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 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 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continuous Assessment | 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 targetted support | Early Help partnerhsip 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 & 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 |
What are the Thresholds?
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/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.
Thresholds Tables - Child/Young Person’s Developmental Needs
Child/Young Person’s Developmental Needs
Abuse and Neglect Thresholds
Abuse and Neglect | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Concerns emerging about child’s hygiene/clothing and diet, few opportunities for play and socialisation, poor school attendance. Child not reaching development milestones, health needs mostly being met. |
Consistent concerns raised about child’s hygiene/clothing and diet, few opportunities for play and socialisation, consistently poor school attendance.
Child not reaching development milestones, health needs not always being met. Parents struggling to provide adequate care, minor mental health difficulties, and non- problematic drug and alcohol misuse. At risk of any child exploitation. |
Disclosures of physical and sexual harm.
Over- chastisement outside of legal limits. Child presents with unexplained injuries or inconsistent explanation. Child not reaching development milestones despite sustained intervention, health needs not met. Parental behaviour of problematic and chronic drug and alcohol misuse that exposes child or unborn potential harm. Impact and exposure to domestic abuse. Child is exposed to unrelenting exposure to dangerous situations in the home/ community. Severe complex parental mental health or learning disability that impairs parenting roles places child or unborn at risk of harm. Disclosures and/or consistent chronology of chronic neglect about a child’s lack of adequate clothing/housing/diet/access to education/access to health, needs not being met, and parents not able to provide good enough care that is impacting on the child or unborn. Child has been abandoned. Child/young person subject to or at significant risk of sexual or criminal exploitation, trafficked. Female Genital Mutilation as either a perpetrator or victim. |
Learning, Education and Employment Thresholds
Learning, Education and Employment | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Child is not making expected progress.
Additional support needed to meet all development milestones; at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training). |
Consistently underachieving despite sustained interventions, where this may not otherwise be attributed to an identified SEN or developmental need. | Significant delay/impairment to developmental milestones. |
Health Thresholds
Health | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Early indication of child’s unmet physical or mental health condition or disability.
Child not brought to some health appointments or immunisations. No physical activity/ unhealthy diet impacting on child’s health. Early signs that child’s drug or alcohol use is having a negative impact on social wellbeing. |
Child has physical or mental health condition or disability which impacts affects daily functioning.
Child not brought to a number of health appointments or immunisations. No physical activity/unhealthy diet seriously impacting on child’s health despite sustained interventions. Substance misuse impacting on child’s wellbeing. |
Complex physical or mental health condition or disability has significant adverse impact on the child.
Child not brought to health appointments or immunisations. No physical activity/unhealthy diet seriously impacting on health and placing at risk of significant harm despite sustained interventions. Childs substance misuse placing child at significant risk of harm. |
Emotional Wellbeing
Emotional Wellbeing | ||
---|---|---|
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Poor self-esteem child requires additional emotional support. | Poor self-esteem/sense of identity impacts on daily outcomes. | Negative sense of self leading to significant harm.
Concern of suicide or self-harm, failing to meet development milestones. Child is exploited and harmed by others as a result; development significantly impaired; self-harming or suicidal; at high risk of Child Exploitation. |
Social Development
Social Development | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Child has limited social interaction; language and communication difficulties.
Victim or perpetrator of bullying – some support required. |
Child is socially isolated; significant communication difficulties, negative interactions and lack of respect.
Victim or perpetrator or persistent or severe bullying despite universal interventions. |
Child is completely isolated; little or no communication skills or positive interaction with others, negative interactions and lack of respect.
Victim or perpetrator of persistent or severe bullying which places wellbeing at risk. |
Behaviour
Behaviour | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Child displaying lack of age appropriate self- control; risk of negative use of internet and social behaviour. | Child displaying regular lack of age appropriate self- control.
Regularly displaying disruptive behaviour. Engaged in or victim of harmful use of internet with social media. Caring responsibilities with negative impact. Negative and intolerant interaction with others. |
Child displaying little or no age appropriate self- control.
