Page reportSummary
Page Layout
Display issue details:
The line numbers refer to lines in the original source. Any with a line number of '0' are implicit tags added by Total Validator:
1 
W874 [WCAG21 2.4.1 (A)] Add a skip navigation link as the first link on the page:
If your document has structure then you should add a skip navigation link to make it easier for accessible users to get to the page's content. To ensure detection, skip navigation links should point to a <main> element, or an element with role='main'. See Understanding 2.4.1, and Skip Navigation. <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
2 P967 [WCAG21 3.1.1 (A)] Use the 'lang' attribute to denote the primary language of the document:
You should always identify the primary natural language of a document using a 'lang' attribute on the <html> element. See WCAG 2.1 HTML Technique H57. <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
3 <head>
4 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/>
5 W605 Duplicate tag found: See matching tag on line: 22
A duplicate tag has been found with the same attributes. Although this should not affect the page, it indicates that a mistake may have been made. <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
6 W605 Duplicate tag found: See matching tag on line: 23
A duplicate tag has been found with the same attributes. Although this should not affect the page, it indicates that a mistake may have been made. <meta http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript" />
7 <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
8 <title>
8 Referring Safeguarding Concerns | Next Stage 4Life
8 </title>
9 <link rel='shortcut icon'
href='https://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/logos/procedures/favicon.ico' type='image/x-icon'/>
10 <link rel="apple-touch-icon"
href="https://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/logos/procedures/apple-touch-icon-57x57-precomposed.png
" />
11 <link rel="apple-touch-icon"
href="https://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/logos/procedures/apple-touch-icon-72x72-precomposed.png
" />
12 <link rel="apple-touch-icon"
href="https://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/logos/procedures/apple-touch-icon-114x114-precomposed.png
" />
13 <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"
href="https://www.proceduresonline.com/trix_cms_snippets/cookie/jquery.cookiebar.css" />
14 <script type="text/javascript"
src="https://www.proceduresonline.com/trix_cms_snippets/cookie/jquery.min.js">
14 </script>
15 <script type="text/javascript"
src="https://www.proceduresonline.com/trix_cms_snippets/cookie/jquery.cookiebar.js">
15 </script>
16 <script type="text/javascript">
21 </script>
22 W605 Duplicate tag found: See matching tag on line: 5
A duplicate tag has been found with the same attributes. Although this should not affect the page, it indicates that a mistake may have been made. <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
23 W605 Duplicate tag found: See matching tag on line: 6
A duplicate tag has been found with the same attributes. Although this should not affect the page, it indicates that a mistake may have been made. <meta http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript" />
24 W609 The 'content-type' HTTP header specifies a character set of UTF-8, which is different to the value
given here:
The 'content-type' HTTP header specifies a different character set to that specified in the tag. In this case the HTTP header takes precedence. <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
25 <meta name="author" content="Next Stage 4Life" />
26 <meta name="description" content="Next Stage 4Life" />
28 <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" />
29 <meta name="rating" content="all" />
30 <meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache" />
31 <link title="small" href="scripts/style.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" />
32 <link title="medium" href="scripts/style_larger.css" type="text/css" rel="alternate stylesheet" />
33 <link title="large" href="scripts/style_largest.css" type="text/css" rel="alternate stylesheet" />
34 <link title="hivis" href="scripts/style_hi_vis.css" type="text/css" rel="alternate stylesheet" />
35 <script type="text/javascript" src="scripts/print.js">
35 </script>
36 <script type="text/javascript" src="scripts/styleswitcher.js">
36 </script>
37 <script type="text/javascript" src="scripts/highlight.js">
37 </script>
39 </head>
40 <body onload="highlight();">
41 <div class="banner">
42 </div>
43 <div id="buttons">
43 <div id="menu">
44 <ul>
45 <li>
45 <a href="index.html">
45 Home
45 </a>
45 </li>
46 <li>
46 <a href="contents.html">
46 Contents
46 </a>
46 </li>
47 <li>
47 <a href="local_resources.html">
47 Local Resources
47 </a>
47 </li>
48 </ul>
49 </div>
49 <div id="search">
50 <form action="search/search.html" id="cse-search-box" style="margin: 0px;">
51 I899 [WCAG21 1.3.2 (A)] Layout tables must represent their content in a meaningful sequence:
Screen readers can struggle to read out tables sensibly, so it is often better to use alternative mark-up and CSS to layout content. Try disabling the table mark-up to see if it still makes sense. See WCAG 2.1 Failure F49. <table width="97%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
52 <tr>
53 <td>
53 E885 [WCAG21 1.1.1/1.3.1/3.3.2/4.1.2 (A)] User interface controls should have a label or an accessible
name:
Associate form controls with <label> tags, or use the 'aria-label' or 'aria-labelledby' attributes to label controls where it might be confusing or not possible to use a label. See WCAG 2.1 Failure F68. <input type="text" name="zoom_query" class="search_input" size="20" id="zoom_searchbox" value="Search this
manual" onfocus="this.value=(this.value=='Search this manual') ? '' : this.value;"
onblur="this.value=(this.value=='') ? 'Search this manual' : this.value;" style="margin-right: 5px;" />
53 </td>
54 <td>
54 <input type="submit" value="Go"/>
54 </td>
55 </tr>
56 </table>
57 </form>
57 </div>
57 </div>
58 <div id="topper">
58 </div>
60 <div id="printReady">
61 <div id="container">
62 <div id="content_frame_overflow">
62 <div class="content_text">
63 <h1 class="h1">
63 Referring Safeguarding Concerns
63 </h1>
64 <div class="scope_box" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 15px;">
65 <h2 class="h3">
65 REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
65 </h2>
66 <p>
66 <a
href="http://qualitystandards.proceduresonline.com/homes/p_quality_standards.html#protection_c
h" target="_blank">
66 The Protection of Children Standard
66 </a>
66 </p>
67 <h3 class="h3">
67 RELEVANT GUIDANCE/DOCUMENTS
67 </h3>
68 <p>
68 This chapter must be read in conjunction with the Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships
(LSCP) Procedures for the area where the home is located and the following chapters:
68 </p>
69 <p>
69 <a href="p_recog_abuse.html">
69 Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure
69 </a>
69 </p>
70 <p>
70 <a href="p_alleg_staff.html">
70 Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers Procedure
70 </a>
70 </p>
71 </div>
72 <h2 class="h2_underlined">
72 <br />
73 Contents
73 </h2>
74 <ol>
75 <li>
75 <a href="#intro">
75 Introduction, Summary and Definitions
75 </a>
75 </li>
76 <li>
76 <a href="#reporting">
76 Reporting Concerns
76 </a>
76 </li>
77 <li>
77 <a href="#receiving">
77 Receiving Concerns in relation to Abuse or Harm
77 </a>
77 </li>
78 <li>
78 <a href="#action">
78 Action by the Designated Senior Manager
78 </a>
78 </li>
79 <li>
79 <a href="#allegations">
79 Allegations made against Children or Young People
79 </a>
79 </li>
80 </ol>
81 <h2 class="h2_underlined">
81 <br />
82 1.
82 <a name="intro" id="intro">
82 </a>
82 Introduction, Summary and Definitions
82 </h2>
83 <p>
83 The home's designated senior manager is responsible for coordinating Safeguarding Children
Referrals.
83 </p>
84 <p>
84 However, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and protecting them
from abuse and harm is a shared responsibility and depends on effective joint working between
all staff working in the home and other agencies. All staff have a responsibility to report any
suspicions that a child has been mistreated or harmed.
84 </p>
85 <p>
85 Local authorities have a duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and to
investigate and take necessary action to protect children and young people from abuse and harm.
85 </p>
86 <h3 class="h3">
86 Definitions
86 </h3>
87 <p>
87 Safeguarding is a term which is broader than 'child protection' and relates to the action taken
to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding is everyone's
responsibility. Safeguarding is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children as:
87 </p>
88 <ul>
89 <li>
89 Protecting children from maltreatment;
89 </li>
90 <li>
90 Preventing impairment of children's health and development;
90 </li>
91 <li>
91 Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and
effective care; and
91 </li>
92 <li>
92 Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
92 </li>
93 </ul>
94 <p>
94 There are four defined categories of child abuse:
94 </p>
95 <ul>
96 <li>
96 <a href="http://trixresources.proceduresonline.com/nat_key/keywords/physical_abuse.html"
target="_blank">
96 Physical Abuse
96 </a>
96 ;
96 </li>
97 <li>
97 <a href="http://trixresources.proceduresonline.com/nat_key/keywords/emotional_abuse.html"
target="_blank">
97 Emotional Abuse
97 </a>
97 ;
97 </li>
98 <li>
98 <a href="http://trixresources.proceduresonline.com/nat_key/keywords/neglect.html"
target="_blank">
98 Neglect
98 </a>
98 ;
98 </li>
99 <li>
99 <a href="http://trixresources.proceduresonline.com/nat_key/keywords/sexual_abuse.html"
target="_blank">
99 Sexual Abuse
99 </a>
99 .
99 </li>
100 </ul>
101 <p>
101 See also
101 <a href="p_recog_abuse.html">
101 Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure
101 </a>
101 .
