9. Describe the role and responsibilities of the different organisations that may be involved when a child or young person has been abused or harmed.
Professionals within different agencies and organisations all have specific responsibilities regarding safeguarding of children and young people. The concept of integrated working involves everyone who works with children and young people, and is a central part of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2013).
Services and Organisations that may be involved in the case of child abuse
As can be seen there are many different organisations involved when there is any suspicion that a child may have been abused or actually harmed.
Educational Services
OFSTED – aims to ensure the safe and
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They can also work with parents and carers in the care and treatment of vulnerable children, providing support to the families to help them achieve better parenting skills.
Legal Services
Police – must be informed at the earliest opportunity when any criminal offence has been, or is suspected of having been committed against a child. The decision concerning instigation of criminal proceedings is made by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS. This decision is made, whenever possible after consultation with other agencies. All forces have a Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU). It is their responsibility to:
• Make a decision on whether a crime has been committed and, if so, to begin the criminal investigation
• Gather evidence from children’s social care, other agencies and others thought to be involved
• Take emergency action if children are in immediate danger – this may involve removing the child from the situation or alternatively removing the perpetrator
• Attending court to give evidence when a crime has been committed
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) – is the government department held responsible for the prosecuting of people in England and Wales that have been charged by the Police with a criminal offence. The CPS came into being as a result of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The CPS is an independent body that works closely with the Police.
Probation Officers - have the
It emphasises the important principles to be followed when working with children and young people: settings must provide a safe and secure environment, if any children are identified as suffering from abuse or likely to suffer the appropriate action must be taken.
There are many procedures, policies, legislations and statutory guidance to support the safety and welfare of children and young people. They have been developed over many years to recognise the rights of children and young people, protect vulnerable children and young people and after independent inquiries of fatal abuse cases, to recognise the failures of multi agencies and support services.
Section 47 of the Act places a duty upon local authorities to investigate such situations whereby 'there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer harm'.
It focuses on support to families and carers for effective parenting, fostering or child care.
Safeguarding involves everything a setting does, including their procedures and policies etc, to ensure children are kept safe and healthy, and that the risk of them coming to harm or being involved in an accident, is minimised.
1.1. Identify current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
1.3 Analyse how national and local guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding affect day-to-day work with children and young people
Safeguarding is for everyone and every organisation responsibility to protect children from any harm and promote their welfare (Children Act, 2004). However, the Department of Children, School
Risk assessments should be carried out regularly to make sure that there are no safe guard threats towards the children in the setting. Childcare settings need risk assessing for example is there entrances and exits to the building that an unauthorised person could use? Could a child leave the setting without anyone noticing? Could a child get seriously hurt due to a broken piece of equipment?
Decision made by an agency with Statutory Child Protection Powers (Police, LA or NSPCC) that emergency action may be necessary to safeguard child
The importance of interagency working in the safeguarding and protection of children in the UK
Working Together to safeguard children 2015 is a statutory guidance and says ‘’specific duties in relation to children’s need and children suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.’’ (Gov.uk)
Working together to safeguard children 2006 sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children’s Act 2004. It is important that all practitioners within settings and environments looking and caring after children and young people must know their responsibilities and duties in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, following their legislations, policies and procedures.
The responsibility of middle management within the Child Abuse Investigation team is enabling the organisation to achieve its goal in the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care which is undertaken so as to enable children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully. Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting