Building Support for Children, Young People and Families in Plymouth

1. Introduction

Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out a clear expectation that local agencies will work together and collaborate to identify children with additional needs and provide support as soon as a problem emerges. Providing early help is far more effective in promoting the welfare of children - and keeping them safe - than reacting later, when any problems, for example neglect, may have become more entrenched. The importance of using a child-centred approach in following the child's journey is also emphasised. All services which are provided must be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of the individual child in their family and community context.

This document provides a framework for professionals who are working with children, young people and families; it aims to help you identify when a child may need additional support to achieve their full potential. It introduces a continuum of help and support, provides information on the levels of need and gives examples of some of the indicators that a child or young person may need additional support. By undertaking assessments and offering services on a continuum of help and support, professionals can be flexible and respond to different levels of need in different children and families. Along this continuum, services become increasingly targeted and specialised according to the level of need. Children's needs are not static, and they may experience different needs - at different points on the continuum - throughout their childhood years.

This thresholds document provides an overarching framework. Each Safeguarding Children Partnership should provide additional guidance locally to set out the process for early help assessment and the type and level of early help services to be provided. It should also clarify the threshold for making a referral to the Local Authority Children's Social Care for assessment and statutory services under S.17, S.47, S.31 and S.20 of the Children Act 1989.

Remember - where there is an immediate need to protect a child because they are being harmed or are likely to suffer significant harm, contact the Police or Local Authority Children's Social Care without delay.

2. Core Principles when Working with Children, Young People and Families

  • Safeguarding children and young people is everyone's responsibility; everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play;
  • Services should intervene early to tackle any problems as soon as they emerge. For children who need additional help, everyday matters;
  • The child should be at the centre, their needs are paramount. They must be listened to by professionals and have their voices heard;
  • Any services provided to safeguard children and young people must be clearly focused on the outcomes for the child.

Professionals should consider: The Welfare Checklist to which courts will have regard when deciding whether to make an order in respect of a child (s.1 Children Act 1989):

  1. The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his/her age and understanding);
  2. His/her physical, emotional and educational needs;
  3. The likely effect on him/her of any change in his/her circumstances;
  4. His/her age, sex, background and any characteristics which the court considers relevant;
  5. Any harm which s/he has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
  6. How capable each of his/her parents, and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his/her needs.

Working Together to Safeguard Children requires each local authority area to publish a local assessment protocol which sets out clearly the arrangements for how cases will be managed once a child is referred into local authority children's social care. The assessment protocol should ensure that assessments are timely, transparent and proportionate to the needs of individual children and their families.

Effective assessment requires all those working with children, young people and families to:

  • Be alert to children and their needs;
  • Remember that the child's needs are paramount. Where professionals provide services to adults they must consider the adult service user in their role as a parent or carer and assess the risks to any children in their care or with whom they have contact;
  • Understand their individual role in keeping children safe, and the role of others; and
  • Be able to identify symptoms and triggers of abuse and neglect and share information with other professionals in a timely way.

3. Plymouth’s Response to Building Support

See: Building Support - Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership