4.11 Professional and Agency Response

All professionals (whether paid or voluntary), in all agencies and organisations where they come in to contact with children and young people, or similarly, all those who work in some way with adults, who may be parents or carers, should:

• Be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect;
• Be alert to the risks which individual abusers or potential abusers, may pose to children;
• Be alert to the impact on the child of any concerns of abuse or maltreatment;
• Be able to gather and analyse information as part of an assessment of the child's needs.

Each agency and the Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership have child protection procedures in place to support and provide information about how and what action to take when there are concerns about a child. Those child protection procedures will include information about how to:

• Identify potential or actual harm to children;
• Discuss and record concerns with a first line manager / in supervision;
• Analyse concerns by completing an assessment;
• Discuss concerns with the agency's designated safeguarding children advisor (able to offer advice and decide upon the necessity for a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care).

Professionals in all agencies should use their knowledge and agency resources to contact children's social care or the police about their concerns directly and to make a referral through the Children's Help and Advice Team (CHAT), by calling 0151 934 4013. 

In such circumstances a formal referral to Sefton Children's Social Care, the police or accident and emergency services (for any urgent medical treatment) must not be delayed by the need for consultation with management or the nominated safeguarding children adviser, or the completion of an assessment.

All professionals in agencies with contact with children and members of their families must make a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care if there are signs that a child or an unborn baby:

• Is suffering significant harm through abuse or neglect;
• Is likely to suffer significant harm in the future.

The timing of such referrals should reflect the level of perceived risk of harm, not longer than within one working day of identification or disclosure of harm or risk of harm.

In urgent situations / out of office hours, the referral should be made to the Sefton’s Children's Social Care emergency duty team / out of hour's team (0151 934 3555).

Hearing and Observing the Child

Whenever a child reports that they are suffering / have suffered significant harm through abuse or neglect, have caused or are causing physical or sexual harm to others- the initial response from all professionals should be to listen carefully to what the child says and to observe the child's behaviour and circumstances to:

• Clarify the concerns;
• Offer re-assurance about how the child will be kept safe;
• Explain what action will be taken and within what timeframe.

The child must not be pressed for information, led or cross-examined or given false assurances of absolute confidentiality, as this could prejudice police investigations, especially in cases of sexual abuse.

If the child can understand the significance and consequences of making a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care, they should be asked for their views.

It should be explained to the child that whilst their view will be taken into account, the professional has a responsibility to take whatever action is required to ensure the child's safety and the safety of other children..

Parental Consultation

Concerns which have been raised, should, where practicable, be discussed with the parent and agreement sought for a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care unless seeking agreement is likely to place the child at risk of significant harm through delay or from the parent's actions or reactions; For example in circumstances where there are concerns or suspicions that a serious crime such as sexual abuse, domestic violence or induced illness has taken place.

Where a professional decides not to inform parents before making a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care, the decision must be clearly noted in the child's records with reasons, dated and signed and confirmed in the referral to Sefton Children's Social Care. Professionals should consult with their line manager/designated safeguarding advisor, if at all practicable, for advice.

When a referral is deemed to be necessary in the interests of the child, and the parents have been consulted and are not in agreement, the following action should be taken:

• The reason for proceeding without parental agreement must be recorded;
• The parent's withholding of permission must form part of the verbal referral to Sefton Children's Social Care;
• The parent should be contacted to inform them that, after considering their wishes, a referral has been made.

A child protection referral from a professional cannot be treated as anonymous and where any court proceedings may follow, whether criminal or family court, the information may be made available.

Urgent Medical Attention

If the child is suffering from a serious injury, the professional must seek medical attention immediately from accident and emergency services and must inform Sefton Children's Social Care, and the duty consultant paediatrician at the hospital.

Where abuse is alleged, suspected or confirmed in a child admitted to hospital, the child must not be discharged until:

• Sefton Children's Social Care are notified by telephone that there are child protection concerns. (Note: notification may also include another local authority if the child is normally resident elsewhere);
• A Strategy Meeting / discussion has been held, which should then include relevant hospital and other agency professionals.

Making a Referral

Referrals should be made to Children's Social Care for the area where the child is living or is found.

If the child is known to have an allocated social worker, the referral should be made to them or in their absence to the social worker's manager or a duty children's social worker.

Sefton Children's Social Care should, within one working day of receiving the referral, make a decision about the type of response that will be required to meet the needs of the child. If this does not occur within three working days, the referrer should contact these services again and, if necessary, ask to speak to a line manager to establish progress.

Concerns Raised by a Member of the Public

When a member of the public telephones or approaches any agency with concerns about the welfare of a child or an unborn baby, the professional who receives the contact should always:

• Gather as much information as possible, to be able to make a judgement about the seriousness of the concerns;
• Take basic details, including:
  1. Name, address, gender and date of birth of child;
  2. Name and contact details for parent/s, educational setting (e.g. nursery, school), primary medical practitioner (e.g. GP practice), professionals providing other services, a lead professional for the child.
• Discuss the case with their manager and the agency's designated safeguarding children advisor to decide whether to:
  1. Make a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care;
  2. Make a referral to the lead professional, if the case is open and there is one;
  3. Make a referral to a specialist agency or professional e.g. educational psychology or a speech and language therapist;
  4. Undertake an assessment.

Record the referral contemporaneously, with the detail of information received and given, separating out fact from opinion as far as possible.

The opportunity for a face to face meeting or interview should be offered to the member of the public to clarify information and offer advice, if needed.

The member of the public should also be given the number for Sefton Children's Social Care and encouraged to contact them directly.

The agency receiving the initial concern should always make a referral to Sefton Children's Social Care and to the lead professional if there is one, in case the member of the public does not follow through (which can happen).

Some people may prefer not to give their name to Sefton Children's Social Care, or they may disclose their identity but not wish for it to be revealed to the parent/s of the child concerned. Wherever possible, professionals should respect the referrer's request for anonymity. However, professionals should not give referrers any guarantees of confidentiality, as there are certain limited circumstances in which the identity of a referrer may have to be given (e.g. the court arena). Consideration for the referrer's safety may be an issue in some cases.

Referrals should not be deemed malicious without a full and thorough multi-agency assessment, including talking with the referrer and agreement with the appropriate manager. Referrals should also not be described as malicious in professional conclusions, due to the risks associated with this language.