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Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual - Contents

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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. Overarching Policy Framework, Principles and Values
  2. Information Sharing and Recording
  3. Early Help and Multi Agency Working
  4. Managing Cases Where there are Concerns About a Child's Safety and Welfare - Procedures
  5. Children in Specific Circumstances
  6. Managing Individuals who Pose a Risk of Harm to Children
  7. Complaints and Whistleblowing
  8. Case Review Processes - under review
  9. Child Deaths - under review
  10. Guidance
  11. Appendices and Local Contacts


1. Overarching Policy Framework, Principles and Values

1.1 Procedure for Updating this Manual  
1.2 Underlying Principles and Values  
1.3 Agency Roles and Responsibilities Updated
1.4 Legal Framework for Safeguarding Children in Individual Cases  
1.5 Multi-Agency Arrangements to Safeguard Children  
1.6 Guidance for Culturally Appropriate Practice  
  See also: Harmful Practices Linked to Faith or Culture  
1.7 Supervision  
1.8 Good Practice Supporting the Voice of the Child Updated
  See also: Whistleblowing  


2. Information Sharing and Recording

2.1 Policy for the Secure Handling of Protected Information  
2.2 Child Protection Conferences: Guidance for Partner Agencies on the Use, Recording, Dissemination and Handling of Police Information (Greater Manchester Police)  
2.3 Data Protection, Information Sharing and Confidentiality  
2.4 Retention of Records  
2.5 Photographing Children  
2.6 Electronic and Digital Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


3. Early Help and Multi Agency Working

3.1 Early Help  
3.2 The Early Help Assessment  
3.3 Early Help Good Practice When Children and Families Cross Borders  
3.4 Thresholds for Children's Social Care  
3.5 Resolving Professional Differences/Escalation Policy  
  NOTE: In Manchester, see also: Complex Safeguarding Hub Operating Procedures and Complex Safeguarding Hub Memorandum of Understanding in the Documents Library.  
  See also Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


4. Managing Cases Where there are Concerns About a Child's Safety and Welfare - Procedures

4.1 Signs and Indicators of Abuse  
  See also: Bruising Protocol for Immobile Babies and Children  
  and Neglect Procedure  
4.2 Making Referrals to Children's Social Care  
4.3 Single Assessment  
4.4 Strategy Discussions  
4.5 Section 47 Enquiries  
4.6 Initial Child Protection Conferences  
4.7 Record of Children with a Child Protection Plan  
4.8 Implementation of Child Protection Plan - Lead Social Worker and Core Group Responsibilities  
4.9 Child Protection Review Conferences  
4.10 Pre-Birth Assessments Updated
4.11 Accommodating Children under Section 20 Children Act 1989  
  NOTE: In Manchester, see also: Complex Safeguarding Hub Operating Procedures and Complex Safeguarding Hub Memorandum of Understanding in the Documents Library.  
  In Bolton, see also: How the Complex Safeguarding Hub Works in Bolton.  

   

4.12

Court Proceedings

  
4.12.1 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
  See also: North West Pre-Care and Care Proceedings Notification and Transfer across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure  
4.12.2 Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings  

   

4.13

Cases with a Foreign Element

  
4.13.1 Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
4.13.2 Guidance: The International Child Abduction and Contact Unit  

   

4.14

Cases Crossing Local Authority Boundaries

  
  North West Children in Need Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries  
  North West Notification and Transfer of Children Subject of Child Protection Plans across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure  
  North West Pre-Care and Care Proceedings Notification and Transfer across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure  
  North West Safeguarding Children and Young People Placed by other Local Authorities Protocol  

   

4.15

Provision of Accommodation under PACE

  
4.15.1 Joint Protocol for Considering Requests for the Provision of Accommodation under PACE (Greater Manchester Local Authorities and Greater Manchester Police)  
4.15.2 PACE Contacts for Greater Manchester  


5. Children in Specific Circumstances

5.1

Safeguarding Children and Young People - General

  
5.1.1 Bullying Updated
5.1.2 Safeguarding Children as they Become Adults Guidance  

   

