PRESENTATION VICTORIA CLIMBIE GROUP PRESENTATION fficeffice" /> Members: Debbie Pugh-Question 2 Margaret Turner-Question 2 Pashmina Carpenter-Question 1 Rebecca Crawley-Question 4 Sarah Farghar-Question 3       Victoria Climbie Presentation –Pashmina Carpenter   Question 1   Relate to the handling of the case using legislation of the time, i.e. the Children Act 1989.     At the Victoria Climbie’s Inquiry Lord Laming concluded that ffice:smarttags" />Victoria’s death was a gross failure of the system. In the report Lord Laming said “not one of the agencies empowered by parliament to protect children in positions similar to Victoria’s – funded from the public purse-emerged from this Inquiry with much credit. The suffering and death of Victoria was a gross failure of the system and was inexcusable”.   Looking at the legislation of the time of the inquiry which is the Children Act 1989, there were a number of failings of that Act which if used effectively might have save or prolonged Victoria’s life.   Firstly, Section 17 talks about general duty by the local authority  to safeguard and promote the welfare of ‘children in need’ within their area, and in so far as is consistent with that duty, to promote their upbringing by their families by providing a range and level of services appropriate to their needs. Victoria and her great aunt lived in several boroughs and were known to no fewer than four social services departments, three housing departments, and two specialist child protection teams of the metropolitan police. Furthermore, she was admitted to two different hospitals because of concerns that she was being deliberately harmed and was referred to a specialist children and families centre managed by the NSPCC. Victoria did not get any services for example money.   In Ealing the practice guidance available to front line staff when they came to deal with Victoria was out of date that it pre-dated the Children Act 1989. Victoria’s welfare was not safeguarded and promoted as her first language was not English and an interpreter was not used.   Section 47 refers to the duty of the Local Authority to make enquires when a referral is made with allegations. In cases like Victoria’s information gathering was not efficient and there was no multi agency networking. In Brent, Victoria’s case was given no fewer than 5 “unique” reference numbers. It should have been the duty of the social worker to bring this to the attention of the manager and for the manager to investigate.  Section 47 is underpinned by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to make enquiries when a referral is made with allegations even if those allegations have been withdrawn. Meetings were arranged to discuss the welfare of children but social worker had deliberately withdrawn from these meetings.   Section 20 refers to general provision of accommodation. The Local Authority must provide accommodation for a child for whom nobody has Parental Responsibility. The Local Authority should have provided voluntary foster care and residential care for Victoria. The social worker did not use section 20.   Section 8 refers to the making of an Order by the court. The aunt had no Parental Responsibility for Victoria. Victoria was an illegal immigrant and came as another person’s identity. The social worker could have sought a Prohibited Steps Order to stop the aunt from taking Victoria from the hospital after a Police Officer in the Brent Child Protection Team placed Victoria under protection without seeing her. It would have been the duty of the Police Officer to make sure that he saw Victoria.   References:   The Children Act 1989.   Using Law in Social Work 2nd Ed. Robert Johns.   Everychildmatters website.   Question 2   Refer to the guidance and law since the enquiry into Victoria Climbie’s death.   The Green Paper- Every Child Matters points out that there were 12 occasions over the ten months that gave chances to save Victoria’s life but were not taken.   It states that there were many failures that contributed to the death of Victoria, these being   ·        Failure to intervene early enough ·        Failure to share information ·        Absence of a strong sense of accountability ·        Frontline workers trying to cope with staff vacancies ·        Poor management ·        Lack of effective training   The aims and outcomes of the Green Paper are that all children and young people from the age of birth to 19 years to be   ·        Healthy ·        Stay safe ·        Enjoy and achieve ·        Make positive contribution ·        Achieve economic well being   The Green Paper proposals are:   ·        Supporting parents and carers ·        Early intervention and early protection ·        Accountability and integration –locally, regionally and nationally ·        Workforce reform       The Green Paper also talks about sharing information from hospitals, schools, police and voluntary groups and working together to protect children and young people from harm.   In November 2000 the Children’s Fund was launched to tackle disadvantaged children and young people.   In March 2005 children and young people were given a voice in government and in public life due to the appointment of the first Children’s Commissioner for England.   Children’s Trusts will allow the local authority to work with its partners to find out what works best for children and young people. The children and young people will then be asked by inspectors their views on how local areas are doing which requires involving them in this process.   Children’s trusts bring all services for children and young people in one area together and are underpinned by the Children Act 2004, duty to cooperate and to focus on improving outcomes for all children and young people.     By Debbie Pugh        Question 2 (split between Margaret Turner and Debbie Pugh   Margaret Turner I have looked at: The Children’s Act, 2004, and the changes in law that have occurred as a result of Lord Lamming’s summary and recommendations for improving children’s services.   After reading Victoria’s Story, I believe that one of the key areas for improvement rests within the higher levels in Children’s services – management. If the structure is sound at the top level, then the building blocks can be put into place all the way through, creating a service that effectively supports the people it is aimed to target.   Looking at section 18/19 of the 2004 act, this requires Local Authorities (LA) to put in place a Director of Children’s Services.   The main responsibilities of the Director are to ensure that there is clear leadership at all levels within the authority, especially within intergrated services and multi disciplinary teams,  ensuring that there is a clear framework in place to enable managers and practitioners to gain the necessary knowledge and skills. This is to include access to learning and development opportunities. (HMS government, Statutory Guidance on the roles &responsibilities of Director of Children’s Services & lead members for Childrens’ Services, Section 5: The Responsibilities of the Lead Member for Childrens’ Services. Front line services 6.13)   Lord Lamming’s report stated that far to often, those in top positions did not  understand that they were accountable for the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the services delivered.   Another area that I believe is at the heart of good working practices, (which was highlighted as lacking in Lord Lamming’s report) is good communication between agencies and agencies working together to improve and enhance their services for the child.   Section 10 of The Children’s Act, 2004, establishes a duty on Local Authorities to promote and improve the sharing of information between agencies.   Section 11 looks at key agencies working with children, to put into place arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, achieved by the introduction of Local Safeguarding Childrens’ Boards (LSCB)   Their functions are to include: developing polices, actions to take where there are concerns for a child, training in child care, recruitment and supervision, safety and welfare of privately fostered children and good communication to those involved in safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children.     The government has committed to provide toolkits and protocols to enable the above to be undertaken. Also expected by the end of  year 2008, is an Information Sharing Index across all areas of England, which should enable practitioners to contact one another easily and quickly to enable them to share information   OTHER REFERENCES:   Brayne H, & Carr H, 2005. Law for Social Workers, 9th ed:  University Press, Oxford  http://everychildmatters.gov.uk   http://www.societyguardian.co.uk/children/story/0,1668198,00html   Children’s and Young Person’s Act 2005   Every Child Matters: fact sheet, Information Sharing Practice           Considering ADP in relation to the Victoria Climbie case.      Question 3   When considering Anti Discriminatory Practice in relation to this case, the issue of race and culture is highly relevant.  Lord Laming’s speech of January 2003 does not highlight this issue, an example perhaps of culture and race not being used to excuse child abuse.  In the enquiry the issue is highlighted, recommendations are given in a section entitled “Working with Diversity”.   Lord Laming asks the question;   “If Victoria had been a white child, would she have been treated any differently?”.    Some say the failings of the services involved with Victoria were not racist, the adults who murdered her were black and a high proportion of the staff having contact with her were black.  Lord Laming considered the statement of Neil Garham QC highly relevant;   “Assumption based on race can be just as corrosive in its effect as blatant racism…racism can affect the way people conduct themselves in other ways.  Fear of being accused of racism can stop people acting when otherwise they would.  Assumptions that people of the same colour, but from different backgrounds, behave in similar ways can distort judgments.”     In Part five of the enquiry, “Working with Diversity”, Lord Laming states that , at some stage, the focus possibly shifted from Victoria’s fundamental needs because of misplaced assumptions about her cultural circumstances.  Practitioners are urged to never feel inhibited from acting in a child’s best interests on the grounds that they are felt by others to have an insufficient grasp of the child’s particular circumstances   The Enquiry makes forty five recommendations to the Social Care Services.  I will highlight those dealing with anti discriminatory practice with regards to race and culture;   Recommendation 18 Interpreters should be used with children whose first language is not English.  Any decision to dispense with interpreters services should be documented. Recommendation 52 Directors of Social Services must ensure that no case is allocated to a Social Worker unless and until his or her manager ensures that she has the necessary training, experience and time to deal with it properly. Recommendation 57 Directors of Social Services must ensure that Social Work staff are made aware of how to access effectively information concerning vulnerable children which may be held in other countries.   These recommendations were expected to be implemented within six months of the Enquiry Report.   When working with children from cultures different from our own, we need to ensure that we are not imposing Western values of parenting to families whose cultural values may differ.   We need to be aware that different cultures have different solutions to childcare, poverty and lack of educational opportunities may be factors in a parents’ choice of carer, we should also feel able to challenge cultural norms and values to ensure that we uphold the Law and do not fail in safeguarding children.   The book “Black Perspectives in Social Work” by Bandana Ahmad is very helpful in advising practitioners on work with black children.  Ahmad gives detailed case studies of black children’s experiences in the Care System and through her research states;   “The protection of the Black child is yet to overcome the outcome of poor social work assessment.” Page 24     The following statement from Lord Laming highlights a main focus from practitioners working with children.   “A child is a child regardless of his or her colour and he or she must be kept safe… what cannot be ignored is that we live in a culturally diverse society and that safeguards must be in place to ensure skin colour does not influence either the assessment of need or the quality of services delivered.”   Question 4: Think about research, articles and books that would help you when working with a child like Victoria.   In order to answer this question I will be focusing on a few significant areas where improvement were essential to contribute to best practice   Assessment In his inquiry into the tragic death of Victoria climbie, Lord Laming identified and recommended that social workers must establish ways of assessing needs and circumstances of children in their area. Social services must also pay particular attention to the needs of children who may be at risk of deliberate harm.    In 2001, Social Services departments were introduced to the assessment framework. This has now become a national working tool for social workers to complete many assessments of children’s needs. In 2000, DoH stated that some of the principles underpinning the assessment framework are child focused, ensure equality of opportunity, work with both the children and their families, multi-agency working, and it must be grounded in evidence based knowledge.   In his 2002 book and article ‘Child protection work’, Chris Beckett provides an informative overview on the threshold when assessing whether or not a child is at risk or not. Social workers are required to make decisions regarding risk to a child, it is therefore vital that these decisions are made with their mangers. This will contribute to Lord Laming’s requirement of drawing a clear line of accountability, from top to bottom, without doubt or ambiguity about who is responsible at every level for the well-being of vulnerable children. For these discussions and decisions to take place, there must be quality and regular supervision.   Supervision It is essential that all social workers acknowledge there responsibility to demand their right for, and take part in regular and quality supervision. I looked at the 'Triennial Inspection of Kyloe House secure children's home. Northumberland County Council. Social services inspectorate' (SSI) July 2001, DOH. This talks about the importance of supervision. Providing guidance that all individual cases should be discussed focusing on the desired outcomes for children and young people. Communication is fundamental, and a system should be in place to highlight and record all key events that require attention. Good quality supervision contributes to good practice and accountability. Communication with children and Social worker visits Under the 1989 Children Act and the UN convention of the rights of the child, it is a requirement that as a social worker I have the responsibility to ascertain a child’s/young person’s wishes and feelings. Quality protects demands that local authorities determine how they are to listen to the views of young people. This is one of the areas where Victoria Climbie was failed. She was a young person whose first language was French, however unfortunately, on visits, the social worker was never accompanied by and interpreter.   As discussed in her article ‘continental Divide’ featured in child Protection in focus, Frances Rickford discusses a child’s vulnerability. She questions if Victoria Climbie would have died had she not been from Africa and not French speaking. Of course other children have been neglected and killed by their parents, but in Victoria’s case, her vulnerability was increased dramatically by those very factors.    It is essential that all social workers find a way for a child to communicate with the children and young people they are working with, whether this is via an interpreter, play, alternative communication methods etc. It is also imperative that on visits the child is always seen alone.