101 </p>
102 <h2 class="h2_underlined">
102 <br />
103 2.
103 <a name="reporting" id="reporting">
103 </a>
103 Reporting Concerns
103 </h2>
104 <p>
104 The general principle is that all safeguarding concerns and any disclosures* must be reported.
104 </p>
105 Children must be listened to and enabled to report any abuse or neglect at the earliest
opportunity. Children should be supported by staff to understand what abuse is. They should be
given information about how to report abuse or how to share any concerns about possible abuse.
This should include being able to access in private, relevant websites or help lines such as
105 <a href="https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/" target="_blank">
105 Childline
105 </a>
105 to seek advice and help.
106 <p>
106 The following actions should be taken when there is any concern or, disclosure about the welfare
of a child or young person. This includes non recent or historical abuse that may have occurred
at some time in the past and may not have been previously reported or investigated.
106 </p>
107 <p>
107 Harm can be perpetrated by any person, including:
107 </p>
108 <ul>
109 <li>
109 Another child or young person (including serious or persistent bullying) - see
109 <a href="#allegations">
109 Section 5, Allegations made Against Children or Young People
109 </a>
109 ;
109 </li>
110 <li>
110 A member of staff, or manager, see additional procedures in
110 <a href="p_alleg_staff.html">
110 Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers Procedure
110 </a>
110 ;
110 </li>
111 <li>
111 A visitor or person in the community;
111 </li>
112 <li>
112 A teacher, social worker or other professional;
112 </li>
113 <li>
113 A parent or other family member.
113 </li>
114 </ul>
115 <p>
115 *Disclosures made as part of a therapeutic intervention or counselling session should also be
reported, unless there is clear, written evidence in the child's file that the matter has been
formally dealt with.
115 </p>
116 <p>
116 Staff should firstly make their report to the home's designated senior manager, unless the
manager is implicated. In which case staff must notify one of the following:
116 </p>
117 <ul>
118 <li>
118 Another manager who is not implicated;
118 </li>
119 <li>
119 The Local Authority Children's Social Care Services in whose area the home is located;
119 </li>
120 <li>
120 The social worker;
120 </li>
121 <li>
121 Police;
121 </li>
122 <li>
122 The Regulatory Authority.
122 </li>
123 </ul>
124 <p>
124 In an emergency, where there is an immediate risk to the child, staff must take necessary
action. This may involve asking for Police assistance or seeking emergency medical assistance
e.g. taking the child to hospital or contacting the emergency services via 999. If the child is
taken to hospital or the Police are called, staff must inform them that there is a suspicion of
abuse or harm. Thereafter staff must notify the manager (or other agency) as described above.
124 </p>
125 <p>
125 Once notified, the designated senior manager will be responsible for following Local
Safeguarding Children Partnerships procedures and making a referral to the Local Authority
Children's Social Care Services (see
125 <a href="#action">
125 Section 4, Action by the Designated Senior Manager
125 </a>
125 ).
125 </p>
126 <p>
126 If a Child Protection / Section 47 Enquiry is initiated, the home's manager must inform the
126 <a
href="http://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/keywords_online/nat_key/keywords/regulatory_auth
ority.html" target="_blank">
126 Regulatory Authority
126 </a>
126 (see
126 <a href="p_notif_events.html">
126 Notification of Serious Events Procedure
126 </a>
126 ).
126 </p>
127 <h2 class="h2_underlined">
127 <br />
128 3.
128 <a name="receiving" id="receiving">
128 </a>
128 Receiving Concerns in relation to Abuse or Harm
128 </h2>
129 <p>
129 When a staff member sees, hears or is told anything that causes them to become concerned that a
child or young person is suffering or likely ti suffer
129 <a href="http://trixresources.proceduresonline.com/nat_key/keywords/significant_harm.html"
target="_blank">
129 Significant Harm
129 </a>
129 , they must report it immediately - as described above in
129 <a href="#reporting">
129 Section 2, Reporting Concerns
129 </a>
129 .
129 </p>
130 <p>
130 Children will sometimes disclose abuse to an adult who they have come to feel they can trust. If
a child discloses abuse it is important that staff respond appropriately by remaining calm and
receptive; listening without interrupting; only asking questions for clarification and
acknowledging the child's courage in telling.
130 </p>
131 <p>
131 It is not the staff member's responsibility to investigate or in any way make judgements about
what is reported to them. Investigations, if necessary, must be undertaken by the Police and
Children's Social Care.
