On this page: Safer Parenting Handbook | Ending of Child Protections Register

Professionals

Voluntary and community organisations are not only major providers of services to children, young people and families, they are able to reach the most vulnerable or marginalised children, young people and families. They give those who use their services a voice and enable them to shape the services they receive. Local community members' involvement, through volunteering, in developing and delivering services, contributes to civil renewal.

Our aim is to improve child outcomes by reconfiguring services around the needs of the child and shifting to preventative services whilst strengthening the protection of children at risk. A strong, vibrant and diverse voluntary and community sector will be a key aspect of this.

We strongly believe that we have a mutual interest in creating an environment where voluntary and community organisations can join us in achieving our vision.

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Safer Parenting Handbook

This handbook has been produced by the WSCB, in consultation with parents and carers living in the borough. It contains a range of useful advice and information for parents and carers.

We hope that this handbook will give you some information and ideas to help you find ways through what can seem like a maze of issues and advice. We hope you find this helpful and worth keeping for future reference.

Safer Parenting Handbook

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Ending of Child Protection Register

This is to confirm that as of 1st April 2008 Wandsworth no longer has a Child Protection Register.

The Lord Laming Inquiry in 2003 into the death of Victoria Climbié recommended that "local authorities replace the Child Protection Register with a more effective system. Child protection conferences should remain, but the focus must no longer be on whether to register or not. Instead the focus should be on establishing an agreed plan to safeguard and promote the welfare of the particular child".

Working Together, 2006 (the guidance to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children) confirmed the implementation of this recommendation to take effect within each authority no later than the 1st April 2008.

We will continue to hold child protection conferences where there are concerns that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm. If the child protection conference decides that a child is at risk of significant harm, the child will now be the "subject of a child protection plan". Wandsworth will continue to keep a record of all children who are subject of child protection plans.

The aim of this change is to focus workers and families on the child protection plan and the actions that need to be taken to keep children safe and to make a difference in their lives. The child protection plan is a working tool that should enable the family and professionals to focus on the outcomes for each individual child, to understand what is expected of them and what they can expect of others.

An effective child protection plan should:

Identify any further assessments that are needed.
Identify the root causes of the harm to the child, based on evidence and assessments to date.
Set out specific and achievable child-focused outcomes (both long and short-term).
Set out what both the family and workers involved need to do to stop the child suffering significant harm.
Set out who will be checking the child is safe and well on a day to day basis.
Include a contingency plan, i.e. what should be done if the child protection plan is not working.
Describe how and when the child protection plan will be reviewed.

The first core group meeting will continue to be held within 10 days of the initial child protection conference. It is the responsibility of the core group (including family members) to draw up and add more detail to the outline child protection plan constructed at the conference.

It is the role of the key worker to co-ordinate the child protection plan, including keeping the child/young person up to date with the plan and finding out the child/young person's views.

The Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Board are using this opportunity to review practice around child protection conferences, and particularly the balance between the time spent within conferences sharing relevant information, conducting risk assessments and formulating meaningful outline child protection plans.

Would you please ensure that relevant staff within your organisation are aware of this change.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact Paul Secker (tel: 020 8871 6998, e-mail psecker@wandsworth.gov.uk) or one of the Child Protection Co-ordinators 020 8871 7303/6321/7163).

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For children and young people Parents, carers, family and friends Professionals and volunteers What is abuse? Reporting abuse Internet and mobiles Sexual health Bullying Weapons Drugs and alcohol Domestic violence Self harming Eating disorders Running away Young carers Children with disabilities Privately fostering children The Board Contacts Protocols and procedures News and events Training		On this page: Safer Parenting Handbook \| Ending of Child Protections Register Professionals Voluntary and community organisations are not only major providers of services to children, young people and families, they are able to reach the most vulnerable or marginalised children, young people and families. They give those who use their services a voice and enable them to shape the services they receive. Local community members' involvement, through volunteering, in developing and delivering services, contributes to civil renewal. Our aim is to improve child outcomes by reconfiguring services around the needs of the child and shifting to preventative services whilst strengthening the protection of children at risk. A strong, vibrant and diverse voluntary and community sector will be a key aspect of this. We strongly believe that we have a mutual interest in creating an environment where voluntary and community organisations can join us in achieving our vision. Top of page Safer Parenting Handbook This handbook has been produced by the WSCB, in consultation with parents and carers living in the borough. It contains a range of useful advice and information for parents and carers. We hope that this handbook will give you some information and ideas to help you find ways through what can seem like a maze of issues and advice. We hope you find this helpful and worth keeping for future reference. Safer Parenting Handbook Top of page Ending of Child Protection Register This is to confirm that as of 1st April 2008 Wandsworth no longer has a Child Protection Register. The Lord Laming Inquiry in 2003 into the death of Victoria Climbié recommended that "local authorities replace the Child Protection Register with a more effective system. Child protection conferences should remain, but the focus must no longer be on whether to register or not. Instead the focus should be on establishing an agreed plan to safeguard and promote the welfare of the particular child". Working Together, 2006 (the guidance to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children) confirmed the implementation of this recommendation to take effect within each authority no later than the 1st April 2008. We will continue to hold child protection conferences where there are concerns that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm. If the child protection conference decides that a child is at risk of significant harm, the child will now be the "subject of a child protection plan". Wandsworth will continue to keep a record of all children who are subject of child protection plans. The aim of this change is to focus workers and families on the child protection plan and the actions that need to be taken to keep children safe and to make a difference in their lives. The child protection plan is a working tool that should enable the family and professionals to focus on the outcomes for each individual child, to understand what is expected of them and what they can expect of others. An effective child protection plan should: Identify any further assessments that are needed. Identify the root causes of the harm to the child, based on evidence and assessments to date. Set out specific and achievable child-focused outcomes (both long and short-term). Set out what both the family and workers involved need to do to stop the child suffering significant harm. Set out who will be checking the child is safe and well on a day to day basis. Include a contingency plan, i.e. what should be done if the child protection plan is not working. Describe how and when the child protection plan will be reviewed. The first core group meeting will continue to be held within 10 days of the initial child protection conference. It is the responsibility of the core group (including family members) to draw up and add more detail to the outline child protection plan constructed at the conference. It is the role of the key worker to co-ordinate the child protection plan, including keeping the child/young person up to date with the plan and finding out the child/young person's views. The Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Board are using this opportunity to review practice around child protection conferences, and particularly the balance between the time spent within conferences sharing relevant information, conducting risk assessments and formulating meaningful outline child protection plans. Would you please ensure that relevant staff within your organisation are aware of this change. If you have any questions about this change, please contact Paul Secker (tel: 020 8871 6998, e-mail psecker@wandsworth.gov.uk) or one of the Child Protection Co-ordinators 020 8871 7303/6321/7163). Top of page

Wandsworth Safeguarding

Supporting and Protecting Todays Youth

Professionals

Safer Parenting Handbook

Ending of Child Protection Register