Practitioners are often in a position of having to develop the child's trust, or having built it up, are concerned about breaking that trust through the sharing of 'confidential' information with other agencies. These issues should be discussed with the agency's Designated Safeguarding Children Adviser, and efforts made to share information as soon as possible. |
| 4.1.3 | A practitioner or agency view that a child is at low risk (category 1), may be inaccurate, and sharing information about that child may reveal them to be at medium or high risk - and in need of immediate protection (London Procedure for Safeguarding Sexually Active Children & Young People describes the process for gathering information from the Metropolitan Police). |
| 4.1.4 | All practitioners should keep clear contemporaneous records of contact with the child, their concerns, all information shared and discussed (and with whom), decisions made and actions taken. |
| 4.2 | Category 1: Multi-agency Network Meetings/Discussion & Diversion Plans |
| 4.2.1 | In cases where there are indications that a child is at risk of being groomed for abuse through sexual exploitation, practitioners in any of the agencies may, after consultation with their agency's Designated Adviser, call a meeting or discussion of the network of agencies currently in contact with the child (Network meeting/discussion). The aim of the meeting/discussion should be to develop a Diversion Plan to enable the child to protect themselves, to recognise and avoid risky behaviours and people and to engage in positive activities and relationships. |
| 4.2.2 | Network meetings/discussions should be attended by/involve agencies currently providing services for the child e.g. the child's school and/or Education Welfare Officer, Health services as appropriate (School Nurse, Sexual Health Practitioner, GP), Children's Social Services Lead Practitioner or equivalent; and any other agency which is in a position to contribute significantly to the development of a Diversion Plan for the child. |
| 4.2.3 | Where appropriate the child and their family should be made aware of the concerns, engaged in developing the Diversion Plan and involved in all subsequent Network meetings to review the Plan. However, engaging the child and family and alerting them to the risks should be approached with a high level of sensitivity to avoid compounding risks or furthering alienation. There are circumstances where a child's parent/carer may not be invited to attend a Network meeting - these are set out in italics in the last bullet point, paragraph 4.3.5 below. |
| 4.2.4 | The meeting/discussion should be minuted and the Diversion plan should be shared with relevant practitioners in the child's professional network. |
| 4.2.5 | Agencies which have access to a Family Group Conference service may wish to consider a conference as a way to formulate a diversion plan in partnership with the child and their family. |
| 4.3 | Categories 2 and 3: Multi-agency Planning Meetings & Safeguarding and Support Plans |
| 4.3.1 | In cases where a child is considered to be at high or medium risk of sexual exploitation, this assessment should be reached by the practitioner in consultation with their agency's Designated Adviser. The practitioner and/or the Designated Adviser should make a referral to their local Children's Social Services in accordance with the London Child Protection Procedures (section 6. Referral and assessment Process). |
| 4.3.2 | As in all cases of suspected abuse and neglect, Children's Social Services will respond in one of three ways and will advise the referrer of which plan is in place:
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| 4.3.3 | In cases where Children's Services' initial assessment confirms that a child is at risk of significant harm, they must convene a Multi-agency Planning meeting (MAP) or equivalent, in order to determine whether child protection enquiries should be made in accordance with the London Child Protection Procedures (section 7. Child protection enquiries). |
| 4.3.4 | MAP meetings should be chaired by a Children's Services Child Protection Manager/Team Manager or Lead Practitioner. The chair should always inform the Lead Practitioner, if there is one, that a meeting is taking place. |
| 4.3.5 | Attendance at the meeting should include:
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| 4.3.6 | Attendance at the meeting of the child and their family should only be considered if attendance will not compromise the child's safety or the progress of an investigation. The final decision should be taken by the Children's Services Child Protection Manager or Team Manager for the child's case. This decision should be clearly recorded on the child's case file.
