Please refer to section 3.4 of the 4LSCB procedures.
4lscbprocedures.pdf
You will also find the Children's Trust Thresholds Document useful. Please click here to download the Children's Trust Threshold Chart and Threshold Guidance 2010.
If you are worried about a child or young person please call Hampshire Children's Services 0845 6035620 (24 hours). If you feel the child or young person is in immediate danger please call the Police on 999.
The Inter-Agency Referral form has been updated recently and is available through the Children's Services web-site. It is for professionals to complete after they have contacted Hants Direct by phone. Please click here to access the Children's Services Child Protection Interagency Referral Form. The referral form can be found on the right hand side of the page.
The Hampshire Children's Services chronology format has been added to the referral and Child Protection Conference pages. A chronology is a vital tool towards understanding the culmulative events in a child's life and very helpful in the single or interagency analysis of developing risks. If you agency does not have its own format, Children's Services are very happy for you to theirs. Please click here to download a copy of the chronology format. This can be submitted alongside your referral.
Click here for CPC Guidance for professionals September 2010
The Hampshire Children's Services chronology format has been added to the referral and Child Protection Conference pages. A chronology is a vital tool towards understanding the culmulative events in a child's life and very helpful in the single or interagency analysis of developing risks. If you agency does not have its own format, Children's Services are very happy for you to theirs. Please click here to download a copy of the chronology format. This can be submitted alongside your Child Protection Conference Report.
Family Child Protection Conference leaflet
Click here to download the Initial CP Conference report template
Click here to download the Review CP Conference report template
Child Protection Plans
A ‘Core Group’ of relevant Interagency professionals is convened to ensure that the child protection plan is developed as a detailed working tool and this group is responsible for implementing the day to day plan within the outline plan agreed at the initial child protection conference.
The chair of the core group will come from the social care team within the Children Services Department and will be either the Team Manager or another experienced social worker. In Hampshire it will not be the allocated social worker who chairs this group as previous experience has taught us that this is not the safest option.
Membership should include the lead social worker, (also known as key worker, or allocated social worker), the child if appropriate, family members and professionals or foster carers who will have direct contact with the family. The conference itself will identify those agencies who should be part of the core group. Although the lead social worker has lead responsibility for the implementation of the child protection plan, all members of the core group are jointly responsible for carrying out these tasks, refining the plan as needed and monitoring progress against the planned outcomes set out in the plan.
Hampshire’s new procedure from October 1, 2010 is that following the Initial Child Protection Conference, and assuming the child is made subject to a child protection plan, the core group will follow on directly. Thereafter, core groups should meet sufficiently regularly to facilitate working together, monitor actions and outcomes against the child protection plan, and make any necessary alterations as circumstances change. They would usually be not less than every six weeks unless a full conference is held in between and any departure from these timescales would need to be agreed by the core group chair and the conference chair. Minutes are maintained from core group meetings and if it is believed that the protection plan is not working it may be necessary to refer back to the Child Protection Conference Chair.
Attendance at Core Group Meetings is key to taking forward the Protection Plan and should be given a high priority by all agencies. Agencies should ensure that members of the core group undertake their roles and responsibilities effectively in accordance with the agreed child protection plan. (Working Together 2010 (5.116))
Core groups are an important forum for working with parents, wider family
members and children of sufficient age and understanding. It can often be difficult for parents to accept the need for a child protection plan within the confines of a formal conference. Their co-operation may be gained later the core group. Sometimes there may be conflicts of interest between family members who have a relevant interest in the work of the core group. The child’s best interests should always take precedence over the interests of other family members.(Working Together 2010 (5.117))
Further information can be found in the above CP Conference Guidance.