Child’s behaviour which poses a significant risk to others including other children. Involvement in negative, antisocial or criminal behaviour and at greater risk of being groomed or exploited by others. |
Environmental Factors
Environmental Factors | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Early indication of unmet housing needs such as affordability, suitability and property condition. | Unmet housing needs due to affordability, suitability, property condition and domestic abuse. | Unsafe housing due to suitability, property condition and domestic abuse, and/or are currently homeless. 16 and 17-year-old young people who are at risk of homelessness.
No recourse to public funds. |
Extremism
Extremism | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Short lived sympathy for violent/ extreme ideology.
Child expresses sympathy/ verbal support for inappropriate ideologies but is open to other views and can discuss the pros and cons of different viewpoints. |
Expresses support for extremism and violence.
Child is being sent violent extremist imagery by family member/friends or is being helped to access it. Negative behaviour associated with extremism. |
Involved in extremism and violence;,significant concern child young person is being groomed for involvement in extremist activity.
Strong links with extremist individuals/ groups. Child is circulating violent extremist images and is promoting the actions of violent extremist and/or saying that they will carry out violence in support of extremist views. Persistently missing from home - concerns around extremism. |
Criminal or Antisocial Behaviour
Criminal or Antisocial Behaviour | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Evidence of antisocial behaviour or low- level criminal behaviour | Has associations /affiliation with negative peer groups in offending behaviour.
Involved in persistent low-level criminal activity. |
Involved in persistent, serious criminal activity of a sexual or violent nature or the offence of possession with intent to supply drugs.
There is known involvement in gang/ organised crime activity impacting significantly on day to day life. |
Missing from Home
Missing From Home | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Child has been missing from home with no factors relating to exploitation or family conflict. | Child has been missing from home and there are some concerns that they are running away in order to spend time with others who have risk factors/ behaviours that are influencing them. Possible risk factors: ASB: Crime/ County lines. Substance or alcohol misuse: sexual activity; child sexual Terrorism/extremism views. |
Child/young person persistently (3 times in 3 months) missing and are at risk of being exploited. At risk of involvement in Crime/country lines; Child sexual exploitation. Terrorism/extremism views. Children under 11 years who has had a missing episode irrespective of timescales. Children persistently missing from education who are not home schooled. |
Thresholds Tables - Parental and Family Factors
Parental and Family Factors
Protection from harm, physical and sexual abuse
Protection from harm, physical and sexual abuse | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Parents can take appropriate action to safeguard their child when they have been harmed by people outside of the family i.e. a peer, or within the community and engaged with the right support services.
Indicators of accidental harm, over presenting for health care; use of physical chastisement within legal limits that is impacting on child/young person’s emotional well- being. Parents can protect and act appropriately from extended family pressures, cultural and traditional practices that may be prevalent. |
Parents need help and support to take appropriate action to safeguard their child when they have been harmed by people outside of the family. i.e. a peer, or within the community.
Some exposure to criminal activity which impacts on the child. Parental conflict. Exposure to online grooming or emerging unhealthy sexualised behaviours between peers. Ongoing and numerous incidents indicators of accidental harm, over presenting for health care. |
Parents cannot safeguard their child from harm.
Unable to protect or seek appropriate support when a child/young person has been harmed by people outside of the family i.e. a peer, or within the community. Repeated incidents of domestic abuse in the home. Unable to keep child/young person safe due to exposure to significant criminal activity of violent crime. Family heard at MARAC due to serious level of domestic abuse. Persistent low level of domestic incident with no engagement or behaviour change. Parents are unable to protect child from grooming or exposure to sexualised harm. Parents are prompting illegal cultural practices of forced marriage, female genital mutilation. |
Neglect
Neglect | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Concerns that child/young person’s physical and material needs may not always be being met, increasing their vulnerability within the home, community. | Evidence that the child/young person’s physical and material needs are not always being met and this is starting to impact on the child’s wellbeing. | The child/young person’s physical and material needs are not adequately met and impacts on the child’s wellbeing and safety, increasing their vulnerability within the home community on a persistent basis.
Child/young person has been rejected or abandoned. |
Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Parent / Carers subject to historical and / or low level domestic abuse with no wider additional needs identified | Parent/carer subject to historical and / or current domestic abuse and additional needs identified
Domestic abuse within the family with limited sign of a change or recognition of adverse emotional impact. Child shows signs of abusive behaviours such as child / adolescent to parent violence and abuse (CAPVA) |
There is instability and abuse in the home continually with limited or no willingness for change
High level risk child adolescent to parent violence and abuse with limited or no willingness for change Parent a subject of MARAC. |
Parental Conflict
Parental Conflict | ||
---|---|---|
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Parent/carers who are either together or separated manage conflict safely and constructively, in a ‘healthy’ co-parenting relationship which does not negatively impact on their children. | Parent/carers who are either together or separated are entrenched in arguments that are frequent and poorly resolved however there is not an imbalance of power or fear.
Conflict can range from a lack of warmth and emotional distance, right through to swearing and shouting. The relationship might be classed as “difficult”, but it is not abusive albeit will still negatively impact on their children. |
This is no longer parental conflict and there is an imbalance of power between co-parents, whether together or separated, and fear within the co-parenting relationship. This is Domestic Abuse – refer to Domestic Abuse thresholds in the guidance. |
Perinatal Period
Perinatal Period | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Ambivalent to/irregular take up of ante/post-natal care; struggles to parent effectively but open to support. | Limited attendance or engagement ante/post-natal care.
Additional support due to postnatal mental health or parenting. |
Does not access ante/post-natal care or is suffering from post-natal depression which impacts on the child.
Sustained difficulties in parenting effectively and will not accept support |
Extremism
Extremism | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Some support of extreme views or ideology, but no evidence of active involvement with extremism organisation. | Family members, parents or carers expose child/young person to involvement in activity that supports or endorses extremism. | Family members, parents or carers involve child/young person in activity that supports or endorses extremism |
Drug and Alcohol Use
Drug and Alcohol Use | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Emerging concerns of parents/ carers drug or alcohol use which could impact on the child | Previous history or ongoing evidence of problematic drug and alcohol use by a family member.
Acknowledgement of the impact on the child or the worries the child may be experiencing about parental usage. |
High risk level (chaotic drug usage, IV drug usage and alcohol dependency/ regular binge drinking) whereby capacity is impacted.
Child/unborn exposed to substance misuse, drug seeking behaviours, impact on family finances and possible exposure to criminal activity. |
Physical Ill Health or Disability
Physical Ill Health or Disability | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Parental learning disability/ difficulty requires some additional support. Child has some caring responsibility which does not impact on the child. | Concerns due to parental learning disability/difficulty rendering the child more vulnerable.
The child is vulnerable due to age, illness, disability or behaviour/ emotional issues. Child has some caring responsibilities and requires additional support. |
There is no other adult that can be depended upon to meet the needs of the child. (Children or lone parents or isolated parents are at greater risk as they are less likely to have an alternative caregiver)
The child has caregiving responsibilities which significantly impact on their health and wellbeing and childhood experiences. |
Adult Mental Ill Health
Adult Mental Ill Health | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Changes in the child’s behaviour since the onset of the parent/ carer’s mental health. | The presenting mental ill health (including the effect of medication/treatment) is impacting on parent/carer’s capability to consistently meet the needs of the child. | Delusional beliefs/ideas involving the child.
Risk that a child will be harmed as part of a suicide plan. The child is a target parental aggression or rejection. Co-existing parent/carer mental ill health, domestic abuse or alcohol/ substance abuse. The child is the parent’s carer and this impacts on their health and well- being Parent or carer requires hospital admission and there is no appropriate adult to care for the child. |
Criminal or Anti-Social Behaviour
Criminal or Anti-Social Behaviour | ||
Universal | Early Help | Safeguarding |
Low level criminal activity in family. Concerns impact on the child. | Criminal record relating to violent or serious crimes which may impact on child/young person in the household.
Family willing to engage to behaviour change programs. Risk of eviction due to anti-social behaviour. |
Open to MAPPA level 2 or 3.
Parents/carers are currently/ historically involved in criminal activities of a serious violent or sexual nature. Parents involve their children in criminal activity and/or associates. Parents/carers are members of organised crime groups which impact on the child and family. Parental criminality resulting in an evidenced risk of reprisal activity and harm to the child. |
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 Children’s Service Referral Form and email to firstcontact@durham.gov.uk