Criteria for deciding whether or not to invite the child and their family includes:
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| 4.3.7 | The purpose of the meeting should be to:
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| 4.3.8 | The outcome of meeting may be that:
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| 4.3.9 | The MAP meeting should be minuted, the Safeguarding and Support Plan must specify who is responsible for undertaking the work, and a copy of the minutes should be retained/sent to the Lead Practitioner. Unless no further action is agreed, or child protection procedures are invoked, a date for a review meeting should be agreed, to take place no later than three months after the initial meeting. If the child's parent/carer has not been present, the meeting must consider what information to give at this point, and who should undertake this. Parents/carers should usually be notified of concerns regarding their children, and what action is being considered to address these. |
| 4.3.10 | As with all child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation involves varying degrees of coercion, reward, secrecy and fear which means that interventions to support and rehabilitate children may need to be long-term, and Safeguarding and Support Plans should be progressed at the child's pace. |
5. Role of Children's Social Services
| 5.1 | All Children |
| 5.1.1 | Children's Services (In accordance with their responsibilities under the Children Act 1989) hold the lead responsibility for responding to children abused through or at risk of sexual exploitation. However, decisions on what action to take, other than emergency action, or diversion planning as a response to low risk (category 1), should only be taken following discussion within a Multi-agency Planning (MAP) meeting. |
| 5.1.2 | On receipt of a referral, Children's Social Services must consider whether the child is at immediate risk of significant harm, and if so, child protection procedures should apply, in accordance with the London Child Protection Procedures (section 5. Children in specific circumstances, section 6. Referral and assessment, section 7. Child protection enquiries , section 8. Child protection conferences and section 9. Implementation of Child protection plans). Whenever possible, a discussion should be held with the Children's Social Services Lead Practitioner for Safeguarding Sexually Exploited Children (Lead Practitioner), but action should not be delayed if s/he is not available. The Lead Practitioner should be invited to any child protection conferences. |
| 5.1.3 | If child protection procedures are not considered appropriate, the Social Worker, in discussion with their Team Manager and/or the Lead Practitioner/Child Protection Manager, will identify the category of risk of harm to the child. |
| 5.1.4 | Children's Social Services are encouraged to collect information to monitor prevalence, activity patterns and effectiveness of interventions for children who are sexually abused, including sexually exploited in their area. The Lead Practitioner/Child Protection Manager should be responsible for this. |
| 5.1.5 | The Lead Practitioner or Child Protection Manager should advise on the Diversion Plan for category 1 cases and agree MAP meetings for category 2 and 3 cases. |
| 5.1.6 | Following a MAP meeting, if there is sufficient information to confirm concerns, the case will require allocation in a Children in Need/Family Support Team to progress the child's Safeguarding and Support Plan. |
| 5.1.7 | When a case is already allocated, concerns may be presented by another professional or by the child's Social Worker. The risk of harm to the child needs to be re-assessed in the light of the new information, a discussion held with the relevant Team Manager and Lead Practitioner/Child Protection Manager, and the case progressed as in paragraphs 5.1.2 and paragraphs 5.1.3 . |
| 5.1.8 | The outcome of the assessment should be discussed within a review MAP meeting, and a Safeguarding and Support Plan put in place. Whenever possible, the child and their parent/carer should be invited to this meeting. However, family attendance must be carefully assessed (according to the criteria outlined in paragraph 4.3.5) and only agreed if attendance will not compromise the child's safety or the progress of the investigation. The final decision should be taken by the Child Protection or Team Manager. This decision should be clearly recorded on the child's case file. |
| 5.1.9 | Implementing an effective Safeguarding and Support Plan for a child may require professionals to be extremely persistent in continuing to offer support and services. It may be that a non-Children's Social Services professional may best be able to provide a direct service. Nevertheless, the case should remain allocated to a Social Worker whilst a Safeguarding and Support Plan is in place, in order to act as a point of contact for the child, family and professionals and to co-ordinate the plans. |
| 5.1.10 | Resources which may be appropriate as part of the Safeguarding and Support Plan include:
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| 5.2 | Looked After Children |
| 5.2.1 | When a referral is received regarding a looked after child, the allocated Social Worker must inform their Team Manager and the Lead Practitioner. |
| 5.2.2 | A MAP meeting should be considered, in accordance with the procedures in Section 5.1 - All Children. In addition, the following factors should be taken into account:
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| 5.2.3 | As in paragraphs 5.1.8 and 5.1.9 above, a Safeguarding and Support Plan should be drawn up, which will form part of the overall Care Plan for the child. |
| 5.2.4 | The MAP meeting should consider the appropriateness and method of informing the child's parents. If children are accommodated, parent(s) must be informed of all significant matters. When a child is subject to a Care Order, generally their parent(s) should be informed of such a significant matter. A decision not to inform the parent(s) should be recorded on file. |
| 5.2.5 | The child's Social Worker and the carer/s should put in place a written strategy which balances the need for assertive action and the need to not unduly increase the likelihood of the child running away in response to the action being taken, and possibly placing themselves at even greater risk. Any consideration of restriction of liberty, or confiscation of property needs to be agreed by the Team or Service Manager responsible for the child's case. |
| 5.2.6 | Active work should be undertaken with the child to address issues of their self-esteem, relationships, sexuality, sexual relationships and health. |
| 5.2.7 | Whether or not the child is moved from their placement, the other children in the placement should be monitored to identify whether they are also at risk of harm from, or are in some way supporting, the sexual exploitation. |
| 5.2.8 | If the child is in a residential unit, the staff should be asked to take positive action to clarify and record suspicions (see appendix 4) and minimise the child's involvement in sexual exploitation. If suspicions are confirmed the following steps should be taken:
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| 5.2.9 | If the child is in foster care, the social worker and fostering link worker should meet with the foster carer to decide which of the above steps could reasonably be taken by the foster carer. This needs to take place in consultation with the fostering Team Manager. |
| 5.2.10 | The child's behaviour and attitude may be extremely challenging, and carers and staff will require ongoing support, advice and training in knowing how to respond. These needs must be considered and resources identified, either by the manager of the residential unit, or the fostering link worker. |
| 5.2.11 | Practitioners and carers should be aware of their own position in relation to the child, e.g. male carers or staff may be viewed with suspicion or contempt. |
| 5.3 | Involvement of groups of children looked after |
| 5.3.1 | Where there is knowledge, or strong suspicion that children are involved in sexual exploitation together, or are being controlled by the same person, particularly when that person is a child, there will need to be additional planning, including consideration of the use of child protection and/or organised abuse procedures. |
| 5.3.2 | If a Strategy meeting is not appropriate; a MAP meeting should be convened, as above. This will need to ensure that there are no inconsistencies between individual Children's Care Plans. Where the placement is in another authority, or children from other authorities are involved, that authority's Child Protection Co-ordinator (or equivalent) must be contacted, to discuss which authority is to take overall responsibility for convening the meeting and co-ordinating the response. |
| 5.4 | Leaving care/aftercare |
| 5.4.1 | The same procedures as above should be followed in cases where young people in the Leaving Care Team are considered to be at medium or high risk of abuse through sexual exploitation. |
| 5.4.2 | The Leaving Care Plan for any young person where there are concerns about sexual exploitation should specifically identify their vulnerability to sexual exploitation, and address the factors known to impede successful recovery from sexual exploitation e.g. homelessness, poverty, lack of educational and employment opportunities and lack of supportive social contacts. |
6. Role of the Police
| 6.1 | Sections 47 to 51 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 deal with the exploitation of children, whether through prostitution or pornography. The Act creates a number of offences that apply to both types of exploitation. See Appendix 5: The Sexual Offences Act 2003. |
| 6.2 | The priority for the police is the investigation and prosecution of offenders who have been involved in abusing the child through sexual exploitation. This role should be undertaken in accordance with the principle of multi-agency co-operation to safeguard children. |
| 6.2 | Police may become aware of children being involved in sexual exploitation through normal police work on the streets and in other criminal investigations. |
| 6.3 | The initial Police response to the discovery of a child who is being, or is at immediate risk of being, abused through sexual exploitation, must be to remove them from the source of harm and ensure that any necessary evidence is secured. This action must be followed by referral to Children's Social Services. Following this, a Multi-agency Planning meeting (MAP) will be convened. |
| 6.4 | If there are suspicions that a child is involved in sexual exploitation, but no immediate or direct evidence, the police officer noting the concern should refer to the local Police Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) by completing a coming to notice (CTN) form on the Merlin system. The CAIT will risk assess the form and share the information with Children's Social Services. If a crime has been committed the matter will be allocated to an appropriately trained officer to investigate from either a Sapphire Unit, Clubs and Vice or if involving a parent, carer or professional, to the Child Abuse Investigation Command. |
| 6.5 | At present the Metropolitan Police is reorganising it's response to public protection and referrals from Children's Social Services need to be made to their local police in the first instance. |
| 6.7 | Criminal action in respect of the child will not be instigated until the matter has been discussed within a MAP meeting, and then only in very limited circumstances, when it is established that all attempts at diversion have failed. Particular attention should be paid to the following:
If the matter reaches the point of referral to the Youth Offending Team, this provides a further opportunity for positive intervention. See also Section 6.21 in Guidance on Children Involved in Prostitution, HO/DfES (2000). |
| 6.8 | All interviews with the child as an actual or potential victim should be conducted, as far as possible, in accordance with the Best Evidence Interview. However, flexibility needs to be applied, as it may take a number of interviews before the child is able to make, or complete a statement. |
| 6.9 | If the child has made a statement and/or is a potential witness, witness protection and witness support should be considered as early as possible. |
7. Role of Leisure and Community Services
| 7.1 | The role of Leisure and Community Services staff in relation to children abused through sexual exploitation is in the prevention, recognition and referral stages. |
| 7.2 | Where staff, such as Play Workers, Leisure Centre Workers or Librarians, have immediate concerns (medium or high risk, categories 2 and 3 using the Risk Assessment Framework in Section 3 above) they should, together with their Designated Safeguarding Children Officer (referred to as the Designated Adviser in this Procedure; see paragraph 3.3.1 above), make a referral to Children's Services (Note: These should be in line with the London Child Protection Procedures [LCPC, 2003]. Staff may also act in accordance with the government guidance: What To Do If You're Worried a Child is Being Abused [DfES, 2003]). Where the concerns are not immediate or are unclear, staff should discuss the case with their Designated Adviser. |
| 7.3 | In the case of street activity being noted, including within parks, staff should contact the local Police. |
8. Role of Education Services
| 8.1 | Prevention |
| 8.1.1 | Staff in schools, Further Education Colleges and other education establishments are uniquely placed to recognise and refer children who are abused through sexual exploitation. They are also in a position to help children to avoid being sexually exploited and to support abused children to recover. |
| 8.1.2 | Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) programmes can help children make informed and healthy choices about issues such as, sexual activity, grooming techniques, drug use and keeping themselves safe. |
| 8.2 | Recognition and referral |
| 8.2.1 | School staff should be alert and competent to identify and act upon concerns that a child is at risk of, or experiencing abuse through sexual exploitation. |
| 8.2.2 | The Designated Teacher for Safeguarding Children (referred to as the Designated Adviser in this Procedure; see paragraph 3.3.1 above), in each school should monitor information to identify when more than one child in the school or community may be being targeted for sexual exploitation (See the North East Lincolnshire Serious Case Review [Ian Huntley], Sir Christopher Kelly [2004]). |
| 8.2.3 | Education Social Workers, in their assessment and ongoing work with young people and their families and liaison with school staff, can identify children who are being, or are at risk of being abused through sexual exploitation. Where the young person is already known to an Education Social Worker, s/he would also be expected to attend the Multi-agency Planning (MAP) meetings and contribute to develop the child's Safeguarding and Support Plan. School and Education Welfare Service staff should see also the London Headteacher's Safeguarding Children Handbook (2006, LCPC) and the London Safeguarding Children Missing from School Guidance (2006, LCPC). |
| 8.2.4 | Where school staff have immediate concerns (medium or high risk, categories 2 and 3 using the Risk Assessment Framework in Section 3 above) they should, together with their Designated Adviser, make a referral to Children's Social Services (Note: These should be in line with the London Child Protection Procedures [LCPC, 2003]. Staff may also act in accordance with the government guidance: What To Do If You're Worried a Child is Being Abused [DfES, 2003]). Where the concerns are not immediate or are unclear, staff should discuss the case with their Designated Adviser. |
| 8.2.5 | The Designated Adviser should inform Children's Social Services and the Local Education Authority Safeguarding Children Lead. The Designated Teacher will be expected to attend the MAP meeting. |
| 8.3 | Connexions Service |
| 8.3.1 | As with teachers, Connexions Personal Advisers are in a good position to identify children who are being, or are at risk of being abused through sexual exploitation. Personal Advisers should be alert and competent to identify and act upon concerns that a child is at risk of, or experiencing abuse through sexual exploitation; and should consult their Designated Adviser and inform Children's Social Services. |
