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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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)
- Guidance on Bullying
Bullying does not only happen in normal school hours, it can happen anywhere. Children who are badly bullied in school are more likely than others to be bullied outside of it too. This guidance is divided into 7 different sections, aimed at those working in the different settings, agencies and organisations, that work with children and young people. It outlines the possible bullying that might occur in different settings and describes steps to prevent it and respond to it effectively. This guidance aims to prevent bullying outside schools, therefore includes guidance on tackling bullying in various settings. The guidance builds on the existing advice on bullying in schools in: 'Safe To Learn'.
- Safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation
- Information Sharing - guidance for practitioners and managers
- Safeguarding Children in whom illness is fabricated or induced
- Safeguarding disabled children - good practice guidance
- Services for Disabled Children
- Aiming high for disabled children: better support for families
- Good practice guidance on safeguarding disabled children
- Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education - Statutory Guidance
- Guidance on the Duty to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children
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Information Sharing: Practitioners' Guide
- Local Safeguarding Children Boards: A Review of Progress
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Rapid Response Arrangements & Child Death Overview Panel
As of 1st April 2008 WSCBs has arrangements in place to respond to and review child deaths in their borough, as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006, Chapter 7. There arrangements include:
- A rapid response by a group of key professionals who come together for the purpose of enquiring into and evaluating each unexpected death of a child (par. 7.18-7.49); and
- An overview of all child deaths (under 18 years, excluding those babies who are stillborn) in the LSCB area undertaken by a panel (par.750-7.56)
The overall principles are that in all cases enquiries should seek to understand the reasons for the child's death, address the possible needs of the other children in the household, the needs of all family members and, also, consider any lessons to be learnt about how best to safeguard and promote the children's welfare in the future. All families should be treated with sensitivity, discretion and respect at all times, and professionals should approach their enquiries with an open mind.
Wandsworth will follow the Rapid Response & Child Death Overview Panel Procedures drawn up by the London Safeguarding Children Board . These guidelines will be used in the event of an unexpected child death, and respected and followed by every agency.
Click here for more information and details of the Wandsworth's Guidelines to Rapid Response Arrangments & Child Death Overview Panel.
Death Notification form for Child Death Overview Panel
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MARAC - Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
The goal of the MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) is to provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions that will reduce future harm to very high-risk victims of domestic violence and their children.
Increasing safety of men, women and children experiencing domestic violence is the aim of the MARAC. This will be done through:
- Increased and on-going communications between agencies
- Risk assessments
- Provision of advocacy for victims and
- Holding perpetrators to account
The above will be key to agency responses.
A key element of the MARAC is the risk assessment. The risk assessment has three main objectives:
- To gather detailed and relevant information from victims, which can be shared with other agencies
- To identify those who will need more intensive support
- To identify offenders and take appropriate action to minimise risk to victim
In a single meeting, the MARAC will consider up to date risk assessment information with a comprehensive assessment of a victim's needs and link them directly to the provision of appropriate services for all those involved in the case: victim, children and perpetrator.
Responsibility to take appropriate action is with individual agencies, the MARAC will monitor outcomes and appropriate actions and information sharing.
By improving victim safety other safety indicators can be measured. It is anticipated that repeat victimisation will decrease and if repeat incidents are suffered they will be reported at an earlier stage. MARAC should also contribute to agency accountability towards client safety as well as improving staff support in high-risk domestic violence cases.
The Metropolitan Police Community Safety Unit will chair the MARAC in Wandsworth. The meeting will take place every four weeks. Referrals can be made from any agency that identifies a client as being very high risk. Referrers will be invited to attend the meeting if their client constitutes a high risk as defined by the MARAC. If a client is not considered to have reached the threshold of risk to be discussed at the MARAC a referral will be made to Wandsworth Safety Net for additional support.
Together, through multi-agency intervention, the MARAC envisages to promote the safety of high-risk victims of domestic abuse in Wandsworth.
MARAC Referral Form
A CAADA Risk Indicator Form must be completed and submitted with each referral form. Click here for the CAADA Risk Indicator Form
Please email completed referral forms to: MARAC REFERRALS MAILBOX
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