Amendments |
November 2023
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Information Sharing | Information has been added into Section 5, National Guidance on Information Sharing in relation to the Serious Violence Duty. |
Recognising Abuse and Neglect | This chapter has been refreshed. |
Disabled Children | This chapter has been refreshed throughout and in line with the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report. |
Kent and Medway Working with Children and Young People who are Sexually Active or Displaying Harmful Sexual Behaviour Procedure | This chapter has been replaced with a PDF document. |
Kent and Medway Protocol for the Management of Actual or Suspected Bruising in Infants and Children who are not Independently Mobile | This PDF document has been updated. |
Kent and Medway Safer Professionals Practice with Technology: Frequently Asked Questions | This chapter has been replaced with a PDF document. |
Children Missing Education | This chapter has been updated throughout. |
Domestic Abuse | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter has been replaced with a PDF document. |
Foreign Exchange Visits Guidance and Procedure | This chapter has been replaced with a PDF document. |
Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children | Information has been added in to Section 4, Protection and Action to be Taken in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders. |
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This chapter has been updated. Information has been added in to Section 1.2.1, Age Assessments in relation to the National Age Assessment Board. |
Kent and Medway Pre-Birth Procedure | This chapter has been replaced with a PDF document. |
Safeguarding Children and Young People against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | This chapter has been refreshed and links added to additional guidance in Section 6, Further Information. |
Transitional Safeguarding | Additional resources have been added into Section 6, Further Information. |
Guidance for Safe Recruitment, Selection and Retention for Staff and Volunteers | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. Section 4.5, Application Form has been updated to note that Keeping Children Safe in Education provides that schools and colleges should only accept copies of a curriculum vitae alongside an application form. A curriculum vitae on its own will not provide adequate information. Information has been added into Section 4.6, Scrutinising and Shortlisting in relation to online searches. |
Kent Escalation and Professional Challenge Policy | This PDF document has been updated. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been refreshed. Section 6.19, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements has been updated to include information on the extension of the duty to co-operate under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. In Section 6.9, The Secure Estate for Children a link has been added to Matters of Concern, Safeguarding Concerns, Allegations and Complaints for Children in Custody – Youth Custody Service (Youth Justice Resource Hub). New Section 2, Serious Violence Duty has been added. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Kent and Medway Responding to Nude and Semi-Nude Image Sharing: Guidance for Professionals | This PDF document has been added to the procedures manual. |
Kent Missing Children from Home and Care Procedures | This PDF document has been added to the procedures manual. |
Safeguarding Children with a Social Worker, Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children at School | This chapter has been added to the procedures manual. |
Removed Chapters | |
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Next update: May 2024 |
Archive
May 2023
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Online Safety | This chapter has been refreshed to include a link to The Dark Web Explained (for Professionals). |
Forced Marriage | This chapter has been amended to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023. |
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This chapter has been updated with the addition of Guidance: Child Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (RCPCH). |
Self Harm and Suicidal Behaviour | This chapter has been updated and replaces the previous version. |
Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation and Concern has been added. |
Children Visiting Prisons | A link has been added to HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy. |
Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) | This chapter has been refreshed. Section 1, Requirement for Mappa has been updated to include information on the extension of the duty to co-operate under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. |
Kent - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
November 2022
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Online Safety, Child Abuse and Technology | Talking to Your Child About Online Sexual Harassment (Children’s Commissioner) link has been added. |
Pathway for Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Medicals (under 18-year-olds) | This document has been updated. |
Parents with Learning Disabilities | This chapter has been revised throughout and should be re-read. |
Parental Substance (Drugs and Alcohol) Misuse (including pregnancy) | Section 6, Further Guidance has been updated. |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter has been refreshed where required. |
Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children | A link has been added to CPS Guidance on Victims of Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Smuggling. This guidance aims to identify victims of modern slavery, human trafficking and smuggling at an earlier point in criminal investigations. |
Kent - Complaints and Representations about the Child Protection Conference Decision and Process Procedures | This document has been updated. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been updated as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has extended the definition of Position of Trust within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 22A to include anyone who coaches, teaches, trains, supervises or instructs a child under 18, on a regular basis, in a sport or a religion. Links were also added to the HMPP Child Safeguarding Policy. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Child Sexual Exploitation | This chapter has been added. |
Transitional Safeguarding | This chapter has been added. |
Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers | This chapter has been added. |
May 2022
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Bullying | This chapter has been amended to include information on sexual harassment and violence following the Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted) and Keeping Children Safe in Education and the definition of sexting was expanded to include taking and distributing nude or semi-nude images. |
Online Safety, Child Abuse and Technology | The definition of sexting has been expanded to include taking and distributing nude or semi-nude images. Links have been added in Related Documents and Information to: NSPCC Report Remove Tool and the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) Digital Passport. |
Parental Substance (Drugs and Alcohol) Misuse (including pregnancy) | Section 6, Further Guidance has been updated. |
Domestic Abuse | Links have been added to Domestic Abuse: Specialist Sources of Support (GOV.UK) and Domestic Abuse Act Factsheets. |
Child Criminal Exploitation | A link to 'Tackling Child Exploitation: Resources Pack (Local Government Association)' has been added into Section 7, Further Information. |
Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children | Information on Knife Crime Prevention Orders has been added. |
Safeguarding Children and Young People against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | A link has been added to Guidance - Prevent Duty Self-assessment Tool: Further Education. See Section 6, Further Information. |
November 2021
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Information Sharing | This chapter has been revised throughout to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children statutory guidance. |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect | The definition of safeguarding has been updated to reflect the latest amendments to Working Together to Safeguard Children. A note has also been added to the Early Help Section, highlighting that children with a parent or carer in custody may be benefit from Early Help provision. |
Initial Child Protection Conferences | A note has been added into Section 1, Purpose of Initial Child Protection Conference to remind all practitioners of the importance of establishing the nationality and immigration status of children and families. This will ensure they can be signposted for immigration advice and support where required. Furthermore - if as EU / EEA nationals they have been granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme - it will ensure that they can be supported to apply for settled status when they accrue 5 years’ continuous residence in the UK. |
Kent Only - Children Who Exhibit Harmful Behaviour including Sexual Harm (Assessing and Providing Interventions) | A link to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Between Children in Schools and Colleges has been added. |
Medway Only - Children Who Exhibit Harmful Behaviour including Sexual Harm (Assessing and Providing Interventions) | A link to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Between Children in Schools and Colleges has been added. |
Online Safety, Child Abuse and Technology | Section 1, The Internet has been updated to reflect that, with effect from 29 June 2021, section 69 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 expanded so-called ‘revenge porn’ to include threats to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress. |
Children Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries or Abroad | Information contained in this procedure has been reviewed and updated. A note from Working Together to Safeguard Children has been added into Section 1, Definition to remind all practitioners of the importance of sharing information when a child moves from one local authority into another; due to the risk that knowledge pertinent to keeping a child safe could be lost. |
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This chapter has been updated to reflect local guidance and minor amendments were made to this chapter in line with the UK’s exit from the EEA. |
Guidance for Safe Recruitment, Selection and Retention for Staff and Volunteers | This chapter has been revised throughout and updated as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union. Information was added on how employers can now check that an individual has the right to work in the UK during the recruitment process. |
Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work | Section 5, Further Information has been updated to include useful websites and guidance. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | Section 4, People in Positions of Trust has been updated as a result of a revision to the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children. Policies for responding to allegations against a person who works with children must now cover situations where an individual has behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children. This is to capture concerns around transferable risk; for example where a person who works with children is involved in a domestic abuse incident at home and this may have implications for their suitability to work with children. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Referrals | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
May 2021
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Child and Family Assessments | This chapter has been updated to add a link to the digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery Report Modern Slavery. |
Mental Ill Health of Parent or Carer | Section 6, Further Information has been added to this chapter. |
Children Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries | A link to Medway SCP Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries procedure has been added into the Local Guidance section. |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
Kent and Medway Pre-Birth Procedures | This chapter has been updated and replaces both previous local procedures. |
Kent - A Guide to Managing Allegations against Members of Staff | This guidance has been revised and updated. |
Children Visiting Psychiatric Wards and Facilities | This chapter has been refreshed throughout and terminology updated, and additional information has been added in to Section 3, Visiting Patients in the High Security Psychiatric Services - Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton, in line with the High Security Psychiatric Services (Arrangements for Safety and Security) Directions 2019 and associated Guidance. |
Children Visiting Prisons | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with updated National Offender Management Service (NOMS) guidance on 'Providing Visits and Services to Visitors’. |
November 2020
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Bullying | This chapter has been updated with new links added to resources for addressing bullying linked to race/faith, and resources to help make schools, colleges or other settings LGBT inclusive. See Section 6, Further Information. |
Children Living Away from Home (including Children and Families living in Temporary Accommodation) | The Children in Custody section has been updated. |
Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children | Links have been updated in Section 6, Further Information. |
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | A link has been added in Section 3, Further Information to the statutory guidance Modern Slavery: how to identify and support victims 2020. This guidance replaces:
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Kent - Complaints and Representations about the Conference Decision and about the Conference Process | This chapter has been updated to reflect local guidance. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | The link to the Ofsted Guidance: Inspecting Safeguarding in Early Years, Education and Skills Settings, How effectively leaders and governors create a safeguarding culture in the setting has been updated. |
Kent - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Kent and Medway Protocol for the Management of Actual or Suspected Bruising in Infants and Children who are not Independently Mobile | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Child Criminal Exploitation | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
May 2020
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Kent Only - Children Who Exhibit Harmful Behaviour including Sexual Harm (Assessing and Providing Interventions) | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
Working with Sexually Active Young People | The Related Guidance section has been revised with updated Kent and Medway local guidance documents. |
Bullying | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance (updated September 2019) and reference to Upskirting which is a specific example of abusive behaviour which has been linked to cyberbullying and grooming. Upskirting is a criminal offence. |
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This chapter has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form and the change to a Single Competent Authority (SCA). |
Kent - A Guide to Managing Allegations against Members of Staff | This PDF document has been added. |
The Responsibilities of All Doctors | The link to this guidance has been updated. |
October 2019
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect | This guidance has been reviewed and refreshed throughout as required to ensure consistency with terminology used in current DfE publications, including Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. |
Children Missing from Education / Not Attending School | New sections have been added on Elective Home Education to reflect the DfE updated guidance on Elective Home Education for local authorities. A further section on unregistered schools has been added. |
Medway - MSCP Challenge and Escalation Policy | This policy has been updated. |
Kent - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
Medway - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Child Death Reviews Resource | This resource on Child Death Reviews has been added to the manual. |
Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews | This resource on Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews has been added to the manual. |
Local Safeguarding Children Partnership - New Arrangements | This chapter is new to reflect Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership Arrangements. |
Removed Chapters | |
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April 2019
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Information Sharing | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be reread. |
Kent Inter-Agency Threshold Criteria for Children in Need | The link to this resources has been updated. |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect | Information has been added regarding schools’ responsibility to safeguard children in accordance with the latest DfE guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. |
E-Safety: Children Exposed to Abuse through the Digital Media | This guidance has been reviewed and refreshed as required. In Section 6, Further Information a link has been added to the Catch 22 publication Social Media as a Catalyst and Trigger for Youth Violence. |
Children Visiting Prisons | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout to reflect the latest Prison Service publications covering the provision of visits, including visits to prisoners who are identified as posing a risk to children and additional guidance in Chapter 2, Working Together to Safeguard Children on the statutory duties which apply to the Prison Service to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. |
Serious Case Reviews | This chapter has been updated to reflect the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the updated Data Protection Act 2018. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been updated and should be reread. |
Kent - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Children Who Exhibit Harmful Behaviour including Sexual Harm (Assessing and Providing Interventions) - Medway Only | A link to this guidance has been added. |
Removed Chapters | |
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October 2018
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Working with Sexually Active Young People | The guidance has been updated. |
Bullying | Links have been removed from Section 6, Further Information. |
Honour Based Violence | Changes have been made to Further Information. |
Medway - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | This chapter has been added to cover three previous procedures in the manual covering this topic. |
Having a Child Through Surrogacy | A link to this guidance has been added. |
Removed Chapters | |
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April 2018
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect | Links to NSPCC flyers for health professionals and other professionals who work with young peoples and their families - a series of resources detailing aspects of physical child abuse has been added to this chapter. |
Children from Abroad | Section 5, Issues, the statutory guidance has been updated to link to the DfE 2017 Care of unaccompanied and migrant children and child victims of modern slavery – statutory guidance for local authorities. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is referenced in relation to age assessments. |
Dangerous Dogs and Safeguarding Children | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. |
Female Genital Mutilation | The reference to the Kent and Medway FGM Operational Guidelines has been revised to link to the February 2018 Edition of this document. In addition a link to Safeguarding Women and Girls at Risk of FGM (DoH) – which includes Pathway and Risk Assessment tools has been added to the Further Information Section of this chapter |
Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children | This chapter has been updated to include a link to the Home Office publication Criminal Exploitation of Children and Vulnerable Adults: County Lines. Information has also been added throughout to describe how organised criminal groups exploit young people and use them to distribute money and illegal drugs along ‘county lines’. |
Modern Slavery | A link to the 2017 Statutory Guidance 'Care of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Victims of Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for local Authorities has been added to to the Further Information Section of this chapter. A link to Modern Slavery - Royal College of Nursing Guide for Nurses and Midwives has also been added. |
Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) | The references and links in this chapter to the MAPPA statutory guidance has been updated to link to the 2017 edition of the guidance. |
Kent - Complaints and Representations about the Conference Decision and about the Conference Process; | Section 8, Stage 3 has been revised to clarify issues of delegated authority. |
October 2017
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect | This chapter has been updated. A new Section 12, Non- Recent (Historical) Abuse has been added. The definition of Abuse has been expanded in line with that as identified in WT 2015 and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016.and information has also been added with reference to 'child on child' abuse. |
Domestic Violence and Abuse | The Relevant Guidance/Information Section of this chapter has been revised and updated. |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter has been updated with information about the four types of FGM as defined by WHO. Links have been added to both the new Home Office FGM protection orders factsheet; and to the guidance to the 'Statement opposing female genital mutilation' (often referred to as a health passport). |
Forced Marriage | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Children Affected by Gang Activity or Youth Violence | This chapter has been updated to include a link to the National Crime Agency report County Lines Gang Violence, Exploitation and Drug Supply (2016). Further text has been added to Section 1, Definition to define the use of ‘county lines’ by organised criminal groups. |
Honour Based Violence | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) | A reference and link to the 2016 edition of the MAPPA Statutory Guidance has been added to this chapter. This replaces the previously linked 2012 edition. |
Unexpected Death of a Child | This chapter has been revised to make reference to the 2016 edition of Sudden unexpected death in infancy and childhood: Multi-agency guidelines for care and investigation (2e) (published by the Royal College of Pathologists and endorsed by the the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health). This updates the the previous (2004) edition. |
Kent - Complaints and Representations about the Conference Decision and about the Conference Process | A note has been added as part of the manual update. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | Updated links have been added to Section 4.12, Early Years and Childcare with regards to the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) and a link to Ofsted Guidance: Inspecting Safeguarding in Early Years, Education and Skills Settings (2016) has been added which states during term time, or when the setting is in operation, the designated safeguarding lead or an appropriately trained deputy should be available during opening hours for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
E-Safety: Children Exposed to Abuse through the Digital Media | This new chapter explores the risks and indicators associated with digital / internet abuse and sets out safeguarding action required, |
Safeguarding Children Abused through Sexual Exploitation | Kent and Medway now share the same content on this topic which is accessed by a link. |
Pathway for CSA Medicals | This guidance, which has been developed to help practitioners manage concerns about possible child sexual abuse, is now accessible through this online manual. |
Good Practice Supporting the Voice of the Child | This new chapter set out the importance of child centred systems for effective safeguarding. |
Dangerous Dogs and Safeguarding Children | This new chapter aims to assist practitioners to assess risk and take action to protect children from serious injuries which can be inflicted by dogs that are prohibited, dangerous or badly looked after by their owners. |
Modern Slavery | This new chapter sets out guidance on how to identify and respond to a child or young person where there are concerns that they are a victim or a potential victim of modern slavery. |