26.1.06 12:50 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

Victorias Story Presentation Victoria Storyfficeffice" />   Group Members :-   ·    Sharon Bianchi ·    Carol Loveridge ·    Sarah Elms ·    Rebecca Langley ·    Gemma Green ·    Peter Ball   We split into pairs and each dealt with a question and we then all looked up “How would I make sure that my practice was better”.             Question 1 The legislation which should have been used to guide all agencies at the time of the Victoria Climbie case was predominantly found in the Children Act 1989 and the Education act 1996.   Section 7 of the Education Act states that education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5- 16 years old.   Lisa Artherworrey failed to ask Kouao how ffice:smarttags" />Victoria was spending her days at the time of the first visit (16th August 199). When she return on 28th October the fact that Victoria was still not attending school was raised but no questions seemed to have been asked about how Victoria was spending her days.   The Children act 1989. Section 17 Child in Need (10) provides the definition of ‘a child in need’ :- Children who failed to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development; who’s health or development is significantly impaired; or who are disabled.   Just on the fact that Victoria was not receiving any form of education makes it unlikely that she would have achieved or maintained a reasonable standard of development.   With regards to Victoria’s physical health, the medical staff who cared for her during her second visit to hospital noticed marks on her body which they considered were a sign of serious deliberate harm.  Regardless of this no investigation was carried out before Victoria was discharged back into the care of Manning and Kouao.   Children Act section 1.1 states the child’s welfare is paramount and section 1.3 The Welfare check list, clearly states the factors which needs to be regarded in terms of the child’s welfare such as their physical, emotional and educational needs. All agencies that came into contact with Victoria failed to protect her and her welfare was given very low priority.   Children Act 1989 Section 8 allows contact orders to be made, giving the child the right to keep in touch with others. Victoria was never asked by social worker when she last spoke to her mother in the Ivory Coast, or if arrangements to keep in touch where in place.   Children Act section 20 states that Local Authorities have a duty to provide accommodation for children in need where, there is no one who has PR, where they are lost of abandoned or where the carer is unable to accommodate them.   When considering Victoria, her great aunt did not have parental responsibility under English law, so ‘legally’ Victoria was entitled to L.A accommodation. However it would appear that an assumption was made that Ms. Kouao did have PR and this was backed up by Victoria’s outburst about Lisa not respecting her or her mother and that they should be given a house. Would it be questioned if a child refers to a woman as her mother?   Children Act Section 47 places a duty on the local Authority to launch an enquiry if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.   On both occasions that Victoria was in hospital the medical staff failed to communicate their suspicions to the police or social services about the deliberate physical harm. No enquiry was launched in to this and Victoria was discharged back in to the care of Manning and Kouao.   Also the short term solution devised by Lisa to deal with the sexual harm allegations was to arrange for somewhere else for Victoria to stay while the allegations where investigated. What she should have done was worked with the police, and the police could have imposed a Police Power of protection order under section 46 of the children act which would have taken Victoria in to care where she would have been examined and looked after. Lisa could have applied to the courts for an Emergency Protection order under section 44 of the Children Act allowing and Manning and Kouao to be questioned about Victoria’s condition and in turn allowing Victoria to speak without her carers being present.   In conclusion all agencies that were involved with Victoria failed to protect her so, no, according to the law at the time they did not get it right.     Question 2:- What Changes have been made to legislation following the inquiry into Victoria Climbie. Keeping children safe: the government’s response to the Victoria Climbie enquiry report 2003. Care Standards Act 2000: Registration of Social care workforce and regular training. Inspect & regulate workforce. Education Act 2002:Assist local Authorities to make arrangements to ensure that functions are exercised. Safeguarding Children 2002: Guide to inter agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Ø      All agencies working with children, young people and their families take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised; and Ø      Where there are concerns about children and young peoples welfare, all agencies take all appropriate actions to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other agencies. Modernising Social services green paper Early intervention and Effective protection The National Policing Plan 2002: featured child protection and specific training for their staff Children and families court advisory and support service (CAFCASS) 2001. Support services in family proceedings. Main aim to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Make provision or children to be represented. National Service framework for Children young people and Maternity Services: Accountability and integration- locally regionally and nationally: proposals to integrate education, health and social care through development of children’s trusts. Framework for the assessment of children in Need and their family’s 2000.guidance on assessing children. Commission for social care inspection Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection Workforce reform (green paper) checklist of good practice, staff training case loads. Experience purpose of visit. Speak to child alone, in own language, regular supervision. Keeping of records communication. Case reviews. Named caseworker. Access to information from other countries     The Green Paper published in January 2003, Every Child Matters followed Lord Laming’s enquiry into Victoria Climbie’s death.   The tragedy exposed that there was a failure to share information between agencies. The Government now recognise the need of a framework of universal services that children use to support every child to enable them to reach their true potential - all services must work together. Every child should have the chance to fulfil their potential and the five outcomes are:   ● being healthy: enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle ● staying safe: being protected from harm and neglect ● enjoying and achieving: getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood ● making a positive contribution: being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour ● economic well-being: not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life.   