131 </p>
132 <p>
132 If a disclosure or allegation of abuse or harm has been made, staff should discuss with the
child or other person who has made the complaint what steps they would like taken to protect
them and their wishes should be shared and, if not in conflict with procedures, followed.
132 </p>
133 <p>
133 Where the allegation or disclosure is of a non recent or historical nature, e.g. relating to
abuse or harm that may have been perpetrated in another placement or by family members,
allegations must be taken seriously and must be reported in the same way as any other
allegation.
133 </p>
134 <p>
134 Staff must not give absolute guarantees of confidentiality to those who report possible abuse or
harm, but they should guarantee that they will take steps to ensure that appropriate action is
taken and the child or young person protected.
134 </p>
135 <p>
135 If an allegation or any suspicion is about the behaviour, past or present of another member of
staff, including managers, which may in any way put children at risk, staff must follow the
135 <a href="p_alleg_staff.html">
135 Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers Procedure
135 </a>
135 .
135 </p>
136 <p>
136 Staff must make a written record as soon as possible of what they have been told, any questions
they asked and the replies given and the actions taken and by whom. They must then give the
report to the designated senior manager.
136 </p>
137 <p>
137 This information should be placed on the child's record except where a colleague is
implicated or there is any risk to the child as a result, in which case notes/records should be
given to the manager dealing with the matter.
137 </p>
138 Staff should not discuss the matter with others, including other staff, parents etc unless asked
to do so by those responsible for dealing any subsequent investigation or enquiry.
139 <h2 class="h2_underlined">
139 <br />
140 4.
140 <a name="action" id="action">
140 </a>
140 Action by the Designated Senior Manager
140 </h2>
141 <p>
141 After receiving a report of a concern, suspicion or allegation of abuse or harm, the home's
designated senior manager must firstly take any steps needed to protect any child or young
person from risk of immediate harm.
141 </p>
142 <p>
142 The designated senior manager should ensure the following people are notified:
142 </p>
143 <ul>
144 <li>
144 The line manager for the home;
144 </li>
145 <li>
145 Children's Social Care in the area where the home is located;
145 </li>
146 <li>
146 If the suspicion/allegation relates to a member of staff/professional*, the manager should
ensure the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Team of Designated Officers is notified;
146 </li>
147 <li>
147 The Placing Authority/child's social worker;
147 </li>
148 <li>
148 If a Child Protection Enquiry is initiated, the
148 <a
href="http://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/keywords_online/nat_key/keywords/regulatory_au
thority.html" target="_blank">
148 Regulatory Authority
148 </a>
148 , see
148 <a href="p_notif_events.html">
148 Notification of Serious Events Procedure
148 </a>
148 .
148 </li>
149 </ul>
150 <p class="tiny_text">
150 *Re Allegations Against Staff: See
150 <a href="p_alleg_staff.html">
150 Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers Procedure
150 </a>
150 .
150 </p>
151 <p>
151 The procedures that will be followed will depend on the decisions made by Children's Social Care
and the social worker. It is also likely that the Regulatory Authority will be involved in
decision making.
151 </p>
152 <p>
152 The home's manager (or delegated senior manager) will co-operate with the decisions/actions
taken by them.
152 </p>
153 <p>
153 Following receipt of the referral, if Children's Social Care have concerns that a child has
suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm a
153 <a
href="http://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/keywords_online/nat_key/keywords/strategy_discus
sion_meeting.html" target="_blank">
153 Strategy Discussion/Meeting
153 </a>
153 will be convened, to decide whether to initiate a
153 <a
href="http://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/keywords_online/nat_key/keywords/chi_prot_enquir
y.html" target="_blank">
153 Child Protection Enquiry
153 </a>
153 and, if so, to agree the following with the manager:
153 </p>
154 <ol>
155 <li>
155 Who should inform the child's parent(s);
155 </li>
156 <li>
156 Arrangements for any medical examination of the child;
156 </li>
157 <li>
157 Any immediate arrangements for protection of the child(ren), including whether the child
should be moved to another Home;
157 </li>
158 <li>
158 Whether it is necessary to inform staff within the home and if so who will do it;
158 </li>
159 <li>
159 Whether any implicated staff should be suspended or moved;
159 </li>
160 <li>
160 Who should inform/update the person making the initial allegation of the steps/actions taken?
160 </li>
161 </ol>
162 <p>
162 The designated senior manager should ensure that the child is supported during any
enquiries/investigation, this may require an independent advocate or independent person to be
involved. The manager should also ensure that all staff co-operate fully.
162 </p>
163 <h2 class="h2_underlined">
163 <br />
164 5.
164 <a name="allegations" id="allegations">
164 </a>
164 Allegations made against Children or Young People
164 </h2>
165 <p>
165 Abuse and harm can be perpetrated upon one child or young person by another in many different
ways, including persistent or serious bullying, sexual exploitation, aggressive, exploitative or
other threatening behaviour which places a child or young person at risk.
165 </p>
166 <p>
166 Where there is any suspicion or allegation of abuse or harm perpetrated by one child or young
person upon another, the procedures in
166 <a href="#reporting">
166 Section 2, Reporting Concerns
166 </a>
166 should be followed.
166 </p>
167 <p>
167 Protecting the rights of both victim and alleged perpetrator is important. It may be necessary,
dependent on an assessment of all the facts, to separate the alleged perpetrator and victim but
it may not be possible to explain why this is necessary to the perpetrator.
167 </p>
168 <p>
168 Throughout the process thereafter it will be necessary to ensure that children or young people
with allegations made against them are properly supported, by an independent person if
appropriate or required, as well as their social worker and parent(s).
168 </p>
169 <p>
169 Once the investigation is complete, consideration will then need to be given to the needs and
interests of both alleged victim and perpetrator, and whether counselling and/or other support
should be given.
169 </p>
170 <p>
170 Children or young people who are known to have sexually abused other children should be not be
placed together unless a risk assessment has been undertaken by someone specially qualified to
do so.
170 </p>
171 <p>
171 <br />
172 <br />
173 </p>
174 </div>
175 </div>
176 </div>
177 </div>
178 <div id="footer-wrap">
179 <div id="footer-container">
179 <div id="footer">
180 I899 [WCAG21 1.3.2 (A)] Layout tables must represent their content in a meaningful sequence:
Screen readers can struggle to read out tables sensibly, so it is often better to use alternative mark-up and CSS to layout content. Try disabling the table mark-up to see if it still makes sense. See WCAG 2.1 Failure F49. <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
181 <tr>
182 <td width="60%" align="left" style="padding-top: 0px;">
182 <a href="http://www.trixonline.co.uk/" target="_blank">
182 <img src="images/trix_logo.gif" width="57" height="22" alt="tri.x logo" border="0"/>
182 </a>
182
182 <span class="darkdivider">
182 |
182 </span>
182 Copyright ©
182 <a href="http://www.trixonline.co.uk/" target="_blank">
182 tri.x
182 </a>
182
182 <span class="darkdivider">
182 |
182 </span>
182
182 </td>
183 <td width="40%" align="right" valign="top" style="padding-top: 0px;">
185 <div class="footer_box">
185 <a href="#">
185 visibility:
185 </a>
185
185 <a href="#" onclick="setActiveStyleSheet('small'); return false;">
185 <img src="images/icons/small_a.gif" alt="View this website with small text" border="0" />
185 </a>
185 <a href="#" onclick="setActiveStyleSheet('medium'); return false;">
185 <img src="images/icons/medium_a.gif" border="0" alt="View this website with medium
text" />
185 </a>
185 <a href="#" onclick="setActiveStyleSheet('large'); return false;">
185 <img src="images/icons/large_a.gif" border="0" alt="View this website with large text" />
185 </a>
185 <a href="#" onclick="setActiveStyleSheet('hivis'); return false;">
185 <img src="images/icons/hivis.gif" border="0" alt="View this website with high
visibility" />
185 </a>
185
185 <span class="darkdivider">
185 |
185 </span>
185
185 </div>
186 <div class="footer_box">
186 <a href="#" onclick="window.external.AddFavorite(location.href, document.title)">
186 <img src="images/icons/favourite.gif" alt="Add this page to your favourites" width="18"
height="18" border="0" />
186 </a>
186 <a href="#" onclick="window.external.AddFavorite(location.href, document.title)">
186 favourites
186 </a>
186
186 <span class="darkdivider">
186 |
186 </span>
186
186 </div>
187 <div class="footer_box">
187 W884 [WCAG21 2.1.1/2.1.3 (A/AAA)] Mouse/Pointer event handlers require keyboard equivalents:
When using mouse/pointer event handlers on elements that can be accessed by keyboard, ensure that you provide an equivalent keyboard handler. See WCAG 2.1 Failure F54. <input name="printMe" type="image" onclick="printSpecial()" value="Print this Page"
src="images/icons/print.gif" onmouseover="images/icons/print.gif'"
onmouseout="this.src='images/icons/print.gif'" alt="Print this page"/>
189 <a href="#" onclick="printSpecial()">
189 print
189 </a>
189
189 <span class="darkdivider">
189 |
189 </span>
189
189 </div>
190 </td>
191 </tr>
192 </table>
193 </div>
193 </div>
194 </div>
195 </body>
196 </html>