Welcome to the professionals pages

Bruising in mobile and non mobile children - a protocol, strategy and pathway

BSCP is pleased to publish its comprehensive review of our bruising protocol in mobile and non-mobile children . We have also produced accompanying pathway documents. 

The aim of these protocols is to provide frontline health and other professionals with a knowledge base and action strategy for the assessment, management and referral of mobile and non-mobile children and young people under the age 18, who present with bruising or unexplained injury.  

BSCP has published these reviewed protocols following safeguarding reviews at a local level in which it was identified that a renewed focus upon supporting professionals to identify and contextualise bruising on children was important in deciding the thresholds required within child protection. They also follow on from a national lens of scrutiny upon responding effectively to bruising following tragic incidents of children being harmed or killed.

If you have any questions please contact the BSCP team on bscp@barnet.gov.uk

Bruising protocol in non-mobile children

Bruising protocol in mobile children

Pathway for bruising in non-mobile children

Pathway for bruising in mobile children 

Reducing Parental Conflict programme

 Barnet’s Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) Programme

The Reducing Parental Conflict Programme is aimed at supporting families, where there are issues of frequent and poorly resolved conflict between parents, which are negatively impacting children.

Over the last five years, councils have received Central Government (DWP) grant-funding to help them upskill their workforce, raise awareness among partners and embed practice to reduce Parental Conflict.

In Barnet, we have trained our Early Help Practitioners to use a set of structured interventions for parents still together and for parents living apart, experiencing low-level parental conflict. These interventions (developed by Amity Relationships) form a key part of our Child and Family Early Help Hub’s menu of interventions.

We also run specialist group supervision sessions- called ‘Practice Conversations’ facilitated by Tavistock Relationships, for social workers, Integrated Clinicians and Early Help practitioners, using a ‘Mentalisation’ approach, for those working with families, where there are higher levels of parental conflict.

In addition, we’ve offered multi-agency training for practitioners to understand the difference between domestic abuse and parental conflict, as well as sessions to raise awareness about how to recognise parental conflict and understand its impact on children.

For those who missed the brief RPC awareness raising session delivered to partner agencies last year in 2023 - there is now an abridged pre-recorded version here 

What’s new this year?

We have a new digital leaflet aimed at parents, co-produced with our Parent Champions. This leaflet signposts parents to our Reducing Parental Conflict webpage, which provides a range of self-help tools, animations, and materials.

Reducing parental conflict | Barnet Council - leaflet available here 

• Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities Free 6-week on-line RPC Parenting Group Programme (Directly funded for DWP for parents to access free between April 2023-24). Includes groups for parents living together and parents apart, with evening sessions available. We have received very positive feedback from families so far, who have accessed these programmes. See website below for more information and how parents can enrol.

Stronger Relationships courses – Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (strengthening-families.net)

• In January, the Race Equalities Foundation offered additional specialist RPC training, to our already trained ‘Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities’ facilitators, within the C&F Early Help Hubs. This means that we will soon be able to start offer Group, as well as 1-1 RPC interventions to parents. This can either be as part of our generic SFSC parenting programmes or using the RPC materials to run more specialist groups.

For further general info about the Barnet’s Reducing Parental Conflict Programme please contact:

Contact: Michaela Carlowe, Early Help Service Manager, E/C, C&F Early Help Hub

020 8359 7640 or 07958 042326

michaela.carlowe@barnet.gov.uk

 

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Emotional wellbeing means a lot of different things, for example being happy and confident and not anxious or depressed. As professionals working with children and young people we are always concerned about their safety and particularly their emotional wellbeing.

We want them to flourish and be able to do things for themselves, to be able to solve problems, manage their emotions, be resilient to life’s challenges, have good relationships with others and not exhibit behavioural issues, such as being disruptive, violent or bullying.

However, there are lots of reasons why some young people become emotionally unwell, for example, experiencing abuse, having poor relationships with people that are close to them, struggling to get on with people at school, living in challenging home conditions.  

Just as we all have physical health, we have mental health too. And just as our bodies can become unwell, so can our minds. Like physical illness, mental illness affects people of any age, race, religion or income.

Poor emotional health can lead to problems later in life. Did you know? 1 in 10 young people experience mental health problems

Even as professionals we do not always know where to look for help if we suspect that our children are going through a tough time, experiencing poor emotional wellbeing or mental health. Indeed some may feel that to ask for information, help or support reflects badly on them as parents, when the opposite true.

Line manager and colleagues have learned knowledge and are often an excellent starting point.

However should you wish to source additional knowledge or support then you could try Young Minds. They have lots of useful information and tips for children and young people and parents.

There are lots of simple, everyday ways we all can support a child or young person who may have emotional wellbeing or mental health problems. Small things can make a big difference – like being there to listen, keeping in touch and reminding them you care. 

Time to Change have produced a conversation starter which you might find helpful. Download the template and have a go. For more information and resources, visit the Time to Change website. 

In Barnet, there are local agencies and organisations that can provide support if you suspect children and young people of experiencing poor emotional wellbeing or if you are worried about their mental health. These include:

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): their website explains about the NHS services available and how families and professionals can make a referral.

Barnet - Local Offer gives information about services available for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families. 

If you feel the child or young person would prefer to talk to someone anonymously, interact with other young people who may be feeling the same in a moderated environment, or would like to read information for themselves, take a look at:

KOOTH – a free confidential online counselling service for Barnet 11-19 year olds. 

Childline – will support children and young people in a variety of ways, including by phone and by app. 

The Young Barnet Foundation holds a wealth of information on local charities that can offer support and advice to young people and families on emotional wellbeing.

BSCP Learning Repository

Welcome to the BSCP Learning Repository.

Here you will find lots of tools and resources from our sharing of local safeguarding reviews and national thematic reviews. We hope these will help shape and inform your own safeguarding practice.

The national safeguarding panel's most recent annual report 

The Partnership came together over a series of webinars to epxlore key themes emanating from the national panel's safeguarding report. Over 100 mutli agency partners joined us to review them. Please find the slides below

/assets/1/np_24.pptx

Publishing Barnet's new Continuum of Help & Support:

Over Summer 2023 BSCP delivered webinars designed to raise awareness of the updated Continuum of Help & Support . A webinar can be found below which will help develop your understanding of the levels of need children and families experience and the help & support they can expect to receive: 

https://vimeo.com/861148723?share=copy

Bruising protocols in mobile and non-mobile children (April 2023): 

https://youtu.be/HUlxdaomxp4

There were several drivers for these protocols: National review Star & Arthur , CSPR panel publication on bruising in non -mobile infants following publication of a CSPR Child L

Child L local CSPR featured a small child presenting to hospital with 36 bruises. These were deemed non-accidental. He was known to multi agency services. Core recommendations featured on the need to review multi agency bruising protocols.

The aim of these protocols therefore is to provide frontline health and other professionals with a knowledge base and action strategy for the assessment, management and referral of mobile and non-mobile children and young people under the age 18, who present with bruising or unexplained injury.  

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BSCP webinar outlining Private Fostering arrangements and raising awareness of Special Guardianship and wider kinship care February 2023:

https://youtu.be/pQV1-BUc-_I

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BSCP webinar upon briefing paper published by national safeguarding panel upon domestic abuse and the prevalence of this affecting children, particulalry under the age of 1:

https://youtu.be/G675qCqlVKY

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BSCP webinar sharing learning from the national reviews into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson 

https://youtu.be/aU7DFc1A7GQ

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BSCP cultural competency and physical chastisement statement: 

Review of recent Rapid Reviews where serious harm has occured:

The webinar shares learning in relation to, two separate Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews known as CSPR Family H and CSPR Family J . Both reviews include important safeguarding issues learnt related to Elective Home Education, sexual abuse, bereavement, neglect, domestic violence, coercive control, neglect and physical chastisement. 

• Sharing learning from Rapid Reviews (which are prior to a more wide ranging CSPR) where we will explore themes such physical abuse, multi-agency working, information sharing and fixed thinking within practice.

The webinar slides from this session are available below: 

BSCP Training Event CAFCASS Private Law, Family Courts

Click below the to access the CAFCASS Slides - If you would more information relating to understanding the role of Cafcass - please contact us via email Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership - BSCP <BSCP@Barnet.gov.uk> and we will support you to access this information.

The role of Cafcass in private law proceedings

BSCP Luch and Learn Webinar the powers of police protection - LIVE recorinding and slides below:

BSCP - LIVE webinar - support with sharing information including support for Health Practitioners

BSCP has recently conducted a multi-agency audit upon referrals to the MASH following a period of concerted increase in safeguarding referrals as we came out of the winter 2020/21 lockdown. We wished to ascertain the thresholds of the referrals, the quality of them and key causal factors underlying them . A large sample of cases were audited and findings and areas for further improvement are outlined with the 5 minute briefing document . The Learning and Thematic Review Group will further afford challenge and scrutiny as to the embedding of learning in practice. Click the image below for more information - see more.

Private fostering

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

What is Private Fostering?

Private fostering is a private arrangement that is made between the parent and the person caring for the child.

A ‘privately fostered’ child is one aged under 16 (or under 18 years if they are disabled), who is cared for by an adult for more than 28 days who is not their:

• Parent
• Close relative, i.e. grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or step parent
• Legal guardian

 Privately fostered children could include:

• Adolescents that have to live away from their family as a result of separation, divorce or disputes at home
• Children who are living with somebody else because their parents are studying or working during unsociable hours
• Children sent to this country for education or health care opportunities by birth parents living overseas
• Cultural exchange students
• Refugee children or teenagers living with the family of a girlfriend or boyfriend
• Any child whose parents have made a private arrangement for them to be looked after by someone else

The law

The Children Act 1998 states that parents and private foster carers must notify their local council of the private fostering arrangement, ideally before the arrangement begins.

If you intend to, or are already caring for a child in a private arrangement, the law requires you to tell us six weeks before arrangement begins or immediately if the arrangement is in place. Parents and private foster carers who do not notify us would be breaking the law.

Barnet Council’s Family Services/Children Services has a duty to safeguard the welfare of all children in the borough. This includes privately fostered children.

Under this duty, we have to make sure that the child is being properly cared for, we will visit the child to monitor the care and give help and advice to the carer when it is needed.

What you must do if someone else is or will be looking after your child

If your child is due to be cared for by someone you have chosen to privately foster your child, you must

• Notify us at least six weeks before the arrangement commences. If your child is already living with the private foster carer then you must notify us immediately
• Ensure that the private fostering arrangement is safe for your child
• Agree on financial arrangements for your child
• Keep in regular contact with the private foster carer to make sure that your child is being looked after as you would wish
• If your child’s carer changes address, or if you decide to change carers you must notify us of this change immediately. If you do not notify us we will not be able to make sure your child is safe

Information you will need to give the private foster carer includes:

• Health details
• School details
• Ethnic and cultural background
• Eating preferences
• Hobbies
• Religion

This information will give the carer a clear understanding of your child’s needs, and will help them to look after your child properly.

Are you still able to make decisions regarding your child’s needs?

Yes, the private foster carer is only looking after your child on a day-to-day basis. You still have parental responsibility for your child and should continue to be involved in all important decisions concerning their development. This is why you need to keep in regular contact with your child and the private foster carer.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s private fostering arrangement, in the first instance you should try and discuss this with the carer. If your concerns remain, then contact us and we will investigate further.

If you are planning to privately foster a child, you must:

• Make an arrangement with the parent about how the child should be cared for and uphold this agreement
• Inform us at least six weeks before the child comes to live with you
• Work with social workers to make sure that the child’s needs are fully assessed and met
• Allow social workers to carry out all the necessary checks
• Make an arrangement with the child’s parents about the type of information they would like to receive about their child and provide this information on a regular basis

Please note:

You are responsible for looking after the child on a day-to-day basis. The child’s parents maintain parental responsibility and by law the need to be involved in all decisions made about their child.

