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On this page: Independent Safeguarding Authority - Vetting & Barring Scheme | London Child Protection Procedures | Ratified Multi-Agency and Good Practice Protocols and Procedures | Local Multi-Agency Strategies - ** e-Safety Strategy - ** Anti-bullying Strategy | Government guidance | Rapid Response Arrangements & Child Death Overview Panel | MARAC - Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference

News and Information

Independent Safeguarding Authority / Vetting & Barring Scheme

The new government has announced its aim to review the criminal records and vetting and barring schemes. The Vetting and Barring Scheme, which was due to start on 26 July 2010, has been halted to allow the government to remodel the scheme to what it calls 'common-sense levels'. However, the regulations that were introduced in October 2009 will continue to apply. We expect to have further information in Wandsworth later in the year.

There are no immediate changes relating to CRB checking process or our three year rechecking procedures.

For more information please click here - Vetting and Barring Scheme: protecting children and vulnerable adults

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Protocols and procedures

The Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) has approved and ratified a number of multi-agency protocols and some single agency procedures, which could be used by other agencies as templates for examples of good practice.

In this section you will find copies of these documents, as well as a link to our Multi-Agency Training Programme. Below is the link to the updated version of the London Child Protection Procedures.

London Child Protection Procedures-2007

Supplementary Procedures

If you have any difficulties accessing any of these documents or wish to make a comment then please email us or complete the feedback form or contact WSCB on 020 8871 8610.

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Ratified Multi-Agency and Good Practice Protocols and Procedures

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Local Multi-Agency Strategies

e-Safety Strategy

Today's children are citizens of a digital world. In their daily lives the use of the internet and digital technologies, including mobile phones, represent a seamless extension of the physical world. Their emotional lives and their development are bound up in the use of these technologies. In contrast to many adults for whom these technologies are additional tools to be used for specific tasks, many of today's children do not even notice they are using these technologies. As online content, social networks and instant messaging converge with mobile technology to produce lives which are always 'on', any line which may have existed between being online and offline is disintegrating.

Local Safeguarding Children Boards have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their locality. If we accept the challenge of the digital world then the responsibilities which come with this duty must now include the development of strategies for safeguarding children in the online environment.

To ignore e-safety issues when implementing statutory guidance could ultimately lead to significant gaps in child protection policies, leaving children and young people vulnerable. Non-statutory practice guidance issued in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) includes a section on child abuse and ICT (paragraphs 11.58-11.62). Paragraph 11.62 states: 'As part of their role in preventing abuse and neglect, LSCBs should consider activities to raise awareness about the safe use of the internet.

Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) accepted this role and responsibility and developed an e-Safety Strategy, Action Plan and e-Safety Policy, which was ratified by the WSCB and launched on 3rd June 2009. All WSCB partners are committed to fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities and have agreed to implement the e-Safety Strategy and Action Plan. The e-Safety Policy was also developed to assist agencies in developing their own policy. The Strategy sets out WSCB's response to the challenge of the digital world and our strategic direction for 2008-2011, in line with the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP).

e-Safety Strategy

e-Safety Policy

e-Safety Action Plan with timescales included (Word document)

If you wish to receive hard a copy of the e-Safety Strategy and/or e-Safety Policy, please email us at wscb@wscb.org.uk or contact WSCB on 020 8871 8610 to request a copy.

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Anti-bullying Strategy

We want every child, young person and adult in Wandsworth to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that our homes, communities, schools, youth facilities, neighbourhoods, workplaces, streets and recreational spaces should be free from fear and intimidation so that everyone can develop, learn and flourish, make a positive contribution and achieve their potential.

Click here for more details on our borough-wide multi-agency agreed Anti-bullying Strategy. If you wish to receive a copy of this Strategy, please email us at wscb@wscb.org.uk or contact WSCB on 020 8871 8610 to request a copy.

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Government guidance

  • Every Chilld Matters

  • Working Together - a guide to practitioners who work with children and young people

  • 'Mobility and Young London - Integrated Working Without Boundaries – The London Common Assessment Framework (CAF) Protocol'

  • Statutory guidance on children and young people who run away and go missing from home or care (2009)
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