What does it mean to be a child in need?
A child in need is defined under the Children Act 1989 as a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or whose health and development is likely to be significantly or further impaired, without the provision of services; or a child who is disabled.
How does safeguarding help to meet children’s individual needs?
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children means: Protecting children from maltreatment; Preventing impairment of children’s health and development; Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and.
What age is a child safeguarding?
Sexual activity involving a child under the age of 16 should be considered a potential safeguarding concern. Professionals who are aware of sexual activity involving a child aged under 16, should follow their organisational, local, and national procedures when deciding whether to make a safeguarding referral.
How serious is a child in need plan?
‘Child in need’ is a less serious category of case that requires less intensive support.
Reclassified cases.
| Type of abuse | Social workers who felt pressured to reclassify one of these cases |
|---|---|
| Neglect | 84% |
| Emotional abuse | 74% |
| Physical abuse | 32% |
What happens at a child in need assessment?
A ‘child in need’ assessment under section 17 will identify the needs of the child and ensure that the family are given the appropriate support in enabling them to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
What is a Section 47 in child protection?
Section 47 investigations
A Section 47 enquiry means that CSC must carry out an investigation when they have ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm’1.
How many levels of need are there safeguarding?
There are four levels of need and it is important to identify children and young people’s needs at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure they get the right help at the right time.
What do all children need in safeguarding?
protecting children from abuse and maltreatment. preventing harm to children’s health or development. ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care. taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
What are the 3 parts of safeguarding?
Safeguarding children is defined in Working together to safeguard 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.
A court order, known as an emergency protection order, is required for social services to take a child away from parents, unless there are immediate concerns for the child’s safety, in which case a child may be removed by the police and placed in police protection for up to 72 hours.
What is an at risk child?
Children have been defined as “at risk” with a variety of different indicators, including having limited reading. proficiency, having experienced abuse or trauma, having a disability or illness, or having exhibited behavior. problems.4.
What is the threshold for child in need?
A child in need is defined under the Children Act 1989 as a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or whose health and development is likely to be significantly or further impaired, without the provision of services; or a child who is disabled.
Aside from food, water, and shelter, kids also need to have fun. The social worker will look for some toys, or other items that belong to your kids. Don’t panic if your children’s room is a little messy, the social worker is only making sure they have a livable space in your home.
What does a child in need mean UK?
A child is ‘in need’ if:[2] they are unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by a local authority under Part 3 of the Children Act 1989.
You have every right to refuse any social service people admission to your home. They would have to go away and get police assistance + court order (they would have to provide enough evidence to a judge it was an emergency, that your kids were at risk).
Yes. The social worker will want to speak to your child alone, but they should ask you before they do so (unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example they are concerned that you might threaten your child or try to make your child stay silent, or your child doesn’t want you involved).
This is an early stage where a Social Worker is allocated. There will be statutory visits by the Social Worker every 4 weeks. These can be announced and unannounced visits. There will be Child in Need meetings where the parents must agree to certain things which are made into a safety plan.
What is a Section 20 in child protection?
Section 20 agreements allow the local authority to remove a child and place them in foster care without the need for a court order. Whether or not to enter into a section 20 agreement is a voluntary decision made by the parents with the local authority.
If they suspect a child might be at risk of harm, they have to look into the child’s situation and take steps to keep them safe. They might decide to put the child on a protection plan. They may interview or medically examine your child without you present.
What does Level 3 safeguarding mean?
Level Three safeguarding training refers to the training of a Designated Safeguarding Lead. This is someone who is the first point of contact for staff or families with access to the organisation you work for. These courses should offer information on Designated Safeguarding Lead’s specific responsibilities.
What is the most common reason for a child protection plan?
Emotional abuse and neglect remain top reasons children are within the child protection system.
When should you raise a safeguarding concern?
If you still have concerns about abuse or neglect and it is not possible or within the scope of your role to have a conversation with the adult, then, if in doubt, continue with the process and raise a safeguarding concern.
What is classed as a safeguarding concern?
A safeguarding concern is when a person is concerned about someone’s well-being. These concerns may be about a family member, a neighbour or a friend and could be around different types of Neglect or Abuse.
What are the 5 P’s in child protection?
The 5 P’s of child protection are: Prevention, Paramountcy, Partnership, Protection and Parental Responsibility.
What do Ofsted look for in safeguarding?
The main things our inspectors look at are: the extent to which leaders, governors and managers create a positive culture and ethos where safeguarding is an important part of everyday life. the content of safeguarding policies and procedures, and how well these are applied in practice.
What are the four types of neglect?
But broadly speaking, there are 4 types of neglect.
- Physical neglect. A child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, are not met or they aren’t properly supervised or kept safe.