A new minister for children was recruited in 2003, responsible for children, young people and families.  Their priority is to ensure those professionals who deal with children all work together.   The Children Act 2004 sets out the legal underpinning of the above report aimed at transforming children’s services. Every Local Authority should appoint a director of children's services Inter agency cooperation - Improve early identification & protection of children Develop arrangements for information sharing between agencies Prevent repeated assessments Section 12 gives the Secretary State the power to make regulations for databases which allow the sharing of information between agencies. Section 17 guidance on the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) for Local Authorities to implement strategic plans to implement children’s trusts. Section 18 and 19 gives details of the key leadership roles of the director of children’s services within local authority and building the children’s trusts partnership. •         Health – Standard 8 of the National Service Framework (NSF) for children, Young People and Maternity Services.  Co-locating services to enable professionals to work closely together Local safeguarding Children Board Guidance (LSCBs) – section 13 – 16, to enable Local Authorities to deal with children’s trust arrangements.   Question 3 Considering anti discriminatory practice in relation to the Victoria climbie case.   Victoria particular circumstances made her vulnerable. The founder and coordinator of Africans unite against child abuse Ariyo, believes that African children especially those who are newly arrived in the country and are not living with their parents are very vulnerable. This is because they are trying to cope with a very different culture as well as the separation from their communities and families. African children often find themselves in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the U.K. Like Victoria they may speak no English and even those that do may find that they can not make themselves understood. Victoria was only visited by Social services four times. Mr Arthurworrey did not talk to Victoria on her first visit and focused on housing issues on her second visit. When Victoria did try and say she did not respect the social worker or her mother. She was still ignored and believed not to be at risk of harm. ADP was shown because Victoria’s first language was French. Throughout the process Victoria only had the opportunity to talk to two professional French speaking people and an interpreter was never used by social services in the assessment process.   There is a wide spread belief across Africa that physical punishment is a necessary part of instilling discipline in children. While most parents’, carers are able to maintain the principle of reasonable chastisement we believe that it is possible for children to become victims of potential abusers who, hiding under guise of discipline are able to inflict untold physical and psychological harm on the child.   The inquiry has demonstrated how social workers may have been more tolerant of physical abuse of Victoria Climbie because of their beliefs about African culture and the acceptability of physical forms of discipline. The Victoria report remarks “that there is some evidence to suggest that one of the consequences of an exclusive focus on culture in work with black children and families is that it leaves black and ethnic minority children in potentially dangerous situations because the assessment has failed to address a Childs fundamental care and protection needs” part 5 working with diversity. There is therefore a need for much clearer and shared understanding of children human rights across cultural differences.   There is a real danger in the assumptions made about Victoria. An example can be drawn from Lisa Arthuworrey the social worker assigned the case stating that when she heard of Victoria standing to attention before Kauao and Manning she concluded that this type of relationship was one that can be seen in many Afro-Caribbean families because respect and obedience are very important features of the afro-Caribbean family. Victoria’s parents however made it clear at the inquiry that she was not required to stand in this formal way when she was at home with them. Therefore this was an assumption that was unfounded.    Cultural sensitivity has also been blamed for compromising the safety of Victoria portraying a professional culture where politically correct ideas about race and ethnicity took precedents over child protection guidelines. Frontline black social workers who were practising poorly went unchallenged by their managers and other professionals from the fear of being accused of racism. If affective communication had taken place with Victoria “early intervention and effective protection” every child matters next steps page 6. Could have taken place.   Basic requirement that children are kept safe is universal and cuts across cultural boundaries every living child in this country is entitled to be given the protection of the law regardless of the background cultural heritage is important to many people but it cannot take precedence over standards of child care embodied in law.        Question 4 How would I make sure my practice was better ?   Better Communication Between all professional With Victoria herself/alone in her own language Police Childminder Other social services (Ealing, Brent, Harringay) French Authority   Better Procedures Leave calling card if no answer Speak to neighbours Benefits office Housing office Local Doctors/dentists Know the purpose of your visit Produce actions plans at the end of each visit Make Time limited plans   Supervision Regular Structured Case Discussions Informative Reduce case load Better Time management   Clearer Guideline and formal knowledge Sufficient Training/Qualifications Better Knowledge of the law Knowledge of agencies procedures and case management Informed practice regarding other cultures and language   Confidence Challenge other professional’s decisions in an appropriate manner Curiosity Confirming all information received. Make no assumptions No being afraid of different culture         Bibliography   Banks, S, 1995, Ethics and values in social work, Palgrave, Hampshire   Brayne, H  and Carr, H, 2005,9th Edition, Law for social workers, Oxford university press, Oxford   Children Act 1989 www.childrenact.gov.uk   Children Act 2004 www.childact.gov.uk   www.community care.co.uk 25/1/06   Every Child matters (Green paper) www.everychildmatters.gov.uk   www.gaurdian.co.uk  25/1/06   Johns, R, 2005, 2nd Edition, Using the law in social work, Learning matters, Exeter   Keeping Children safe  ‘The governments response’ paper   School attendance and the law leaflet,2003, published by Bedfordshire County Council 2003   Thompson, N , 2001 Anti Discriminatory Practice, Palgrave, Hampshire   Office of children’s rights commission for London March 2002   www.Victoria-Climbie-inquiry. org.uk 25/1/06