What information do I need to give to Family Services/Children Services?

When you contact us you must give us the following details:

• Personal details of the child
• Your name and address as the private foster carer
• The names of everyone aged over 16 living in your home

What is Barnet Family Services/Children Services responsible for?

We are responsible for making sure that all privately fostered children are well cared for and safe. We will do this by:

• Completing an assessment to ensure that these care arrangements meet the child’s needs
• Making compulsory police checks on the private foster carers and anyone aged over 16 living in that household
• Ensuring that the private foster carer receives the relevant support and advice required for looking after someone else’s child
• Ensuring the child’s educational, emotional, cultural and physical needs are met
• Helping parents and private foster carers to work together for the benefit of the child
• Taking action if the care provided is not satisfactory

We are not responsible for:

• The day to day care for your child
• Any financial dispute between the parents and the private foster carer

As a practitioner what must I do if I know of a privately fostered child?

If you are a practitioner working with children, it is important that you notify us if you are in contact with a child in private foster care, as this will ensure their safety against abuse or neglect and will also help ensure that the child is being cared for properly.

Privately Fostered children will come into contact with a range of professionals, for example they should be registered with a G.P. and if they are of school age then they should be attending school.

All practitioners have a responsibility to notify us if they believe a child they are in contact with is in a private fostering arrangement. The notification should include the name and address of the private foster carer.

Who do I need to contact?

MASH Team 

Tel: 020 8359 4066

Web: www.barnet.gov.uk/private-fostering

Email: mash@barnet.gov.uk

Barnet's Local Assessment Protocol and Continuum of Help & Support Threshold Document

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Most children and young people living in Barnet have basic needs that are met well by their parents, wider family, support networks and universal services such as health, children’s centres and schools.  All families can face difficulties from time to time, and some children need more help to achieve their potential.

Working Together 2018 sets out that local authorities, with their partners, should develop and publish local protocols for assessment. Barnet’s updated and refreshed Local Assessment Protocol sets out clear arrangements for children referred to the local authority for support and as such is a ‘handbook’ that describes what the local authority will do and how the child will move through the journey of assessment and planning. The Local Assessment Protocol aims to secure cooperative working across agencies, and with parents/carers, children and young people that places the child at the centre of decision making both in Early Help and when a child requires a statutory social work assessment by Children’s Social Care Services.

Underpinning the Local Assessment Protocol is the new Barnet Continuum of Help and Support Threshold Document . This provides a framework for practitioners who are working with children and  families in Barnet and aims to help identify when a child may need additional levels of support to achieve their full potential. It provides information on the levels of need and gives examples of some of the indicators that a child may need additional support. The London Safeguarding Children Partnership's Editorial Board will review the Continuum of Help & Support Quartlery and we will update the local version accordingly. For further contextual information please visit the London Safeguarding Children Procedures

Barnet Child & Family Early Help Services[1] is not a single service but a network of multi-agency services and professionals who work separately and together to provide support when children and their family’s need it.  Children with special educational needs and disabilities may need additional support to help them thrive and achieve. The service aims to ensure that help is provided early, in the right places at the right time.[2]  “Early intervention means identifying and providing effective early support to children and young people who are at risk of poor outcomes. Effective early intervention works to prevent problems occurring, or to tackle them head-on when they do, before problems get worse. It also helps to foster a whole set of personal strengths and skills that prepare a child for adult life” (Early Intervention Foundation, 2020).[3]

Keeping children at the centre of what we do, is a key priority for the safeguarding partnership, so that their lived experience is understood, their voices are heard and their outcomes improved through services based on a clear understanding of their needs and views of the individual child in their family and community context.

[1] Early help for children, young people and families | Barnet Council

[2] Barnet Local Offer :: Home

[3] Home | Early Intervention Foundation (eif.org.uk)

We will be updating and refreshing these documents so please do not print but instead use the online version. 

Multi agency workforce development safeguarding training - open to all

Training programme

See what’s on offer here: Multi-agency Training Programme

The Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership provides a free and comprehensive learning and development programme for all professionals and volunteers working with children and young people in Barnet.

Our learning offer is co-produced by our partners and tailored to specific national and local safeguarding themes which include a range of courses, briefings, youth forums, and conferences covering topics such as neglect, domestic violence, Adultificaiton and sexual abuse.

If you work with children in Barnet, have a look at the offer and discuss with your manager which courses may be most relevant to your role.

Our training offer is refreshed regularly and if you have any feedback or would like to request training on a particular topic, we would love to hear from you via this anonymous feedback form or email us at bscp@barnet.gov.uk or childrens.workforce@barnet.gov.uk

 

How to Book Training

Create an account on POD to view and book on courses. Follow the guide below to make sure your account is set up correctly and contact childrens.workforce@barnet.gov.uk if you have any difficulty in creating an account.

 

• How to create a POD account: Step by Step Guide
• How to create a POD account: Video Tutorial
• How to book a course on POD

 

E-learning courses

Barnet offers nine e-learning safeguarding courses which can be completed in your own time, at your own pace. These courses are:

• Safeguarding Children
• Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
• Safeguarding in Early Years
• Safeguarding in Education
• Safeguarding for Childminders
• Safeguarding for Nannies
• Safeguarding Children in Sport
• Safeguarding for Out of School Clubs
• Online Safety Training

These courses are suitable for all multi-agency professionals working with children and young people in Barnet, including the voluntary, community and faith sector, and take 1-2 hours to complete. To sign up, mail childrens.workforce@barnet.gov.uk with the name of the course you would like to complete.