- Educational neglect. A parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education.
- Emotional neglect.
- Medical neglect.
What are the 6 principles of child safeguarding?
What are the six principles of safeguarding?
- Empowerment. People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
- Prevention. It is better to take action before harm occurs.
- Proportionality. The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
- Protection.
- Partnership.
- Accountability.
Common Reasons Social Services Would Take a Child
- Emotional abuse.
- Physical abuse.
- Sexual abuse.
- Neglect.
- Medical neglect.
- Abandonment.
- If the parents have been incarcerated.
- Serious illness or death of parents.
What is the most common form of child neglect?
Physical neglect is by far the most common type of neglect. In most cases, the parent or caregiver is not providing the child with all of the basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter. In some cases, young children are left without proper supervision for extended periods of time.
How can you tell if a child is in danger or at risk?
Possible behavioural indicators include:
- displaying low self-esteem.
- tending to be withdrawn, passive or tearful.
- displaying aggressive or demanding behaviour.
- being highly anxious.
- showing delayed speech.
- acting like a much younger child.
- displaying difficulties in relating to adults and peers.
- forced marriage.
How do you know if your child is in danger?
Changes in behavior — such as aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or changes in school performance. Depression, anxiety or unusual fears, or a sudden loss of self-confidence. Sleep problems and nightmares. An apparent lack of supervision.
What happens at a child in need assessment?
A ‘child in need’ assessment under section 17 will identify the needs of the child and ensure that the family are given the appropriate support in enabling them to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
How often should child in need visits take place?
All children who are subject to a Child in Need plan must be visited by their Social Worker at least once every 20 working days but should be visited and seen more frequently if indicated in the CIN plan or as agreed by management.
If you are in care, your social worker must visit you: Within 1 week of you moving to live in a new place. Then at least every 6 weeks for the first year. Then every 6 weeks unless it has been agreed that you will live where you are until you are 18, in which case you must be visited at least once every 3 months.
What is a Section 47 in child protection?
Section 47 investigations
A Section 47 enquiry means that CSC must carry out an investigation when they have ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm’1.
What is considered child neglect?
Neglect is the failure to provide for or meet a child’s basic physical, emotional, educational, and medical needs. Parents or caregivers may leave a child in the care of a person who is known to be abusive, or they may leave a young child unattended. There are many forms of neglect.
What is considered an unsafe environment for a child UK?
Understanding What Is A Truly Unsafe Environment
An unsafe environment that poses threats for your children and are instances where a court will step-in include: Physical abuse to intentionally harm the child’s body or mind. Neglecting the child by failing to give them what he/she needs.
In most cases the Child Protection Plan will require that the lead social worker has contact with a child more frequently. This typically would be every 10 working days although contacts may be at school, or another venue and not the home.
Do parents attend CIN meetings?
Everyone involved with your family gets together to agree a plan for this and everyone has their own roles and responsibilities in making sure that plan succeeds in an agreed amount of time. It is one step up from a TAC/TAF but one step down from a child protection meeting. Who will attend: Parent(s)
Can you decline a child in need plan?
Yes, a child in need plan should be with your consent or the consent of a child who is old enough to consent. Here is a FAQ about the situation when there is a CIN plan and a parent no longer wants children services involved in their family.
Can you refuse a child in need assessment?
Yes. Child in need assessments are voluntary. This means that parents or carers do not have to agree to have an assessment.
Aside from food, water, and shelter, kids also need to have fun. The social worker will look for some toys, or other items that belong to your kids. Don’t panic if your children’s room is a little messy, the social worker is only making sure they have a livable space in your home.
Your partner cannot legally stop you from having access to your child unless continued access will be of detriment to your child’s welfare. Until a court order is arranged, one parent may attempt to prevent a relationship with the other. If this happens, your main priority should be the welfare of your child.
A child protection social worker’s primary responsibility is to protect children in situations of neglect, abuse or maltreatment. They may investigate allegations of child abuse or endangerment by gathering evidence to build a case either to substantiate or dismiss claims against a parent or guardian.
Re: Can social workers just enter and search your home
Only the police can do this, and even they have to have a search warrant from a judge. You have every right to refuse any social service people admission to your home.
Yes. The social worker will want to speak to your child alone, but they should ask you before they do so (unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example they are concerned that you might threaten your child or try to make your child stay silent, or your child doesn’t want you involved).
What section is a child in need?
Section 17 of the Act places a general duty on all local authorities to ‘safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need. ‘ Basically, a ‘child in need’ is a child who needs additional support from the local authority to meet their potential.
What is a s31 care order?
The court can create a care order under Section 31(1) (a) of the Children Act, placing a child in the care of a designated local authority, with parental responsibility being shared between the parents and the local authority.