Redbridge local safeguarding children board

News:      02 May 2024

National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Annual Report 2022 – 2023

The National Panel has published a report from 2022 – 2023 which can be accessed via the link below:

The NSPCC have published a useful summary of the report as a CASPER Briefing:

Duty to Refer – Homelessness

Guidance has been issued for professionals by the Local Authority on the duty to refer when a family are at risk of homelessness.

Updated Redbridge SCP Multi-Agency Safeguarding Referrals and Threshold Guidance

An updated version of the RSCP Multi-Agency Safeguarding Referrals and Threshold Guidance has been published which includes how to access early help and thresholds for referrals into children’s social care.  It includes the London SCP Threshold – Continuum of Need Matrix which has been adopted by agencies working with children and young people in Redbridge.

HM Government Statutory Guidance – Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023

The Government have published revised multi-agency statutory guidance – Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.  Below is the link to the document and a summary of changes made from the previous version, dated 2018.

The NSPCC have published a summary of the updated Statutory Guidance.

RSCP Priorities 2023 – 2024

The RSCP has agreed its priorities for 2023 – 2024 which can be downloaded via the link below:

RSCP Multi-Agency Child Neglect Toolkit

Our Neglect Toolkit has had a refresh and is ready for use.  The full Toolkit and Guidance and the Checklist can be downloaded from below or on the neglect page in the professionals are of the website.

If you need training on neglect, check out the Understanding Neglect Course on our Training Programme.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Training Programme 2023 – 2024

Our new Programme is now out and bookings are open.  It covers a range of essential safeguarding topics based on understanding safeguarding risks, contextual safeguarding and child on child abuse, and working together safeguard and create safer settings.  Some examples of what we have included are:

  • Children’s Mental Health
  • Safeguarding Children with Disabilities
  • Harmful Sexual Behaviours and the Brook Traffic Light Tool
  • Understanding Neglect
  • Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Children
  • Supervising Safeguarding Practice

Information on booking etc. can be found in the Programme and in the Notes for Training Attendees and Managers.  Spaces are limited and we expect some of our courses to sell out so get in quickly with your bookings.

Private Fostering Arrangements

Are you aware of a child who is being cared for by someone who is not a close relative for a period of more than 28 days?  If so, they may be part of a private fostering arrangement.  This is where someone who is not a close relative cares for a child under the aged of sixteen (or eighteen if the child has a disability).  A close relative is considered to be an aunt, grandparent, step-parent, or a sibling.  Other family members, for example, cousins or great aunts, are not classed as close relatives under the definition of private fostering.  An example of a private fostering arrangement is a child from overseas, such as a student, being hosted by a family whilst being educated in the UK.  All private fostering arrangements should be notified to the Local Authority.  In Redbridge, this can be undertaken by contacting Children’s Services via 020 8708 3885 or by e-mail via CPAT.Referrals@redbridge.gov.uk .  More information is available on private fostering on the Council’s website.