Information sources
There are a range of information sources that can support you as a practitioner in your day-to-day work with children and families:
- Community Care Inform Children
- Connecting County Durham
- Durham Insight (information, data and research about what it is like to live in County Durham)
- Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership: Procedures Manual
- Help for Families – your Family Hub
- Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Alliance
The following local toolkits, guidance and forms are relevant to all children and families and can be used to support assessment and planning around a range of issues.
General toolkits
- County Durham Children and Families Practice Toolkit
- Engaging with Families Toolkit
- Voice of the Child Toolkit
General practical guidance
- A Practitioners Quick Guide to Cumulative Harm.pdf
- County Durham Family Outcome Framework
- Early Help Assessment and the Team Around the Family – A guide for Mams, Dads and Carers.pdf
- Multi-Agency Reflective Supervision Guidance.pdf (opens in Tri X) (see ‘Toolkits’ folder)
- Responsibility of professionals to share information when a care leaver dies.pdf
- Tier 1 Children Safeguarding Information Sharing Agreement (ISA).pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Information Sharing’ folder)
- Tier 1 Information Sharing Infographic.pdf
- Durham Information Sharing Procedure.pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Information Sharing’ folder)
- The Role of Partners in Child and Family Assessments and Plans.pdf
- Threshold Guidance.doc (opens in Tri X) (see ‘Threshold Document’ folder)
- Whole Family Approach Guidance.pdf
- Voice of the Child and Lived Experience Guidance.pdf
General forms
- Durham Harm/Worry Matrix.pdf
- Early Help – Child and Family Plan
- Safeguarding Referral Form.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘General’ folder). A Good Referral Guide briefing is available on Me Learning.
The following guidance, tools and forms are specific to child protection and should be used to help with report writing for strategy meetings and child protection conferences
Child protection guidance and tools and forms
- My Child Protection Conference – Information for Children.pdf
- NYAS What is an Advocate? Information for Children.pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Protection’ folder)
- Child Protection report – Guidance for Practitioners.docx (opens in Tri X) (see ‘Child Protection’ folder)
- Child Protection Conference Report Template.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Protection’ folder)
- Multi-Agency Resolution Process for Child Protection Conferences.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Protection’ folder)
- GP Report to Child Safeguarding Strategy Meeting.docx (opens in Tri X) (see ‘Child Protection’ folder)
- Strategy Meeting Request Agency Information Non-GP.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Protection’ folder)
The following guidance, tools and forms are most relevant to specific risk areas and should be considered when these issues arise.
Domestic abuse guidance, tools and forms
- Quick Guide to Coercive and Controlling Behaviour.pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Domestic Abuse’ folder)
- Domestic Abuse Practice Checklist.pdf
- Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) Risk Assessment.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Domestic Abuse’ folder)
- Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) referral form.docx
More information about domestic abuse.
Harm Outside the Home (HOTH)/Exploitation guidance, tools and forms
- Child Exploitation Risk Assessment Information Form.pdf
- Joint Protocol for 16/17 Year Olds who are Homeless.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Exploitation/Missing’ folder)
- Harm Outside the Home Multi-Agency Procedure.pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Exploitation/Missing’ folder)
- Harm Outside the Home – Information and Support for Parents and Carers.pdf
- Harm Outside the Home – Practitioner Guide.pdf
- National Philomena Protocol Missing Person Incident Form.docx (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Child Exploitation/Missing’ folder)
- Tier 2 HOTH Information Sharing Agreement.pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Information Sharing’ folder)
- What is Harm Outside the Home.pdf (campaign poster)
More information about Harm Outside the Home.
Neglect guidance, tools and forms
More information about neglect.
Physical abuse guidance, tools and forms
More information about physical abuse.
Sexual abuse guidance, tools and forms
- Regional Referral Pathway for Child Sexual Abuse/Assault Forensic Medical.pdf (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Intra Familial and Sexual Harm’ folder)
- Harmful Sexual Behaviour Toolkit.pdf
- Sexual Abuse Procedure (contact DSCP)
More information about sexual abuse.
Self-harm guidance, tools and forms
- Children and Young People Self-Harm Pathway.pdf
- Durham’s Self-Harm Guidance for School Based Staff (opens in Tri-x) (see ‘Mental Health’ folder)
More information about self-harm, mental health and wellbeing.
Children in care and care leavers guidance, tools and forms
- Responsibility of professionals to share information when a care leaver dies.pdf
- Support and Connection Guidance for when children are not in their parents’ care – Practitioner Briefing.pdf
More information can be found about children in our care.