Practitioners and professionals
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and, in particular, protecting them from significant harm, depends on effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise.
The role of professionals and volunteers in safeguarding
For those children who are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, joint working is essential to safeguard and promote their welfare and, where necessary, to help bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against children.
All professionals and volunteers should:
- be alert to potential signs of abuse or neglect
- be alert to the risks of harm that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to children particularly within their organisation or group setting
- prioritise direct communication and positive and respectful; relationships with children, ensuring the child’s wishes and feelings underpin assessments and any safeguarding activities
- share and help to analyse information so that an assessment can be made of whether the child is suffering or is likely to suffer harm, their needs, and circumstances
- contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare; take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the child against specific plans
- work cooperatively with parents, unless this is inconsistent with ensuring the child’s safety.
How to make a referral to children’s social care
Referrals should be made in accordance with the thresholds of need and intervention guidance:
Effective support for children, young people and their families
Effective information-sharing underpins integrated working and is a vital element of both early intervention and safeguarding. Research and experience have shown repeatedly that keeping children safe from harm requires practitioners and others to share information.
View the introductory video for guidance, and how to use it to help inform your decision making
