Safeguarding Children and Young People
Safeguarding Children
Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of children and young people who access services that it commissions.
As a member of the Local Safeguarding Partnership Children Board (LSPCB) and in line with multi-agency West Mercia Safeguarding policy and procedures, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin CCG ensures that staff have appropriate policies, procedure, training and access to expert advice to ensure the children and young people at risk are identified and, where appropriate a referral is made to Children’s Social Care.
What is ‘Safeguarding Children’?
Definition of a child: someone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) statutory guidance and The Children Act (2004) defines safeguarding children as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment;
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.
Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm.
What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g. via the internet). They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children.
The Government publication ‘Working Together 2018’ can be accessed here.
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Arrangements
The Local Safeguarding Partnership Board (LSCB) is a multi-agency forum which includes statutory members including the local authority, CCG’s, police, probation, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts. The chair of the each LSCB is independent and Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCG and has representation from the Executive Leads and Designated Professionals.
What is a vulnerable child?
Definition of a vulnerable child: Any child under the age of 18 including the unborn baby can suffer from abuse.
However some children are more vulnerable than others. Whilst the list is not exhaustive, risk factors include:
- ‘Looked after’ children those already in the care system (and care leavers);
- Children under the age of 5;
- Children with disabilities;
- Homeless children;
- Teenage mothers;
- Children in custodial settings;
- Children who live with parental drug and alcohol abuse or domestic violence.
Useful Links:
Child sexual exploitation Advice for Healthcare Staff
Spot the Signs of Child Sexual Exploitation
Telford and Wrekin Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation
DON’T DELAY – ACT TODAY
If you become concerned that a child may have been, or is at risk of being abused, you should make a referral to Children’s Social Care (Social Services).
Urgent action to safeguard the child must be taken if the child is deemed to be in immediate danger (e.g. where appropriate dial 999 and contact the police).
How do I make a Child Protection Referral?
To make a formal referral or to ask for advice contact:
Telford and Wrekin
Family Connect:
Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm - 01952 385385
Out of hours - 01952 676500
Shropshire
Initial Contact Team - 0345 678 9021
Out of hours - 0345 678 9040
For further guidance and access to West Mercia inter agency child protection procedures click the links below:
If you wish to access the LSCB multi-agency procedures, please click here.
For further guidance and access to the West Mercia Inter Agency Child Protection Procedures, follow the links below:
Child Death Overview Panel
Since 1 April, 2008, Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB) have had a statutory responsibility to review all deaths of children from birth (excluding still born babies and planned terminations) up to 18 years, who are normally resident in their area. The duties of the LSCB regarding these processes are set out in Chapter 5 of Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government 2018).
The joint Shropshire/Telford and Wrekin Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) (including representatives from Social Care, Health, Police, Public Health and local Children’s Hospice) continues to monitor and review all child deaths on behalf of both LSCBs.
Reviewing child deaths includes collecting information about the circumstances of the child’s death and family background, with the overall purpose to understand how and why children die, make recommendations to protect other children and to prevent future deaths.
In the West Mercia area there will be two CDOPs (Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire/Worcestershire) with a wider West Mercia approach to thematic discussions to consider learning from the Independent Reviews undertaken.
For sudden and unexpected deaths a co-ordinated, multi-agency Rapid Response is initiated to ensure safeguarding and public health issues are considered.
Useful Link:
Child Death Reviews For Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin
Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) Team Contact Details
Dr Sam Postings, Associate Specialist Paediatrician and Lead Doctor for the Child Death Overview Panel and Named Doctor for Safeguarding
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Stepping Stones Centre, TF3 2BF
Tel: 01952 567300 (Stepping Stones Reception)
Email: samj.postings1@nhs.nets
Bea Jones - Nurse Specialist Child Death Reviews
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Halesfield 6, TF7 4BF
Tel: 01952 580312
Mobile: 07826 901962
Email: bernadette.jones1@nhs.net
Sam Wheatley, Child Death Overview Panel Administrator and Secretary to Named Nurse and Nurse Specialist, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Halesfield 6, TF7 4BF
Tel: 01952 580387
Email: sam.wheatley@nhs.net
The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Interim Accountable Officer and Chief Executive/ Managing Directors of the Local Authorities (LA) are as follows:
Claire Skidmore, Interim Accountable Officer, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin CCG;
Andy Begley, Chief Executive / Managing Director, Shropshire LA
David Sidaway, Chief Executive / Managing Director, Telford and Wrekin LA
Contact Details for Child Safeguarding Lead:
Audrey Scott-Ryan
Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCG
a.scott-ryan@nhs.net