26.1.06 12:05 Permalink / 21 Comments / comment

The challenge of partnership working in child protection, Practice guide HMSO SSI Inspection 1994 Hi, well what can I say, better late than never. I found  some very interesting quotes in the above practice guide.  2.1 " The Children Act 1989 gives a clear lead of working in partnership" 2.2 "The co-operative working relationship between the helping services  and families is essential  if the welfare of the child is to be ensured."  "Children are more likely to place their trust in those who keep them fully informed, find sensitive ways  of seeking their veiws, and pay  attention  to what they say when  making plans for the future." 2.4 "The expertise of the family lies within the family." 2.21 "The key worker..... The role is to be carried by someone  the family can trust and  who has the relevant skills  and racial and cultural  awareness." 2.30 "For most children parents and carers will  be involved in the process  but it will be necessary  for  children to be seen on their owm." 2.54 "Abuse is not condoned by any racial group.  We should not seek  excuses  for  abuse.  Children need to be protected." 2.58 "It is important that whilst striving to be ethically sensitive,  professionals must always maintain their focus on the needs of the child".

25.1.06 19:55 Permalink / comment

The information I have obtained was drawn upon in light of the Victoria Climbie case. Source- The Bridge Child Care Consultancy Service 1995 This report explores the circumstances surrounding a boy dealth through neglect, named Paul. The text also makes recommendations as to how we can learn from this tragic event. The professionals major input was to the adults in the household rather than to the child. The Children Act 1989, which establishes the importance the importance of partnership with parents, is sometimes seen wrongly as encouraging or even requiring a focus on the parents rather than children, whereas in fact it is perfectly clear within the legislation that the welfare of the child is paramount. This is reinforced within the New Department of Health publication, the challenge of partnership in child protection: Practice Guide, which states 'when a referral is made the prime concern must be whether the child or children are appropriately protected'. Gemma Green

25.1.06 16:39 Permalink / 3 Comments / comment

RESEARCH THE CHILDRENS SAFEGUARDS REVIEW Information gathered from the government responce to the children's safergard review presented to parliment by the secretary of state for health by command of her majesty November 1998. Outcomes  The government expects these policies to contribute to: Fewer children damaged through misjudgment or failures of communication between agencies when they need protection. Improved assessments which lead to effective intervention so that children no longer drift on and off the child protection register without a real improvement in their situation. this should reduce by 10% by 2002. The proportion of children who are re-registered on the child protection register Fewer children under-achieving as a result of exclusion from health and social care and education benefits Reduced and more effective planning delivering the service needed to a high quality Increased number of disabled children and children with EBD review the services they need in a seamless way.   Peter Ball

25.1.06 12:55 Permalink / 4 Comments / comment

Extract from material on child protection The following is taken from, The Bridge Child Care Consultancy Service, 1995, The Death of Baby Paul, Islington Area Child Protection Committee, 1995, London Page 181, para, 283, "The Childrens Act 1989 which establsihes the importance of partnership with parents, is sometimes seen wrongly as encouraging or even requiring a focus onthe parents rather than the child, whereas in fact it is perfectly clear within the legislation that the welfare of the child is paramount. Para 284, "This is reinforced within the new Department of Health publication, The challenge of partnership in Child Protection: Practice Guide, which states: 'When a referral is made the prime concern must be whether the child or childrne are appropriately protected'." This was published before the case of Victoria Climbie. From Carol

25.1.06 09:49 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

for evidence based practice on victoria climbie The following is an extract taken from The Bridge Child Care Consultancy Service, 1995, The Death of Baby Paul,  Islington Area Child Protection Committe, London   Page 181, Para 283, " The Childrens Act 1989 which establishes the importance of partnership with parents, is sometimes seen wrongly as encouraging or even requiring a focus on the parents rather thanthe child, whereas in fact it is perfectly clear within the legislation that the welfare of the child is paramount. Para. 283, "This is reinforced within the new Department of Health publication, The Challenge of Partnership in Child Protrection: Practice Guide, which states; 'When a referral is made the prime  concern must be whether the hcild or children are appropriately protected'.

25.1.06 09:37 Permalink / 3 Comments / comment

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