5.2

Babies and Pregnancy

  
5.2.1 Concealed Pregnancies  
5.2.2 Safer Sleep Guidance  
5.2.3 Bruising Protocol for Immobile Babies and Children  
  See also: Pre-Birth Assessments Procedure  

   

5.3

Children at Risk Because of Concern About a Parent or Carer or the Home Environment

  
5.3.1 Children of Alcohol and Substance Misusing Parents and Carers Updated
5.3.2 Children of Parents with Learning Difficulties  
5.3.3 Children of Parents with Mental Health Difficulties  
5.3.4 Dealing with Persistent Non-Engagement with Services by Uncooperative Families  
5.3.5 Safeguarding Children from Dangerous Dogs  
5.3.6 Domestic Abuse Updated
5.3.7 MARAC  
5.3.8 Neglect  

   

5.4

Complex/Organised Abuse

  
  In Manchester, see also the Manchester Multi-Agency Exploitation Screening Tool.  
5.4.1 Institutional, Organised or Multiple Abuse  
5.4.2 Children Affected by Gang Activity or Serious Youth Violence  
5.4.3 Threat to Life  
5.4.4 Children who are Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation  
5.4.5 Safeguarding Children and Young People Vulnerable to Violent Extremism Updated
  NOTE: In Manchester, see also: Complex Safeguarding Hub Operating Procedures and Complex Safeguarding Hub Memorandum of Understanding in the Documents Library.  
  In Bolton, see also: How the Complex Safeguarding Hub Works in Bolton.  
  In Stockport see also Aspire Complex Safeguarding Service Procedures.  

   

5.5

Custodial Settings

  
5.5.1 Safeguarding Young People in the Secure Estate  
5.5.2 Guidance for Working with Children who have a Parent (or Significant Family Member) in Prison  
5.5.3 Children Visiting Custodial Settings  

   

5.6

Education

  
5.6.1 Children Missing Education  
5.6.2 Elective Home Education and Unregistered Schools  

   

5.7

E-Safety

  
5.7.1 Safeguarding Children and Young People Online Updated
5.7.2 E-Safety Working Practices for Staff  
  See also: Manchester's Safeguarding Partnership, Online safety – Advice for Practitioners.  

   

5.8

Harmful Practices Linked to Faith or Culture

  
5.8.1 Abuse Linked to Spiritual and Religious Beliefs Updated
5.8.2 Female Genital Mutilation Multi-Agency Protocol  
5.8.3 Forced Marriage  
5.8.4 So-Called Honour Based Abuse/Violence  
5.8.5 Breast Ironing  
  See also: Non-Therapeutic Infant Male Circumcision  

   

5.9

Health and Hospitals

  
5.9.1 Supervision of Parents of Children and Young People in Hospital (including the new-born baby) - Multi-agency Protocol  
5.9.2 Hospital Discharge Guidelines for Vulnerable Children  
5.9.3 Children Visiting Psychiatric Wards and Secure Psychiatric Hospitals  
5.9.4 Fabricated or Induced Illness - under review  
5.9.5 Young People and Self-Harm Updated
5.9.6 Children with Disabilities and Complex Needs  
5.9.7 Mental Capacity  
5.9.8 Deprivation of Liberty  
5.9.9 Non-Therapeutic Infant Male Circumcision  
 

See also:

  

   

5.10

Children Living Away From Home/Missing

  
5.10.1 Children Living Away from Home  
5.10.2 Children Missing from Home and Care - A Standardised Approach to Dealing with Missing and Absent Children and Young People Across Greater Manchester - under review  
5.10.3 Safeguarding Young People in the Armed Forces  

   

5.11

Sexual Abuse/Activity

  
5.11.1 Safeguarding Children and Young People Abused Through Sexual Exploitation Updated
5.11.2 Working with Sexually Active Young People Under the Age of 18 Updated
5.11.3 Harmful Sexual Behaviours Presented by Children and Young People Updated
5.11.4 Adults who Disclose Childhood Sexual Abuse  
5.11.5 Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment  


6. Managing Individuals who Pose a Risk of Harm to Children

6.1 Guidance for Safe Recruitment, Selection and Retention for Staff and Volunteers  
6.2 Managing Allegations of Abuse Made Against Adults Who Work with Children and Young People Updated
6.3 Risks Posed by People with Convictions Against Children, including Bail Arrangements for Adults Charged  
6.4 List of Offences  
6.5 Release of Prisoners Convicted of Offences Against Children  
6.6 Protocol between the Greater Manchester (GM) MAPPA Strategic Management Board (SMB) and the GM Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP)  
6.7 Licensed Premises  


7. Complaints and Whistleblowing

7.1 Complaints About Child Protection Conferences  
7.2 Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work New


8. Case Review Processes - under review (Pending National Changes)

8.1 Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews  
8.2 Rapid Review Process  
8.3 Greater Manchester Domestic Homicide Review Policy  


9. Child Deaths - under review (Pending National Changes)

9.1 Child Death Reviews  
  Note: this resource sets out national procedures in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children. Additional local content will be added at the next update of these procedures.  
9.2 Child Death Overview Panels  
9.3 SUDC Procedure - Greater Manchester Procedure for the Management of Sudden Unexpected Death In Childhood (Rapid Response)  
  COVID 19 - Temporary Amendments  
9.4 Rapid Response Service Specification  
9.5 ACPO: A Guide to Investigating Child Deaths
 
  See also: Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy and Childhood - Multi-agency Guidelines for Care and Investigation (Royal College of Pathologists, endorsed by The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health)  


10. Guidance

10.1

General

  
  Working Together to Safeguard Children  
  Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Directions Hearings (October 2013)  
  Whistleblowing  
  Safeguarding in Sports  
  See also: Rochdale: Safe After School - Advice and Resources - this provides advice for unregulated clubs, private tutors and teaching or activity centres that work with children and young people.  
  Having a Child Through Surrogacy (DoH)  

   

10.2

Health

  
  NICE Guidelines – 'When to Suspect Child Maltreatment'  
  Guidance on Role of Dentists in Child Protection  
  General Medical Council Guidance to Doctors Regarding 0-18s  
  NICE Guidelines  - Depression in Children and Young People: Identification and Management in Primary, Community and Secondary Care (March 2015)  
  Circumcision Audit Proforma  
  Standards for Children in Emergency Care Settings  
  Guidance and Resources for Child Protection Evidence (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health)  
  Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff (Royal College of Nursing)  

   

10.3

Education

  
  Keeping Children Safe in Education  
  Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Those Working with Children and Young People in Education Settings  
  Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years - Statutory Guidance for Organisations who Work with and Support Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
  Useful Guidance for Schools - Sex Relationships Education  
  Help When We Need it Most: How to Prepare for and Respond to Suicide in Schools and Colleges (Samaritans)  
  Briefing Note For Schools - How Social Media is Used to Encourage Travel to Syria and Iraq  
  Parent Info - Parent Info is a collaboration between CEOP and The Parent Zone and provides information to parents and carers about their children's wellbeing and resilience. Schools can host the content on their own website and use it in any other ways (in letters to parents etc.) that they want.  
  Educate Against Hate - This website gives parents, teachers and school leaders practical advice on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.  
  Transgender Guidance for Schools (Intercom Trust, Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Council) provides useful guidance for schools on internal school procedures, changing names and gender markers, and Exam Certificates. It has been adopted as national good practice by the Department for Education.  
  See also: Rochdale: Safe After School - Advice and Resources - this provides advice for unregulated clubs, private tutors and teaching or activity centres that work with children and young people.  

   

10.4

Guidance for Community and Voluntary Sector

  
  NSPCC Multi-faith Safeguarding Hub  
  Rochdale: Safe After School - Advice and Resources - this provides advice for unregulated clubs, private tutors and teaching or activity centres that work with children and young people.  


11. Appendices and Local Contacts

11.1 Local Contacts  
11.2 Amendments  

End