Kent - A Guide to Managing Allegations against Members of Staff | A new edition of this guide has been added (as a link). |
Medway - A Guide to Managing Allegations against Members of Staff | A new edition of this guide has been added (as a link). |
Serious Case Reviews | This topic has not previously been the subject of a separate chapter. This new chapter should be read in full. |
April 2017
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Spiritual Cultural and Religious Beliefs | This chapter has been reviewed and substantially updated and should be re-read throughout. |
Children Missing from Education / Not Attending School | This chapter has been updated to link to The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2016 – the revised regulations make changes to the Education (Pupil Registration (England) Regulations 2006, Regulation 5 Contents of Admission Register. |
Complex (Organised or Multiple) Abuse | This chapter has been amended to provide the contact details of who to contact when dealing with cases of this nature. |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter links to Kent and Medway’s local protocol on FGM in the section Related Guidance. This protocol is to support frontline staff working across agencies in Kent and Medway in understanding their duty and the appropriate response to identify and protect girls at risk of FGM and to support those already harmed by the practice. |
Foreign Exchange Visits | This chapter has been reviewed and substantially updated and should be re-read throughout. |
Language Schools | This chapter links to the Foreign Exchange Visits Procedure. |
Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | Kent has updated its guidance on Allegations with a new document - 'A guide to Managing Allegations against Members of Staff'. |
Unexpected Death of a Child | This chapter links to Kent’s CDOP Unexpected Child Death Procedures. |
Kent - Complaints and Representations about the Conference Decision and about the Conference Process | This chapter has been extensively revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been updated to include information from the Ofsted guidance (2016) which requires that childcare settings have a ‘deputy’ safeguarding lead on the premises to cover the safeguarding lead when they are not present. See Section 4.12, Early Years and Childcare. |
Kent - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
Medway - Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Medway - Pre-birth Procedures | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Concealed Pregnancies | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work | This chapter has been reviewed and substantially updated and has been added to the manual as a replacement chapter. |
Worried About a Child | A link has been added to the manual. |
Removed Chapters | |
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October 2016
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Children Who Exhibit Harmful Behaviour including Sexual Harm (Assessing and Providing Interventions) - Kent Only | Minor revisions have been made to this chapter. |
Bullying | The terminology used in this chapter has been revised. “Child being bullied” is now used instead of “child victim” and “child engaging in bullying behaviour “ is used rather than “child bully”. Additional links have been added to Section 6, Further Information. |
Online Safety, Child Abuse and Technology | A link to Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media has been added above. Links to two Kent SCP specific documents have also been added. |
Children from Abroad | A link has been added to the Home Office Circular - Modern Slavery Act 2015. |
Children Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Female Genital Mutilation | Minor revisions have been made to this chapter and links to the DoH Female Genital Mutilation Risk and Safeguarding Guidance for Professionals have been added to Section 8, Further Information. |
Children Affected by Gang Activity or Youth Violence | This chapter has been revised to make clear that boys as well as girls can be vulnerable to abuse in a gang context. New information has been added to Section 4, Protection and Action to be Taken, regarding circumstances where there is a threat to life and revised references/links have been added at the foot of the chapter. |
Reducing the Risks to Babies | The link to Nice Guidance CG37 has been updated. |
Children Visiting Psychiatric Wards and Facilities | This chapter has been entirely revised to achieve a greater child-focus. It should be re-read in full. |
Children Visiting Prisons | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Responding to Abuse and Neglect | This chapter has been added to this manual. |
Kent - Resolving Professional Disagreements and the Escalation of Professional Concerns | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Medway - Resolving Professional Disagreements and the Escalation of Professional Concerns | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
April 2016
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Information Sharing and Confidentiality | After a period of review this chapter has been re-published as an operational procedure. |
Medway Inter-Agency Threshold Criteria for Children in Need | This document provides guidance for professionals and service users, to clarify the circumstances in which to refer a child to a specific agency to address an individual need, to carry out a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) or refer to Children’s Social Care in Medway. |
Initial Child Protection Conferences | This chapter has been extensively revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Implementation of the Child Protection Plan - Lead Social Worker and Core Group Responsibilities | This chapter has been extensively revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Child Protection Review Conferences | This chapter has been extensively revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Children Who Exhibit Harmful Behaviour including Sexual Harm (Assessing and Providing Interventions) | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Working with Sexually Active Young People | The details contained in the related guidance box at the top of this chapter have been revised and updated. |
Bullying | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Missing Children and Families | This chapter has been updated. |
Children from Abroad | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Children Living Away from Home (including Children and Families living in Temporary Accommodation) | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Children Affected by Gang Activity or Serious Youth Violence | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | This chapter has been updated. |
Complaints and Appeals against the Conference Decision and about the Conference Process | This chapter has been extensively revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Whistleblowing | A link to Whistleblowing about children’s social care services to Ofsted (2016) has been added. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Safeguarding Children and Young People against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Removed Chapters | |
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October 2015
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Information Sharing and Confidentiality | This chapter has been revised and updated to reflect the revised Information Sharing Guidance: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers. (March 2015). The chapter does however remain under review. |
Children Missing from Education / Not Attending School | This chapter has been revised to take account of the January 2015 statutory guidance: Children Missing Education. |
Allegations Against Persons who Work with Children | References to Working Together in this chapter have been revised to reflect the publication of Working Together 2015. – The chapter does however remain under review. |
Child Death Reviews | This chapter has been revised to reflect the publication of Working Together 2015. |
Kent Learning and Improvement Framework | The April 2014 edition of this framework document is now accessible through this online manual. |
Medway Learning and Improvement Framework | The January 2014 edition of this framework document is now accessible through this online manual. |
Agency Roles and Responsibilities | This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Contact Details | This listing has been revised and updated. |
March 2015
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Abuse Linked to Spiritual and Religious Beliefs | A link to the Safe Network Multi-faith Safeguarding Hub has been added to this chapter. |
Bullying | Hyperlinks in this chapter have been revised and updated. |
Children from Abroad (including Migrant Children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children) | This chapter has been revised to make reference to the Independent Family Returns Panel and to "Care of Unaccompanied and Trafficked Children: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on the Care of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Trafficked Children" (2014). |
Female Genital Mutilation | A link to the 2014 government Resource Pack has been added to this chapter. |
Reducing the Risks to Babies | A link to the 2014 Nice Clinical Guidance has been added to this chapter. |
Self Harming and Suicidal Behaviour | Links to Managing Self Harm in Young People (Royal College of Psychiatrists) and Guidance for Developing a Local Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Information for Public Health Staff in Local Authorities have been added to this chapter. |
Whistleblowing | A link to Raising Concerns at Work: Whistleblowing Guidance for Workers and Employers in Health and Social Care (2014) has been added to this chapter. |
Cross Border Child Protection Cases (Hague Convention) | A link regarding the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) has been added to this chapter. |
Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Medway Inter-Agency Threshold Criteria for Children in Need | A link has been made to the Medway Interagency Threshold Criteria for Children In Need via the MSCP website. |
A Guide to Investigating Child Death (ACPO) | This ACPO guide may now be accessed from these online procedures. |
Working with Foreign Authorities: Child Protection Cases and Care Orders (Non-Statutory DfE Guidance) | This non-statutory advice from the DfE may now be accessed from these online procedures. |
October 2014
Updated Chapters | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Information Sharing and Confidentiality | A link to NICE Guidance, Domestic Violence And Abuse: How Health Services, Social Care and the Organisations They Work With Can Respond Effectively has been added. |
Bullying | A link has been added to the new government guidance on tackling bullying. |
Safeguarding Children Abused through Sexual Exploitation | This chapter has been replaced with a new document and should be re-read in full. Links have also been added to Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) for the 21st Century, Kent Police CSOD Scheme, and Kent & Medway CSE Toolkit. |
Mental Ill Health of Parent or Carer | A link has been added to the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordate-Improving Outcomes For People Experiencing Mental Health Crisis. |
Domestic Violence and Abuse | This chapter has been updated to reflect Domestic Violence Protection Orders and the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (‘Clare’s Law’). |
Female Genital Mutilation | This chapter has been updated to reflect the actions required by NHS Hospitals. |
Forced Marriage | This chapter has been updated to reflect the new Crime and Policing Act 2014. |
Safe Recruitment, Selection and Supervision of Staff | This chapter has been updated with regard to overseas applicant checks. |
Unexpected Death of a Child | Section 6, Initial Multi-Agency Communication/Rapid response has been updated in line with the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013 and Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. |
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children | This chapter has been significantly changed and should be re-read in full. |
Contact Details | This chapter has been updated to reflect current contact information. |
New Chapters and Features | |
Chapter Name | Details |
Safeguarding Foreign National Children Who Go Missing | This is a new chapter and should be re-read in full. |
End