Research in Practice work with organisations to support evidence-informed practice with children, young people and families and have a wealth of resources and webinars available across a range of safeguarding and child protection topics. Barnet Council subscribe to this resource and have kindly agreed to open it up to partners. If you have a Barnet.gov.uk email address you can create an account on the site; if you are a partner agency or work in any of our integrated teams, you can request a free account here.

MindEd mental health e-learning resources are available for people who volunteer, work or are studying to work with infants, children or teenagers. Learning is applicable across health, social care, education, criminal justice and community settings.

 

MASH protocol

This protocol has been produced by the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) Steering Group to outline the purpose and remit of the Barnet MASH; all updates to this document will be agreed with the Multi-Agency Partnership and in line with pan-London information sharing agreements. 

 Barnet MASH provides a single ‘front door’ for children in need of additional support and/or protection. Co-located within the MASH is a partnership (‘the partnership’) of professionals from a range of agencies including Metropolitan Police, Solutions4Health, Barnet Education & Learning Services, Barnet Children’s Social Care, Child & Family Early Help, Change, Grow, Live (alcohol and substance misuse service), Barnet Homes, London Probation Service and Solace Advocacy & Advice (Domestic Abuse) services.

The partnership work together to screen contacts received into the MASH, share and analyse information held across multiple client data systems and build a picture of the child’s history, current circumstances and agency involvement so that proportionate and timely decisions can be made about the type and level of services children need to safeguard their welfare, meet their needs and improve their outcomes.

MASH protocol

Here you can find the Barnet MASH Protocol 2023.

Early Help for Children & Families

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Early help hubs and activities

Barnet Family Services deliver early help across the 0-19 age range. We operate from three geographical areas or ‘hubs’, which enable us to be closer to where families live, and to work more closely with other community-based settings and organisations. Our Children & Families Early Help Operational Protocol lays out our approach to Early Help, model, eligibility and our processes across our offer. 

Early help for children, young people and families

We provide help and support to children, young people and their families from before birth up to the age of 19 (or 25 if they have special educations needs or a disability).

All families face challenges and sometimes need support. Early Help is about providing this support as soon as possible to tackle difficulties for children, young people and families before they become more serious. We work with the whole family and the child is at the centre of all we do.

Every family has strengths and Early Help can work with you to build on these. We can involve a range of professionals that will work together so you only have to give your information once.

What early help and support is available

Together with our partners, we provide a range of services to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of children, young people and families in Barnet.

For example, we can offer support if:

• you are concerned about your child's behaviour
• you would like support in developing parenting skills
• you are worried about your family finances
• you would like to improve your physical and mental health
• you or your child want to develop new friends and have new experiences
• you would like to improve family relationships
• you are experiencing domestic abuse or parental conflict
• you are concerned about your child’s involvement in crime or anti-social behaviour
• you are a carer or your child is a young carer
• you are worried about your child’s disability or special educational need
• you are concerned about the effects of drugs or alcohol on the family
• you need help or advice finding childcare.

We will work together with you and other professionals to ensure that you get the right service at the right time.

Getting early help and support

There are different ways you can get help, depending on what you and your family need.

Some activities you can book on to in advance or just turn up. This is what we call ‘Universal’ services. They include

• children’s centre activities, such as stay & play
• youth activities including gym, dance, drama, music and the Duke of Edinburgh Award
• information and advice drop-ins and
• help finding childcare.

Universal plus interventions are aimed at children and families, where a multi-agency, Early Help Assessment is not required, but where just a brief number of 1 to 1, group parenting or youth sessions can be offered. The referrals for Universal Plus work can be made by either a professional or by a self-referral via the Universal Plus Form directly to the 0-19 hubs.

When you have a range of needs, it is likely that we may need to work together with other professionals. If this is the case an Early Help request will need to be completed. You can do this yourself or ask a professional to do it on your behalf. This is what we call ‘Targeted Early Help’.

Once we have received a request:

• you will be contacted to discuss your request
• an Early Help Assessment may be completed with you. This will usually involve more discussions between you and (if you agree) other members of your family and relevant professionals to think about how you can best be supported
• this support will be coordinated by a Lead Professional who will be your main point of contact.

Joint protocol for youth homelessness

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Barnet recognises the value that a strong and stable family life provides to young people aged 16/17, particularly in relation to the quality of their relationships, education, financial security, preparation for adulthood and positive health; this is widely supported by research which tells us that children and young people do better when they remain living within their own families.

As such, we will always strive to find ways to help young people remain living with their families by helping to repair relationships with their parents/carers or exploring other members of the family who might be able to offer the security of a stable home into adulthood.

We recognise that for some young people, this type of stability and security may not be available to them within their own families, and when this is the case we will assess their needs thoroughly in order to decide the type and level of accommodation and support that will need to be provided to them.

This protocol sets out Children’s Social Care and Housing Options joint procedure for responding to 16/17 year old homelessness. It covers what will happen from the point young people present asking for help to longer term support arrangements.

Our commitment is:

• To ensure that all young people approaching our services for help are treated fairly, with respect and with sensitivity to their age, understanding and individual backgrounds or circumstances
• To thoroughly assess a young person’s circumstances without prejudice
• To seek to find the best outcome for young people by listening to what they have to say and working in their best interests and in collaboration with them
• To maintain a professional and calm approach towards young people at all times
• To ensure that is safe for young people to return home
• To ensure that accommodation provided to young people is of a good quality
• To ensure that young people are escorted to their accommodation and helped to settle in and/or introduced to those that will be providing day to day support to them
• To listen to young people’s views and feedback about their experiences

You can find the full Barnet joint housing and children's social care protocol for homeless 16-17 year olds here

Tackling Violence & Exploitation - Keeping Young People Safe including Children who go Missing

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Tackling Violence and Exploitation: Keeping Young People Safe Strategy 2023 -2026 ( to be published Autumn 2023)

We will be consulting and co-creating with children, young people and parents, key stakeholders, local community groups to develop our new Tackling Violence and Exploitation: Keeping Young People Safe Strategy 2023 – 2026 over the summer/autumn period. 

The strategy will be further informed by research and learning reviews, the work of London Adolescent Safeguarding Board and the strategic needs assessments being undertaken this year by the Combatting Drugs Partnership and Safer Communities Partnership in response to the government’s From Harm to Hope 10-year drugs plan to reduce crime and save lives and the Serious Violence Duty ( Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022).

The updated Tackling Violence and Exploitation: Keeping Young People Safe Strategy 2023 - 2026 is expected to be published in December 2023. 

Supporting Research, National and Pan London Guidance 

The complexity of tackling Youth Violence and Exploitation requires organisations, leaders, practitioners, families and the community to work together in a multifaceted approach that helps support not only the child and family but also the community. Meaningful change can only be brought about through; collaborative, ecological, rights and strength based approaches.

Over recent years there have been significant development of guidance which includes: 

The appendix lists local and national services that can be accessed by practitioners and parents/carers a full list of these can be found here:

Above is a copy of a range of services and, information sources and support that can be accessed by professionals, parents and young people. However it should be noted that there is no “silver bullet” that supports harm and risk reduction; exploitation is extremely difficult to disentangle children from, such is the fear, control and coercion that they are subjected to. The approach and quality of relationship with professionals supporting them may be more important than the services on offer.

This is set out in Firmin’s principles of contextual safeguarding. Children who have achieved positive outcomes, the following factors are present: 

• Children are engaged, and the risk of extra familial harm was picked up relatively early 
• Children and their immediate family networks were engaged and visited intensively 
• There is evidence of a ‘trusted relationship’ between a child and adult and how this has supported perceptions, reflection and has influenced positive choices     
• There is collaborative approach to working between the practitioner, family and child which promotes rights and builds autonomy 
• There are strong supportive familial networks around the young person, and carers/parents provide a secure base.  

If professionals require any further advice and guidance it can be sought through contacting CEAM@Barnet.gov.ukExternal link 

We have a joint partnership protocol for incidents of serious violence that occur in our borough and involve young people and adults up to the age of 25, it can be found here: Serious Incident Response ProtocolExternal link.

Serious Incident Response Meetings (SIRMs) provide a coordinated response to incidents of serious violence that occur in the Borough where the suspect or victim is in an incident involving a weapon or firearm discharge, kidnapping or serious assault, with the incident being potentially linked to gangs or exploitation. SIRM’s are held for all incidents involving young people up to the age of 19 years, or up to 25 years if they are care experienced, or if there is a child in the victim/suspect household.  

The meeting facilitates an immediate risk assessment of: 

• The risk management of potential incidents of reprisal due to the incident,
• The risk to immediate families/siblings and friends of both the victim and suspect,
• Safety and discharge planning if the victim is in hospital due to the injury,
• Community response actions

For young people missing from care or home our practitioners or partners are referred to our:

Child protection information sharing

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

CP-IS is now live in Barnet, this means that the Local Authority, and Health Partners (Barndoc Healthcare, The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London Central & West Unscheduled Care Collaborative and Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust) now share information on current looked after children (LAC) and child protection (CP) cases as well as those that closed in the last 6 months electronically from the Children's Social Care system to Health systems.

What it is

The Child Protection - Information Sharing project (CP-IS) is connecting IT systems together so that local authorities and the NHS can share child protection information securely.

It means that when a child who is Looked After or on a Child Protection Plan attends an unscheduled care setting, like an emergency department or minor injury unit:

• The health team is alerted that they are on a plan and has access to the contact details for the social care team
• The social care team is automatically notified that the child has attended, and 
• Both parties can see details of the child's previous 25 visits to unscheduled care settings in England

This means that health and social care staff have a more complete picture of a child's interactions with health and social care services. This enables them to provide better care and earlier interventions for children who are considered vulnerable and at risk. 

CP-IS is currently being rolled out to local authorities and healthcare organisations across England.

How does it work?

• Every day, a limited amount of essential non-clinical information is uploaded automatically from Barnet's children’s social care systems to the NHS system.
• When a child is booked in at an unscheduled care setting that has CP-IS, staff are alerted that the child has a CPP or LAC status.
• Health staff are provided with contact details for the social care team responsible.
• The social care team is automatically alerted that the child has presented at an unscheduled care setting.
• Health and social care staff can see details of the child’s previous 25 visits to unscheduled care settings.

Benefits of CP-IS

Child Protection - Information Sharing (CP-IS) aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable children. But there are also benefits for Healthcare Teams and Children's Social Care Teams.

1. Early intervention - taking action to prevent or reduce future harm happening to children
   • Knowing the child protection status of the child contributes to a more holistic clinical assessment whilst in a healthcare setting. As a result, decisions can be made to seek intervention earlier. With instant access to CP-IS information, communication with the appropriate social worker can take place quickly leading to a better outcome for the child.
   • The social worker is notified immediately that a child in their care has presented at an unscheduled care setting. The social worker has knowledge of the child and family and can assess whether an intervention is required to achieve a good outcome for the child.

2. Improved safety and care - doing the best when children need help
   • CP-IS is a national system. Health staff can see vital information about children based anywhere in England. Social care staff can see if a child in their care attends an unscheduled care setting anywhere in the country.
   • Health and social care staff are provided with each other's contact details so they are able to work more closely together. Sharing information will support better decision making about the child's care.
   • Health staff in unscheduled care settings have more reliable checks and the risk of missing a child who is known to a local authority is reduced. In addition, a flagged vulnerable child is more likely to see a senior clinician ensuring a senior overview of the child's care.

3. Increased workforce efficiency and effectiveness - doing the most for children with the resources we have
   • Child Protection - Information Sharing replaces manual processes, thus freeing up resources to be used elsewhere. The process is automated and information is sent to the NHS Spine daily ensuring child's data is always up to date and current.

Click here for information sharing advice for practitioners.

Voluntary, Community & Faith Sector safeguarding checklist

All voluntary, community and faith sector organisations who work with children or adults at risk have safeguarding duties to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect. The Charity Commission’s guidance sets out what your responsibilities are. You can also find more support and advice on the NSPCC and NCVO websites.

 At Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership we want to support local voluntary, community and faith sector organisations to safeguard children and young people well. We have a Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector subgroup with members from Barnet organisations and you can find out more on our website.

 We have created this checklist as a way of helping you to reflect on how well you are meeting your duties and to identify how you can improve. It is optional but we hope you will find it useful.

 After you have completed the checklist, we will support you by:

• Providing personal feedback on your checklist, identifying your strengths and areas for further development
• Where we can, we will direct you to other resources online or local voluntary organisations who may be able to help you
• Hosting a learning event for everyone who completed the checklist to share ideas and discuss challenges
• Using the information from the checklists to guide the training and support we give to the sector.

 Here is some advice for getting the most out of the checklist:

• Be honest and open about how you are doing, so we can help you improve
• Talk to others in your organisation to test out what they think – for example, do they know where to find your safeguarding policy?
• What good might look like – this is some examples and links to help you think about what your organisation should be doing. Every organisation is different so these may not all apply to you or you may do things another way. Not all of your legal duties will be covered in this checklist so be sure to still look at the Charity Commission’s guidance.
• Your self-evaluation and evidence – write about what your organisation is currently doing in this area. Giving a few examples of how you do this and evidence (eg linking to a copy of your policy) will help you and us to understand better.
• RAG – rate your organisation’s current work as:
  • Green: this is an area of strength, where you have several examples of how you are meeting the standard, but you may still have a couple of points to improve
  • Amber: your work in this area is ok but you know you want to improve
  • Red: you are not meeting the standard and you need to work on this as a priority so you meet your safeguarding duties
• Actions – what you are going to do over the next year to improve. Try to keep these clear and possible (eg not ‘all our staff will be safeguarding experts’, but instead ‘we will give introductory safeguarding training to all our staff and volunteers who work with children’). Feel free to ask for help, advice or support from us here.

The checlist can be found here: 

If you have any questions or want help with the checklist, please contact us at BSCP@barnet.gov.uk.

Homelessness Reduction Act 2018

On the 1 October 2018 the Homeless Reduction Act brought in a new statutory duty for public bodies to refer cases that they see who are at risk or threatened with homelessness.

This includes the public bodies of the following organisations:

• Prisons
• Probation Services (including community rehabilitation companies)
• Youth Offender Institutions
• Youth Offending Teams
• Secure Training Centres
• Secure Colleges
• Jobcentre Plus
• Accident and Emergency Departments
• Urgent Treatment Centres
• Hospitals in their function of providing in-patient care
• Social Service Authorities.

The Ministry Of Housing Communities and Local Government has issued guidance for public bodies which can be accessed here.

Referrals to Barnet Homes Housing Options Service should be made via the portal avilable here https://www.barnet.gov.uk/housing/homelessness

The same referral process will also apply to any organisation wanting to refer a client for housing advice.

For any frontline team or public authorities that would like more information please contact Nicki Jervis, Housing NeedsManager at nicki.jervis@barnethomes.org.

2021 Safeguarding Checklist

BSCP is keen to support the VCFS in developing it’s safeguarding practices. Safeguarding practice, underpinned by robust and up to date policies and toolkits are vital to ensuring we keep children and young people safe. Safeguarding practice does not stand still and organisations must remain responsive and dynamic to new and emerging threats to children.

 For this reason the VCFS Forum of the BSCP has agreed to distribute a Safeguarding Checklist which allows organisations in a much more bite-sized format to reflect the current health of their safeguarding approaches. Please find this checklist here.

If you wish to complete this checklist please do so and return to me at bscp@barnet.gov.uk; -  by 1^st September 2021.

 This approach does not replace the Section 11 audits, which we circulated last year, instead it is supposed to compliment them. If you wish to undertake a more thorough Section 11 then please let BSCP know.   

 We know it can be hard to find space and time to stop and take a health check upon current approaches to safeguarding. We are all busy in the heart of our communities delivering vital support for those most in need. However,  all voluntary, community and faith sector organisations who work with children or adults at risk have safeguarding duties to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect. The Charity Commission’s guidance sets out what your responsibilities are. You can also find more support and advice on the NSPCC and NCVO websites.

 After you have completed the checklist, we will support you by:

• Providing personal feedback on your checklist, identifying your strengths and areas for further development
• Where we can, we will direct you to other resources online or local voluntary organisations who may be able to help you
• Hosting a learning event for everyone who completed the checklist to share ideas and discuss challenges
• Using the information from the checklists to guide the training and support we give to the sector.

Reporting a concern about a child

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

The MASH is there to acts a single ‘front door’ for children in need of additional support and/or protection. Co-located within the MASH is a partnership of professionals from a range of agencies including the police, health, education, children’s social care, early help, substance misuse, housing, probation and domestic violence services.

The professionals will work together to share and analyse information held on multiple client data systems to build a picture of the child’s history, current circumstances, support systems, needs and risks. This means that proportionate and timely decisions can be made about the type and level of services children need to safeguard their welfare, meet their needs and improve their outcomes, ensuring that children receive the right help first time.

Barnet MASH ensures that:

• All safeguarding referrals are dealt with in a timely and effective manner to ensure the immediate protection of children
• Decisions are timely, sound and based on high quality multi-agency information sharing arrangements
• All agencies have the confidence to share information safely and securely
• Risk is identified through robust analysis of a wide range of historical and current information and concerns
• Children, young people and their families are referred to the right services first time and as early in the life of the problem as possible
• Professional agencies working with children and their families have access to information that is proportionate and relevant to their involvement in a child’s life
• Allocation of resources for children and families is timely, coherent and transparent
• Professionals have rapid access to qualified and experienced social work professionals for safeguarding advice, information and guidance on access to local resources
• The service is well understood and accessible to those that need it
• Our partnership arrangements are built upon to improve access and promote seamless delivery throughout the borough.

How to contact the MASH:

Email: MASH@barnet.gov.uk 

Telephone: 020 8359 4066 (out of hours contact the emergency duty team on 020 8359 2000)

Online referral: link here

Address: MASH

London Borough of Barnet
2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London
NW9 4EW

We ask that professionals who are making referrals to the MASH, where appropriate, discuss intended referrals about children with the adults who hold parental responsibility for them prior to making a referral. Professionals should include in the referral whether they have spoken to the child and parents about the referral they are making.

Together, we can tackle child abuse.

• All children have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect
• Anything you notice can help a child at risk. We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse and neglect
• Last year nearly 400,000 children in England were supported because someone noticed they needed help
• To help protect a child or young person look out for changes in their Appearance, Behaviour and Communication (A B C)
• It’s up to all of us to keep children safe. Many people do not act because they’re worried about being wrong. You don’t have to be absolutely certain; if you’re concerned a child is being abused or their safety is at risk, speak to someone
• Report it anonymously to your local council, NSPCC or the police who can provide the support a child may need
• Information is gathered from many sources, and your report forms part of a bigger picture. Reporting your concerns to your local council, NSPCC, or the police, could provide the missing piece of information that is needed to keep a child safe.

Child abuse. If you think it, report it. Contact Barnet MASH www.barnet.gov.uk/mash.

To find out more about child abuse campaign visit: gov.uk/tacklechildabuse

Child protection and child in need

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Child protection

If a child is suffering or may be at risk of suffering, significant harm:

• Section 47 enquiries may be undertaken to investigate their circumstances and ensure they are provided with immediate protection, if needed.
• A Child Protection Conference may be convened to share information about the children and analyse their parent’s capacity to safely care for them within the context of wider family support and their environment.
• A Child Protection Plan will be made for children who need a multi-agency team of professionals to ensure that they are safe, protected from harm and their lived experience improves. This Plan will be reviewed regularly to ensure progress is being made.

Child in need

Children in need may be assessed under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, in relation to their special educational needs, disabilities, as a carer, or because they have committed a crime. Where an assessment takes place, it will be carried out by a social worker. The process for assessment should also be used for children whose parents are in prison and for asylum seeking children.

A child in need assessment can lead to the development of a Multi-Agency Child in Need Plan which will ensure the children are provided with the support they need to improve their outcomes within agreed timescales. This Plan will be reviewed regularly to ensure progress is being made, if it is not a Child Protection Plan may be necessary.

For more information about thresholds of need and interventions/support available, please see the Barnet continuum of need.

LADO

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

The LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) is the point of contact in the Council for anyone who has concerns/allegations about an individual working with children.

The LADO helps co-ordinate information-sharing with the right people and will also monitor and track any investigation, with the aim to resolve any allegations as quickly as possible.

If you suspect that a paid or unpaid worker, volunteer or person in a position of trust working with children, has harmed, may harm or failed to protect a child or young person You must tell Barnet’s Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) via MASH on 020 8359 4066.

Voluntary, community and faith sector

Voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) organisation make a huge contribution to supporting and improving the lives of children and young people in Barnet and have a crucial role to play in safeguarding.

As Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership we want to support VCFS organisations to fulfil their safeguarding duties and to improve practice in the local area.

All VCFS organisations in Barnet can access our training offer free of charge and we aim to continue improving the resources we share with the sector including through this website. 

We have a VCFS Safeguarding Subgroup with representatives from local organisations including Young Barnet Foundation, Community Barnet, Unitas Youthzone, Youth Realities and many more. 

The Subgroup has recently agreed a new strategy which sets three goals for 2020-23:

• Lead the sector in safeguarding
• Support and improve practice 
• Keep children safe. 

Watch this space for more resources and support for VCFS organisations, and do get in touch with us if you have any questions or suggestions for help we can help. We'd love to hear from you at BSCP@Barnet.gov.uk. 

Helpful resources

Charity Commission guidance about the safeguarding responsibilities of organisations

Government portal to support charities with safeguarding referrals

NSPCC advice about safeguarding, including support for faith organisations

NCVO safeguarding resources

Social Care Institute for Excellence guidance about charities and safeguarding

London child protection procedures which all voluntary organisations providing services to children and young people must follow

Community Barnet safeguarding resources

Young Barnet Foundation's member offer, which includes safeguarding support

Domestic violence and abuse

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Safeguarding children exposed to domestic abuse

Children who live in families where there is domestic abuse can suffer serious long-term emotional and psychological effects. Even if they are not physically harmed or do not witness acts of violence, they can pick up on the tensions and harmful interactions between adults. Children of any age are affected by domestic violence and abuse. At no age will they be unaffected by what is happening, even when they are in the womb.

The physical, psychological and emotional effects of domestic violence on children can be severe and long-lasting. Some children may become withdrawn and find it difficult to communicate. Others may act out the aggression they have witnessed, or blame themselves for the abuse. All children living with abuse are under stress.

Domestic abuse is defined as “any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality”. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotionally controlling and coercive behaviour.

Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or independent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. What might look like an isolated incident of violent abuse could be taking place in a context of controlling or coercive behaviour. Domestic abuse can also include forced marriage and so-called “honour crimes”.

Professionals should:

• Consider the presence of domestic abuse as an indicator of the need to assess a child’s need for support and protection.
• Make sure the child’s experiences and views are captured and included. In contexts where the safety of the adult victim is seen as the main priority this can dominate people’s immediate thinking and action, and children’s voices can be lost.
• Remember that the first incident reported to the police or other agencies is rarely the first incident to occur; often people have been subject to violence and abuse on multiple occasions before they seek help.
• Support the non-abusing parent in a holistic way that acknowledges the impacts of coercive control. This is important in achieving good outcomes for children. Research showed that children also experience the impacts of coercive control of a parent; for example, becoming isolated from family and friends, finding it difficult to gain independence, and feeling disempowered. 
• Use the Safe Lives Risk Checklist (see below) for the identification of high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and ‘honour’-based violence.
• Refer high and very risk cases of domestic violence or abuse to the MARAC.

MARAC

The Barnet Domestic Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a risk management meeting where professionals share information on high and very high risk cases of domestic violence or abuse and put in place a risk management plan. The aim of the meeting is to address the safety of the victim, children and agency staff and to review and co-ordinate service provision in high risk domestic violence cases.

A tailored action plan will be developed at the MARAC to reduce the risk to the victim, children, other vulnerable parties and any staff and to ensure that the risk the perpetrator presents is managed appropriately. Examples of actions that will be agreed include flagging and tagging of files, referral to other appropriate multi-agency meetings and prioritising of agencies’ resources to MARAC cases. 

Any service agency signed up to the MARAC Information Sharing Protocol may refer a case to the MARAC using the MARAC Referral Form, and all agencies should be actively screening for domestic violence or abuse. Referrals should be submitted to each agency’s MARAC representative. Please contact your line manager to find out who your agency’s MARAC representative is. 

To be referred to the MARAC the individual must reside in the London Borough of Barnet, be over the age of 16, be currently experiencing domestic violence or abuse (according to the cross-government definition of domestic violence) and be assessed as being at high or very high risk of harm of domestic violence or abuse in accordance with the Barnet MARAC referral risk criteria..

Further information and resources

• See the Domestic Violence information in the London Procedures
• Home Office Resources for Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)
• The Chief Social Worker’s Office at the Department of Health has commissioned a set of materials, which were developed by Research in Practice for Adults and Women’s Aid 
• Imkaan UK provide resources about supporting BAME victims of domestic abuse

Safe Lives, a national domestic abuse charity, has created a toolkit practitioners and front-line workers can use to identify high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and ‘honour’-based violence. The purpose of the checklist is to give a consistent and simple-to-use tool to practitioners who work with victims of domestic abuse in order to help them identify those who are at high risk of harm and whose cases should be referred to a MARAC meeting in order to manage the risk. Safe Lives have produced an updated version of the RIC, which now includes comprehensive guidance explaining each risk question, how they can be asked, as well as practice points. There is also a frequently asked questions page with some useful tips on the checklist. The Safe Lives website has helpful resources about other ways your agency may access support, training or download the checklist in other languages. 

Neglect

If a child is in immediate danger please call 999

Neglect is the most common form of abuse nationally, and in Barnet we want to improve outcomes for children suffering from neglect in Barnet by intervening as early as possible.

Child neglect is defined as a type of maltreatment related to the failure to provide needed, age-appropriate care. Unlike physical and sexual abuse, neglect is usually typified by an ongoing pattern of inadequate care and is readily observed by individuals in close contact with the child.

Neglect is about the relationship that a parent or carer has with their child. It is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. Neglect causes great distress to children and is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development in the short and long term.

Children who are neglected may have poor appearance and hygiene, health and development problems and housing and family issues. As they grow up, they are more likely to have mental health problems, poor physical health, difficulties with relationships and reduced employment in their adult life. In some cases, neglect can cause permanent disabilities and at the upper end of the spectrum, neglect can be life-threatening.

Nationally neglect is the most common of the four categories of child abuse (which include physical, sexual and emotional abuse).

As part of our resilience-based approach to working with children and families, the NSPCC’s Graded Care Profile 2 is being introduced to Family Services and the wider partnership.

What is the Graded Care Profile 2 tool?

Family Services in Barnet is using the NSPCC’s Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2) as a tool for assessing the ability of parents/carers to meet children’s needs. The GCP2 is an evidence-based assessment tool that measures the quality of care provided to an individual child over a specific period of time. It is designed as an objective tool which focuses on measuring the quality of care received by the child. The tool is child-focused as it specifically addresses whether or not the child’s developmental needs in each area are being met, to what extent and whether this is consistent.

How can it be used?

The tool can assist you to understand the willingness and ability of the parent/carer to meet the child’s developmental needs. Within the Graded Care Profile 2 there are five grades of care on a scale from positive to negative. The tool uses a scaling measurement of the level of care between 1 (best) and 5 (worst) and this scaling is based on direct observation of the extent to which the needs of a child are currently being met. The scoring applies to the areas of care that relate to particular developmental needs of children based on Maslow’s principles: physical care, care of safety, emotional care (love and belonging), and developmental care (care of esteem).

It is widely recognised that the level of care provided by parents to children can fluctuate over time. Therefore, this tool is useful as it can measure parenting at a specific time and then can be reviewed to ascertain whether there has been any changes over time.

The Graded Care Profile 2 tool promotes resilience within families by focusing on the ‘instinctive parenting strength’ within the social-environmental context as well as seeking the family’s own understanding of how the child’s needs are being met.

Can you use this tool?

In order to carry out Graded Care Profile 2 assessments, you are required to attend a full day of training. There will be a number of training sessions provided in Barnet to train practitioners to use this assessment tool, to better understand and respond to children who are experiencing neglect. There are a number of training sessions available throughout the year.

For more information, training dates and course bookings login to Barnet CPD Online. If you have any problems please email us at childrensworkforce@barnet.gov.uk.

Unborn protocol

The unborn protocol sets out guidance and locally agreed procedures to practitioners working with pregnant women in early help, health agencies and Children’s Social Care settings with the purpose of ensuring every unborn baby in need of support and protection is safeguarded through multi-agency assessment, planning and decision making as early in the pregnancy as possible.

This protocol should be read in conjunction with:

• NICE guidance antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance
• NICE guidance pregnancy and complex social factors overview
• NICE guidance pregnancy and complex social factors: a model for service provision for pregnant women with complex social factors
• Government inquiry into Hidden Harm

Radicalisation and Prevent

Radicalisation