Please select a partnership to see additional information:

Amendments

Shared Board Amendments

ChapterDetailsDate
Radicalisation and violent extremism

Procedure updated following review.

26-03-2024
Children with disabilities

Procedure revised following review.

26-03-2024
Children Missing Education (CME)

Procedure updated after review.

26-03-2024
Neglect

Procudure reviewed and updated

06-03-2024
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Updates made to 2.1.

20-02-2024
Domestic violence and abuse

Procedure updated

07-02-2024
Child protection conferences

Amends made to Chair decision wording.

22-01-2024
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Changes made in light of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.

16-10-2023
Persons posing a risk to children

Procedure revised following review.

16-10-2023
Forced marriage

Definition updated in light of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Act 2022.

16-10-2023
Child protection enquiries

Reinstated the West Mercia Police aand Children Services Protocol.

02-10-2023
Additional guidance

Regional Framework and Practice Guidance updated

22-06-2023
Physical abuse

Procedure updated.

14-06-2023
Forced marriage

HM Government statutory guidance on Forced Marriage updated.

14-06-2023
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

New section on victim-blaming language added.

31-05-2023
Children living away from home

Procedure updated.

31-05-2023
Children from abroad

Procedure updated

31-05-2023
Children missing from care, home and education

Procedure updated

31-05-2023
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

'A guide to online safety and gaming' added to Further information. 

31-05-2023
Children Missing Education (CME)

Department for Education guidance for schools on mental health issues affecting pupils' attendance added to Further information.

31-05-2023
Bullying

Link to NSPCC advice on bullying and cyberbullying added to Further information.

31-05-2023
Safeguarding children and young people against radicalisation and violent extremism

CTU gateway email address updated.

27-03-2023
Additional guidance

Regional Framework and Practicec Guidance updated. 

22-03-2023
Abuse linked to Faith, Cultural and Religious Beliefs

Procedure reviewed and revised.

09-02-2023
Implementing child protection plans

Section added on Children on Child Protection Plans who Move Abroad

12-12-2022
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Link to LGFL's 'Undressed' guide added.

29-11-2022
Forced marriage

'The right to choose' guidance link updated.

29-11-2022
Recruitment, supervision and training

Online search recommendation from Keeping Children Safe in Education added in.

29-11-2022
Domestic abuse

Added in information from Keeping Children Safe in Education on the impact of DA on chidren.

29-11-2022
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Added 'zero tolerance' approach to child-on-child sexual violence in schools and colleges (KCSIE 2022)

29-11-2022
Radicalisation and violent extremism

Link to Prevent Duty training added

29-11-2022
Introduction

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child infographic added.

29-11-2022
Female genital mutilation

Virginity testing and hymenoplasty guidance added.

29-11-2022
Honour-based abuse

Virginity testing and hymenoplasty guidance added.

29-11-2022
Information sharing and confidentiality

Changed 'GDPR' to 'UK GDPR'

25-11-2022
Sharing information

Changed 'GDPR' to 'UK GDPR'

25-11-2022
Responding to children and families who are not where they are expected to be

Changed 'clinical commissioning group' to 'integrated care board'

25-11-2022
Allegations against staff or volunteers

Changed 'clinical commissioning group' to 'integrated care board'

25-11-2022
Children missing from care, home and education

Changed 'clinical commissioning groups' to 'integrated care boards'

25-11-2022
Children living away from home

Changed 'clinical commissioning groups' to 'integrated care boards'

25-11-2022
Child Death Reviews

Changed 'clinical commissioning groups' to 'integrated care boards'

25-11-2022
Early help

Link added to 'Supporting Families: Early Health System guide

25-11-2022
Bullying

Procuedure updated

10-10-2022
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Amended 'peer-on-peer' to 'child-on-child' (KCSIE 2022)

29-09-2022
Sexual activity in children and young people (including under-age sexual activity)

Changed 'peer-on-peer' to 'child-on-child' (KCSIE 2022)

29-09-2022
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Amended 'peer-on-peer' to 'child-on-child' (KCSIE 2022)

29-09-2022
Sexual activity in children and young people (including under-age sexual activity)

Removed link to 'Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges' as has been withdrawn. Added link to part 5 of KCSIE.

29-09-2022
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Updated KCSIE to 2022

29-09-2022
Female genital mutilation

Updated KCSIE to 2022

29-09-2022
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated KCSIE to 2022

29-09-2022
Recruitment, supervision and training

Updated KCSIE to 2022

29-09-2022
Additional guidance

Added 'seeing, hearing or experiencing' in relation to domestic abuse (KCSIE Sept 2022)

29-09-2022
Additional guidance

Added in County Lines Toolkit for Professionals link

29-09-2022
Allegations against staff or volunteers

Added in 'contractors' to 'School and educational establishments' (KCSIE Sept 2022)

29-09-2022
Responding to concerns about a child

Changes made in light of Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2022

29-09-2022
Allegations against staff or volunteers

Information on extending the definition of 'position of trust'.

16-08-2022
Sexual abuse

New procedure

20-06-2022
Female genital mutilation

Procedure reviewed and updated.

20-06-2022
Children of parents who misuse substances

Procedure reviewed and updated

20-06-2022
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Procedure updated

09-06-2022
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Added SWGfL support service link

31-05-2022
Injuries in Babies and Children under 2 years of age

Added GPs to the child healthcare practitioners title and removed the GPs section.

30-03-2022
Neglect

Sandwell Childrens Safeguarding Partnership Tackling Neglect Strategy 2022

17-02-2022
Fabricated or Induced Illness

Revised procedure Jan 2022

20-01-2022
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Added in line from KCSIE that staff should understand that even if there are no reports of peer-on-peer abuse in their school, this doesn’t mean it is not happening

15-12-2021
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Added that there may be different indicators for girls and boys, as per KCSIE.

15-12-2021
Honour-based abuse

Procedure updated

07-12-2021
Children Missing Education (CME)

Updated link to KCSIE.

03-12-2021
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Procedure revised

18-11-2021
Information sharing and confidentiality

Procedure re-written

18-11-2021
Recruitment, supervision and training

Amends made as per Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021.

18-11-2021
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Minor revisions made to 'Protection and action to be taken'

18-11-2021
Children of parents with mental health problems

Procedure reviewed and updated.

15-06-2021
Forced marriage

Procedure reviewed and updated.

15-06-2021
Children with disabilities

Procedure reviewed and updated.

15-06-2021
Additional guidance

Statutory guidance on Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews added.

14-06-2021
Domestic abuse

Added paragraph under 'Police' about indirect harm, as per Working Together amends in December 2020.

19-03-2021
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Amended title of procedure, in line with amends to Working Together in December 2020.

19-03-2021
Referrals

Revisions made in light of revised Working Together December 2020

19-03-2021
Early help

Changes made in light of revised Working Together December 2020

19-03-2021
Honour-based abuse

Revised wording due to change in Keeping Children Safe in Education (honour-based violence to honour-based abuse)

19-03-2021
Introduction

Added two definitions - Working Together and Keeping Children Safe in Education

19-03-2021
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Added 'Education at home'

07-01-2021
Sexual activity in children and young people (including under-age sexual activity)

Added Upskirting

07-01-2021
Domestic abuse

Added Operation Encompass

07-01-2021
Domestic abuse

KCSIE 2020 amend

07-01-2021
Allegations against staff or volunteers

KCSIE 2020 amend

07-01-2021
Allegations against staff or volunteers

KCSIE 2020 amends

07-01-2021
Responding to concerns about a child

KCSIE amend

07-01-2021
Introduction

KCSIE amends

07-01-2021
Sexual activity in children and young people (including under-age sexual activity)

Amended procedure December 2020

04-12-2020
Children who abuse others including peer on peer abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Revised procedure December 2020

04-12-2020
Self-harm and suicidal behaviour

Revised Further information section

26-08-2020
Children Missing Education (CME)

Revised procedure

26-08-2020
Children affected by Explotation and Trafficking (including Gangs)

New combined exploitation chapter.

16-07-2020
Children and families moving across local authority boundaries

Transfer of responsibility arrangements during Covid-19 removed. 

13-07-2020
Abuse linked to Faith, Cultural and Religious Beliefs

New section added.

17-06-2020
Safeguarding children and young people against radicalisation and violent extremism

The links to the resources at the end of the document have been updated. The link to support for children and their families returning from conflict zone has been removed, as local safeguarding arrangement should respond to vulnerabilities relating to returnees and their families.

17-06-2020
Radicalisation and violent extremism

Additional websites added.

17-06-2020
Radicalisation and violent extremism

Prevent officer and CTU WMCTU Gateway information added.

17-06-2020
Children from abroad

Procedure updated

10-06-2020
Bullying

Revised procedure

11-05-2020
Neglect

Revised procedure

11-05-2020
Children and families moving across local authority boundaries

Added Covid-19 arrangements.

07-04-2020
Domestic abuse

Added Domestic Abuse Bill 2019 factsheets

17-03-2020
Additional guidance

Amended last paragraph to clarify that the notification should be sent to health and other partners.

16-03-2020
Trafficked children

Police Partnership intelligence forms updated.

29-01-2020
Children and families moving across local authority boundaries

Amended 'Children subject to a statutory order' to provide clarity.

16-12-2019
Persons posing a risk to children

Removed PPRC manual from further information section.

16-12-2019
Persons posing a risk to children

Revised as per Procedures group direction.

16-12-2019
Female genital mutilation

Added guidance for schools

02-12-2019
Children with disabilities

Added 'Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention'

02-12-2019
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Added 'Teaching online safety in schools'

02-12-2019
Children Missing Education (CME)

Revised Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019

02-12-2019
Children Missing Education (CME)

Revised Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019

02-12-2019
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Updated page reference for Keeping Children Safe in Education

02-12-2019
Female genital mutilation

Revised Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019.

02-12-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Revised Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019

02-12-2019
Recruitment, supervision and training

Revised Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019

02-12-2019
Allegations against staff or volunteers

Revised Keeping Children Safe in Education link

02-12-2019
Allegations against staff or volunteers

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019

02-12-2019
Child Death Reviews

Revised version uploaded, as per group's direction and Working Together 2018.

02-12-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised as per group's direction.

02-12-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised as per group's direction

02-12-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised as per group's direction

02-12-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised as per group direction

02-12-2019
Sexual activity in children and young people (including under-age sexual activity) and peer on peer abuse

Title amended to include peer on peer abuse

17-10-2019
Female genital mutilation

Updated mandatory reporting requirements

17-10-2019
Female genital mutilation

Added related guidance

17-10-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Taken out text 'absent' not being used in West Mercia.

02-09-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Removed paragraph on the use of 'absent' in the different areas.

02-09-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Corrected name of procedure

02-09-2019
Fabricated or Induced Illness

Changed WT 2015 to 2018

02-09-2019
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Added early years online safety considerations link.

21-08-2019
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Paragraph on live streaming added.

21-08-2019
Radicalisation and violent extremism

WT2018.

26-04-2019
Children living away from home

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Persons posing a risk to children

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Persons posing a risk to children

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Domestic abuse

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Forced marriage

WT2018 amend.

26-04-2019
Female genital mutilation

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Child sexual exploitation

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Recruitment, supervision and training

Removal of 'LSCB'.

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

Under review

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

Under review

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Additional guidance

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child deaths

Section under review.

26-04-2019
Organised and complex abuse

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Allegations against staff or volunteers

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Allegations against staff or volunteers

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Managing professional disagreements

WT2018 amends.

 

26-04-2019
Implementing child protection plans

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child protection conferences

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child protection conferences

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child protection conferences

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child protection conferences

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child protection conferences

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Child protection enquiries

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Strategy meeting/discussion

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Assessment

WT2018 amends

26-04-2019
Assessment

WT2018 amends.

 

26-04-2019
Referrals

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Responding to concerns about a child

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Sharing information

WT2018 amends.

26-04-2019
Early help

WT2018 amends

26-04-2019
Introduction

WT2018 amends

26-04-2019
Radicalisation and violent extremism

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Recruitment, supervision and training

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Information sharing and confidentiality

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Information sharing and confidentiality

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Disguised compliance, coercive control and families who are hostile or resistant to change

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children of parents with mental health problems

MIND link added

 

24-04-2019
Children of parents with mental health problems

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children of parents with mental health problems

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children of parents with mental health problems

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Removed old Ofsted report.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children with disabilities

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Revised as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

New section.

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

New section.

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

New section

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Revised procedure as per procedures group direction.

24-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Trafficked children

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procudure group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procedures group request.

08-04-2019
Children missing from care, home and education

Updated as per procuredure group request.

08-04-2019
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Home Office guidance link added: 'Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerabe adults: county lines'.

13-02-2019
Bullying

Added new definition of a bully (The Diana Award).

08-11-2018
Neglect

Updated information sharing link

08-11-2018
Information sharing and confidentiality

Updated government guidance on information sharing (2018)

08-11-2018
Information sharing and confidentiality

Updated government guidance on information sharing (2018)

08-11-2018
Sharing information

Updated 'Seven golden rules to sharing information' and links to government guidance on information sharing (updated 2018).

08-11-2018
Bullying

Added Department of Education guidance: Approaches to preventing and tackling bullying

08-11-2018
Children Missing Education (CME)

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

08-11-2018
Children Missing Education (CME)

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

08-11-2018
Female genital mutilation

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (2018)

08-11-2018
Recruitment, supervision and training

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

08-11-2018
Allegations against staff or volunteers

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

08-11-2018
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

08-11-2018
Children who abuse others including child-on-child abuse / harmful sexual behaviour

Updating Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018.

08-11-2018
Child deaths

Added link to national forms / DfE website.

29-10-2018
Domestic abuse

Updated link to DVRIM website.

02-08-2018
Recruitment, supervision and training

Updated link to current guidance in 'Protection and action to be taken'

09-05-2018
Children affected by harm outside of the home (including exploitation, trafficking & gangs)

Added Early Help Assessment (EHA) as an alternative to Common Assessment Framwork (CAF)

09-05-2018
Responding to concerns about a child

Addition to 'Duty to co-operate and refer'

Where a child or unborn baby has an allocated social worker and a professional has new or additional information this must be documented and passed without delay to the allocated social worker or case manager for consideration by children's social care.  In the event the allocated scial worker and/or case manager are unavailable the person holding information should follow the arrangements for passing on information to the relevant team.  As above, if it is outside of office hours the local authority children's social care emergency duty team/out of hours team should be contacted if the concern is high.  In emergencies, such as if a child is in immediate danger, the Police should be called for assistance.

 

08-05-2018
Discontinuing a child protection plan
  • the child is no longer deemed at risk of significant harm due to becoming a Looked After Child (this decision could be made at a Review Conference or via formal correspondence with conference members (e.g. letter) dependant on local process)
08-05-2018
Strategy meeting/discussion

Added 'health' to the list of agencies that should always attend strategy meetings

08-05-2018
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Added Yoti app for reporting explicit images into the further information section.

27-02-2018
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Changed 'sexting' to 'youth produced sexual imagery', as per UK Council for Child Internet Safety guidance

27-02-2018
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Changed 'sexting' to 'youth produced sexual imagery', as per UK Council for Child Internet Safety guidance

27-02-2018
Child sexual exploitation

Changed 'sexting' to 'youth produced sexual imagery', as per UK Council for Child Internet Safety guidance

27-02-2018
Online safety: Children exposed to abuse through digital media

Changed 'sexting' to 'youth produced sexual imagery', as per UK Council for Child Internet Safety guidance

27-02-2018
Sexual activity in children and young people (including under-age sexual activity)

Added Department for Education guidance.

27-02-2018
Neglect

Added NICE guidance to end of section on Indicators.

27-02-2018
Additional guidance

Added NICE guidance to end of Definitions section.

27-02-2018
Trafficked children

Changed 2014 statutory guidance to 2017 statutory guidance

27-02-2018
Trafficked children

Changed the name and link of statutory guidance 2014 to updated guidance 2017

27-02-2018
Trafficked children

Updated statutory guidance from 2014 guidance to 2017 guidance.

27-02-2018
Domestic violence and abuse

Removed Solihull reference

04-07-2017
Introduction

Removed Solihull and changed 10 boards to nine

04-07-2017
Child protection enquiries

Changed text regarding review of West Mercia Police and Children's Servcies Protocol in 'Summary'

31-03-2017
This page is correct as printed on Thursday 5th of December 2024 03:42:32 AM please refer back to this website (http://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk) for updates.