Developing Interagency Child Protection Work:

Report of a Cross Agency Audit

Dr Pam Green Lister

Historical Context

DOH 1991 Report of Child Abuse Inquiries in 1980s

Butler Sloss 1988 Clyde 1992 DOH 1995 Messages from Research Hammond 2001 Laming 2003 O’ Brien 2003 Scottish Executive 2005 Herbison 2006

Scottish Executive Policy Documents

2001 For Scotland’s Children 2002 It’s Everyone’s Job .. 2003 Getting Our Priorities Right 2004 Protecting Children and Young

People, Charter and Framework

2004 Hidden Harm 2005 Getting it Right for Every Child 2005 Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection

Committees

The Audit

Aim to analyse the effectiveness of interagency working

at the early stage of the child protection process

Objectives

to identify the features of interagency working where there is concern about a child before child protection procedures may have been invoked

to examine this stage of concern from the perspective of the core agencies involved

to analyse what assists the development of good interagency practice and what inhibits such practice

Methodology

40 children identified by GCCP where cause for concern in timeframe of 1st August to 31st October 2004

10 provided by Social Work, Police, Health and Education

1 child named by 2 agenciesTotal 39 children

Documentary Analysis of agency files

Questionnaires

Interviews

Documentary Analysis

1st Stage Analysis of Referral Documentation

Health : Cause for Concern Referrals Education: Circular 57 Forms Police: Incident Reports and Files Social Work : Care First and Paper Files Total 39

2nd Stage Analysis: Cross referencing of Documentation

Police: 24 Incident Reports and Files Social Work : 38 Care First and 30 Paper Files

Audit Tool

Referring agency Date and nature of referral/ incident Sex, ethnicity, age Alleged perpetrator Referral category Registration

Summary of previous involvement Immediate response to the referral Post referral activity

Questionnaires: Education and Health

Contact with the family prior to the referral

Contact with other agencies prior to the referral

Contact with other agencies with regard to this specific referral

Health : 16 health visitors 17 school nurses

Education: 7 head teachers

Interviews

14 follow up interviews – semi structured

Discussion of the specific case Issues in interagency work with the other three

agencies General interagency issues Intra agency issues What assists interagency work

Social Work ( 5), Police (3) Health (3) Education (3)

Findings: Documentary Analysis

Issues raised from the nature of the files made available

The immediate response by lead investigative agencies

Previous interagency activity

Issues Arising from Agency Files

Social Work The advantages and disadvantages of CareFirst files The recording of opinions and the ‘why’ question The use of research to inform practice Importance of explicit identification of aims,

evidence base, planning and evaluation

Police Detailed recording and monitoring

Health Comprehensive – ‘what’ was done Separate notes for children and parents Importance of explicit identification of aims,

evidence base, planning and evaluation

Factors Affecting Responses: Physical InjurySeeing the child Immediate harm Nature of physical

injury Current or historical

3. Medical Presence / severity

injuries Previous exposure

to examination

2. Joint interview Communication

needs Consistency Adult witness of

abuse Availability of JIT

trained social worker

Availability of police surgeon

Factors Affecting Responses: Sexual Abuse

Seeing the child

Allocated social worker

Receipt other services Current or historical

abuse Nature of allegation Alleged perpetrator

outwith the home

Joint interview

Factors related to seeing the child

Availability of JIT trained Social Worker

Medical examination Factors related to

seeing the child and joint interview

Child accommodated

Factors Affecting Responses: Neglect

Child in immediate danger

Allocated social worker

Accumulation of concerns

Range of agencies providing services

Communication between workers

Different thresholds

Previous Interagency Activity

Currently registered 3 Previously registered 1 Sibling previously registered 1 Currently accommodated 2 Previous CP investigations 5 Previous CP concerns 10 Previous serious CC concerns 7 No/ low level involvement 10

Interviews: Social Workers’ Perspectives

Examples productive relationships all agencies Health Visitors high tariff cases JIT interviews Head teachers regular feedback

Areas of Concern Timescale and JIT led by police Teachers professional responsibility Differing thresholds health visitors Other agencies understanding of social work legal remit Other agencies understanding of role of reception and

duty Attendance at core groups

Legislative timescale leaving children in limbo

Interviews: Police Perspectives

Examples of positive co-working all agencies

Good understanding roles of police and social work JIT training and interviewing Health Visitors untapped resource Head teacher – child communication difficulties

Areas of Concern

Difficulty accessing some social workers Non JIT trained social workers in interviews Some head teachers not understand role in CP

Legislative timescale/ Reporter response

Interviews: Health Visitors’ Perspectives

Examples of positive co-working all agencies Complex child care work with Social Workers Good liaison nursery teachers Well organised professional case conferences

Areas of Concern Difficult initial access to social work Absence of qualified social worker Patchy ongoing communication social work Less preventative work Lack of knowledge health visitor professional

role Lack of statutory powers health visitors

Interviews: Head Teachers’ Perspectives

Examples of positive co-working all agencies Coordinated support asylum seekers Case conferences and core groups Co-work health visitors

Areas of Concern Access to social workers Less preventative work Role of school nurses

Themes from Interviews

Understanding of professional role Communication and accessibility Continuity of contact and feedback Informal and formal agency forums Joint Training Possible co-location

Areas for Consideration

Social Work File organisation and index Rationale for decisions Reception / Duty Services /

Access JIT trained workers Neglect cases Review of files

Areas for Consideration

Police Arrangements for JIT interviews Staffing

Education Reaffirmation of roles and

responsibilities Role of head teachers in joint interview

Areas for Consideration

Health File organisation Explicit rational for activity Evaluation of files Explicit risk assessment Provisions of written report

Areas for Consideration

General Interagency Delays in children hearing system Panel member training Continued interagency training Knowledge all professional roles Co-location Monitoring attendance of core

groups

References

Butler- Sloss, E. (1988). Report of the Inquiry into Child Abuse in Cleveland 1987, presented to the Secretary of State for Social Services by the Right Honourable Lord Butler Sloss DBE. London: HMSO.

Clyde, Lord (1992). Report of the Inquiry into the Removal of Children from Orkney February 1991. London: HMSO.

Department of Health (1991). Child Abuse. A Study of Inquiry Reports 1980-1989. London: HMSO.

Department of Health (1995). Child Protection: Messages from Research. London: HMSO

References

Hammond, H. (2001). Child Protection Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Kennedy McFarlane. Commissioned by Dumfries and Galloway Child Protection Committee.

Herbison, J. (2006). Danielle Reid Independent Review into the Circumstances Surrounding Her Death

Scottish Executive (2001). For Scotland’s Children. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive

Laming, Lord (2003). The Victoria Climbie Inquiry. Report of an Inquiry by Lord Laming. The Stationery Office: London

O’ Brien S. QC (2003). Report of the Caleb Ness Inquiry Commissioned by the Edinburgh and Lothians’ Child Protection Committee.

Scottish Executive (2002). It’s Everyone’s Job to Make Sure I’m Alright. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive

References

Scottish Executive (2003). Getting our Priorities Right-Good Practice Guidance for Working with Children and Families affected by Substance Misuse. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.

Scottish Executive (2004a). Protecting Children and Young People: the Charter. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.

Scottish Executive (2004b). Protecting Children and Young People :The Framework for Standards. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.

Scottish Executive (2004c). Hidden Harm. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.