Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 sets out a clear expectation that local agencies will work together and collaborate to identify children who require help or protection and provide support as soon as problems emerge. This threshold document sets out the local criteria for action and includes links to additional information which may assist with professional judgement in understanding, and subsequently meeting a child and family’s needs.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who meets families has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.
Across County Durham we expect everyone to take a child-centred approach. Anyone working with children should see and speak to the child, listen to what they say and take their views seriously. The best way to address a concern is through a conversation with the family (if this does not increase the risk for the child or anyone else) and with all the other practitioners involved.
If you are uncertain about the level at which the concern needs addressing and need advice, you can use this threshold document to support your conversation with Durham’s First Contact Team. Concerns regarding confidentiality should not be a barrier where safeguarding risks are identified. When sharing information, practitioners should take account of their agency’s information sharing agreement and policies.
Consent
When requesting early help for a family, you must always discuss this with the family beforehand. Consent to request support from services should always be sought from those with parental responsibility. When making a safeguarding children referral, it is good practice to inform those with parental responsibility of your concerns and intention to make a referral, unless to do so would place the child at further risk of harm.
Resolving disagreements
Should practitioners not agree with First Contact about the outcome of their concern, we request that they refer to the resolution of disputes process.
Durham Continuum of Need model
| Governance | Need | Services involved | Issues | Outcomes | Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding | Children and young people with complex needs, suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. | Multi-agency safeguarding services. | Statutory assessment multi-agency response from specialist services. | Improve outcomes so children are safe and healthy. | Statutory. |
| Early Help | Children, families and young people who need additional targeted support. | Early Help partnership where a Team Around the Family is required. | Universal services not able to meet the needs of the child or family. | Improve health and wellbeing outcomes preventing escalation to statutory services. | Early Help and Intervention. |
| Universal | Children and young people who have no additional support. | Community services accessible by all families. | Child meeting all expected outcomes. | Progressing in line with expected outcomes. | Early Help and Intervention. |
Definitions of Thresholds
Universal
Most children will achieve their full potential through the provision of universal services alone. These services can be accessed in the local community and delivered by partners including schools, GPs, hospitals, community health services, Health Visitors, Midwives and voluntary and community groups.
Early Help
This offer of support is for children and families who require additional support which cannot be provided by universal services alone or who require coordinated intensive support.
Durham’s Early Help support offer for families brings together local partners to provide early support for children and families coordinated via a Team Around the Family and can include targeted services e.g. substance misuse, domestic abuse services, and, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
Safeguarding
Child in Need (CIN)
A child in need under the legislation is one: who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development; or whose health or development is likely to be significantly impaired without the provision of services; or a child who is disabled.
A referral should be made where there are complex needs which require a multi-agency coordinated response. Consent must be gained from parents/carers and recorded on the children’s services referral form before it is submitted to First Contact.
Child Protection
Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a child (who lives or is found in their area) is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, it has a duty to make such enquiries as it considers necessary to decide whether to take any action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare. Such enquiries, supported by other organisations and agencies, as appropriate, should be initiated where there are concerns about all forms of abuse, exploitation, physical, sexual, emotional, neglect.
Whilst Child Protection referrals do not need the consent of the family it is good practice to discuss your concerns with the family and your intention to contact children’s services if doing so does not put anyone at risk.
Other circumstances which need a referral to Children’s Social Care
Private fostering
A private fostering arrangement is one in which a child under the age of 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone other than their parent or ‘close relative’ for 28 days or more. Close relatives are defined as stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts (whether of full blood, half blood or marriage/affinity).
Children with a disability
The principal legislation for support services to Disabled Children, Young People and their families is the Children Act 1989. Disabled Children are considered to be Children in Need under this legislation.
16 and 17 year old young people at risk of or may be homeless
The Local Authority has duties to prevent homelessness for young people and to provide accommodation for 16 and 17 year old young people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation.
Section 7 Report for Court
A court may ask the Local Authority for a welfare report when they are considering any private law application under the Children Act 1989 in circumstances where the Local Authority have had previous involvement with a child or family as per the protocol between Local Authorities and CAFCASS. Where the child and family are not known to the Local Authority this work will be undertaken by CAFCASS.
Section 37 Report for Court
When, during any private law proceedings under the Children Act 1989, a question arises about the welfare of the child, and it seems to the court that it might be appropriate for a Care Order or Supervision Order to be made, then it will direct a Local Authority to undertake an investigation of the child’s circumstances and report its findings to the court.
Screening tools
To help make your decision about the nature and seriousness of your concern there are several screening tools available in the Resource Library. Durham has adopted the Signs of Safety practice model and your agency safeguarding lead will have further information regarding use of this approach.
Guidance and procedures
Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Online Procedures Manual can help in decision making about what to do next. You will find a range of multi-agency guidance, procedures and strategies on the DSCP website.
Threshold tables – child/young person’s developmental needs
Thresholds Tables – Child or Young Person’s Developmental Needs.pdf
Threshold tables – parental and family factors
Thresholds Tables – Parental and Family Factors.pdf
Contacting Children’s Services
Early Help
As a professional you can request support for a child and family by either:
- contacting the Early Help Triage Workers for advice and information about services and support for children and families available in the community on 03000 267979 (listen to the options and select ‘Early Help’), or
- complete the new on-line Early Help Request Form
Safeguarding
Where there is an immediate risk to a child ring First Contact on 03000 267979 (listen to the options and select ‘Safeguarding’) or ring 999 and speak to the Police if risk of harm is imminent.
If you have a safeguarding concern and are worried about a child, use the threshold guidance on this page and complete the Safeguarding Referral Form.docx and email to firstcontact@durham.gov.uk.