9. Role of Health Services
| 9.1 | Government guidance on children involved in sexual exploitation, notes: "Because of the universal nature of most health provision, health professionals may often be the first to be aware that a child may be involved, or be at risk of becoming involved, in sexual exploitation. Children involved in sexual exploitation are likely to need a range of services, including advice and counselling for harm minimisation, health promotion, advice on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV". (Guidance on Children Involved in Prostitution, HO/DfES [2000]) |
| 9.2 | Health practitioners should be alert and competent to identify and act upon concerns that a child is at risk of, or experiencing abuse through sexual exploitation. They have a crucial role in providing support for the physical and mental health of these children. |
| 9.3 | The Designated and/or Named Professional for Safeguarding Children (referred to as the Designated Adviser in this Procedure; see paragraph 3.3.1 above), in each Health Service Trust should monitor information to identify when more than one child in the community may be being targeted for sexual exploitation (See the North East Lincolnshire Serious Case Review [Ian Huntley], Sir Christopher Kelly [2004]). |
| 9.4 | Where Health practitioners have immediate concerns (medium or high risk, categories 2 and 3 using the Risk Assessment Framework in Section 3 above) they should, together with their Designated Professional, make a referral to Children's Social Services (Note: These should be in line with the London Child Protection Procedures [LCPC, 2003]. Staff may also act in accordance with the government guidance: What To Do If You're Worried a Child is Being Abused [DfES, 2003]). Where the concerns are not immediate or are unclear, staff should discuss the case with their Designated Professional. |
| 9.5 | Health staff should offer and/or continue to provide health education, counselling, sexual health and medical intervention to the child as an appropriate part of early intervention. The London Procedure for Safeguarding Sexually Active Children & Young People provides specific guidance in relation to sharing information about children for whom a practitioner has concerns. |
| 9.6 | Health practitioners who may be invited to attend MAP meetings include:
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10. Role of Voluntary & Community Groups/Agencies
| 10.1 | Support services |
| 10.1.1 | Government guidelines on young people involved in sexual exploitation emphasise the importance of a multi-agency approach, which includes voluntary and community groups/agencies: 'The child may seek to avoid statutory services. They are more likely to respond to informal contact, for example, with health outreach workers, or local non-statutory agencies. The primary concern of all those involved must be the welfare of the child, and decisions on the sharing of concerns about a child's safety must form part of local protocols between police, Children's Social Services, health and education authorities and non-statutory agencies'. (Guidance on Children Involved in Prostitution, HO/DfES [2000]) |
| 10.1.2 | There is a wide range of specialist (drug misuse, HIV prevention, homelessness, counselling and advice), and other voluntary and community agencies/groups (youth clubs, sport/drama groups, faith groups and churches etc.) who may be well placed to identify children who are at risk of, or are experiencing abuse through sexual exploitation; because:
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| 10.1.3 | It is essential that voluntary and community groups/agencies operate as multi-agency network partners in order to provide children with access to the widest possible range of intervention and support services. |
| 10.1.4 | In the Home Office guidelines, it is made clear that 'any child who comes to the notice of an agency must be considered for immediate referral to the multi-agency group'. (Guidance on Children Involved in Prostitution, HO/DfES [2000]) |
| 10.2 | Recognition and referral |
| 10.2.1 | Practitioners and volunteers in voluntary and community groups/agencies should be alert and competent to identify and act upon concerns that a child is at risk of, or experiencing abuse through sexual exploitation. They are well placed to receive and verify information about sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the local community. |
| 10.6 | Each voluntary and community group or agency should have a Designated Safeguarding Children Person (referred to as the Designated Adviser in this Procedure; see paragraph 3.3.1 above). |
| 10.7 | Where a practitioner or volunteer in a voluntary or community group/agency has immediate concerns (medium or high risk, categories 2 and 3 using the Risk Assessment Framework; Section 3 above) they should, together with their Designated Adviser, make a referral to Children's Services (Note: These should be in line with the London Child Protection Procedures [LCPC, 2003]. Staff may also act in accordance with the government guidance: What To Do If You're Worried a Child is Being Abused [DfES, 2003]). Where the concerns are not immediate or are unclear, staff should discuss the case with their Designated Adviser. |
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