BARNSLEY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD SECTION 11 AUDIT TOOL STANDARDS for the SAFEGUARDING and PROMOTION OF CHILD WELFARE

Transcription

1 BARNSLEY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD SECTION 11 AUDIT TOOL STANDARDS for the SAFEGUARDING and PROMOTION OF CHILD WELFARE Name and address of Agency Audit completed by: Contact details Telephone: Audit signed off by (Agency Lead): Date completed 1

2 BARNSLEY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD SECTION 11 AUDIT TOOL STANDARDS for the SAFEGUARDING and PROMOTION OF CHILD WELFARE Guidance Notes for Completion of the Section 11 Self Audit Tool Introduction to Section 11 Key functions of a Local Safeguarding Children Board, set out in statutory guidance, are to: monitor and evaluate what is done by the local authority and Board partners individually and collectively to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and advise them on ways to improve ; and, have a particular focus on ensuring that those key people and organisations that have a duty under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 or section 175 or 157 of the Children Act 2002 are fulfilling their statutory obligations about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Within the Section 11 remit are five key areas that require assessment in order to demonstrate compliance with the Children Act Policies and procedures are in place in respect of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the implementation of Section There is a clearly established line of accountability within agency/organisation with regards to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children 3. The organisation maintains safe recruitment and complaints procedures 4. Staff receive training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children 5. There is effective inter-agency working and information sharing in order to ensure safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children Background to the Section 11 Audit Refresh The original self-evaluation audit against the Section 11 standards, was completed by relevant partner agencies and organisations and reported to the Safeguarding Children Board in April 2009, together with Action Plans developed by each agency to address any deficiencies. Since that time agencies have refreshed their Section 11 audit in October 2010, April 2012 and August

3 BARNSLEY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD SECTION 11 AUDIT TOOL STANDARDS for the SAFEGUARDING and PROMOTION OF CHILD WELFARE The Safeguarding Board has determined that agencies should review their self assessment on an annual basis so it is now timely to refresh the audit again to ensure that evidence of compliance is available and the standards are being maintained. Guidance on use of the Audit Tool to complete the self audit The audit tool has been revised again this year to help organisations provide robust evidence to substantiate and identify clear evidence of compliance with the standards. The Tool is framed around nine policy standards covering the key areas Against all the statement in each standard please state what you have in place to evidence compliance and provide examples with an implementation date where possible. PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL BOXES ARE COMPLETED INCLUDING SUCCESS STATUS AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS Action Planning If you answer no or cannot provide evidence against any of the statements, you need to identify what you are doing to meet the standard. This should be evidenced by production of an Action Plan to meet any shortfalls, with a named officer responsible for ensuring the work is completed and implemented by the proposed target date. Agencies answering "Yes" to all the statements will be expected to identify evidence of their compliance and action points for further improvement Evidence Requirements Each agency completing the assessment tool must ensure that statements are backed up by evidence. It is expected that assessment of compliance with arrangements at operational level will have been taken to support statements in the self assessment. Evidence of impact on improving outcomes for children, young people and their families should be identified, wherever possible. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities. For all statements where your organisation answers yes, there is a requirement for evidence to be referenced and made available (upon request) to show that you meet the standard. It is suggested that the officer completing the audit compiles an 3

4 BARNSLEY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD SECTION 11 AUDIT TOOL STANDARDS for the SAFEGUARDING and PROMOTION OF CHILD WELFARE evidence database. There are examples provided of the type of evidence that may be relevant but these are not prescriptive and you may provide alternative examples to demonstrate that your organisation has met the criteria. Evidence may be electronic such as a website, database of staff completing child protection training, electronic case files etc, or paper based. It should be easily accessible to enable random sampling by the Performance, Audit and Quality Assurance Sub- Committee or the Challenge Panel. Safeguarding Children Board Section 11 Challenge Process The Safeguarding Board is to retain the challenge process introduced for the first time last year to challenge agency submissions through an independent Challenge Panel. This will take the form of informal interviews with agency representatives who have completed their self audit to: seek clarification on statements identify strengths and areas for further development ensure that all evidence has been included and correctly referenced ensure that agencies have included action points for further improvement. The Challenge interviews will be arranged on completion of the audits. Any Questions For any questions regarding completion of the audit please contact Claire Simpson, Safeguarding Children Board Manager. clairesimpson@barnsley.gov.uk Tel:

5 POLICY STANDARD 1 Senior Management is clearly committed to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children's welfare Guidance Senior Managers need to demonstrate leadership, be informed about, and take responsibility for the actions of their staff that are providing services to children. Senior managers are also responsible for monitoring the actions of their staff to safeguard and promote. This includes ensuring that children and young people are listened to appropriately and concerns are taken seriously and responded to appropriately. How evident and effective is the commitment of senior management to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children within your organisation? Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist The organisation has a named senior manager who is responsible for and who champions safeguarding throughout your organisation - give details. Corporate Plans include reference to safeguarding and the staff involved Senior managers demonstrate good understanding of safeguarding The organisation has a process to take forward safeguarding initiatives and deal with findings from learning events including Serious Case Reviews. Action Plans are developed to address issues Evidence Please indicate the status of your Not Met Partially Met Fully Met 5

6 success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale 6

7 POLICY STANDARD 2 There is a clear statement of the organisation's responsibilities towards children that is available for all staff Policies and Procedures are in place and available to all staff and service users. Guidance How clearly are the organisation's responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting welfare communicated to all staff, partners and service users? The statement of accountability should include any children in the care of the agency, children with whom they work directly and those with whom they come into contact. it could form part of an organizations' existing policies/procedures. All staff should be made aware of their organization's policies and procedures on safeguarding and promoting welfare and the importance of listening to children/young people particularly when they are expressing concern about their own or other's welfare. Effective systems should be in place for children, staff and others to make a complaint where there are concerns that actions to safeguard and promote have not been taken in accordance with the organsation's procedures. All staff and volunteer roles must have clearly defined responsibilities for safeguarding. Policies and procedures must be easily accessible and induction and training should reflect the policies etc. Staff should be clear about their professional boundaries, including around information sharing Staff and volunteers should know how to effectively handle complaints and the correct procedures including escalation. Polices must be available to staff and volunteers and provided on request. They must also be available for all children with age specific information and children for whom English is not their first language. There must be access points for all with reference to the Disability Act and any additional vulnerability must be taken into account. Procedures must be child focussed. Staff and volunteers must be aware of their organization's confidentiality procedures. Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist The organisation has policies and procedures that clearly identify staff roles regarding safeguarding children and young people. They provide a paper version policy or web address where they can be found. These policies include information on safeguarding Evidence 7

8 and information sharing An effective complaints procedure is in place for staff, children and others where there are concerns that safeguarding and promotion of child welfare has not been taken in accordance with the organization's procedures. Provide a copy of the procedures Existing policies include references to the importance of listening to children and responding appropriately. Please provide the policies There is an effective complaints system in place in line with current statutory guidance for children, staff and others to make a complaint about non -compliance with the organisation's procedures The complaints system includes a process for recording incidents, complaints and referrals and the resulting actions The organisation demonstrates how recommendations and outcomes from complaints etc are communicated to staff There is child friendly complaints information The organisation has child protection policies & procedures in respect of safeguarding & promoting the welfare of children and the implementation of S11, which are in line with Barnsley SCB guidance, and have been approved and endorsed by the organisation's management body (Board of Governors, 8

9 Board of Trustees etc. Evidence of such endorsement is required Policies etc are reviewed every 3 years or in the event of local or national developments. Evidence of review is required All staff are aware of and have access to the safeguarding policies and procedures Service users and partners are aware of and have access to the safeguarding policies and procedures When other organisations are commissioned to provide services on the organisation's behalf there are mechanisms in place to ensure that those organisations also have regard to the requirements of Section 11 The organisation can demonstrate that the policies and procedures have a positive impact on the outcomes for children Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Not Met Partially Met Fully Met Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale 9

10 POLICY STANDARD 3 There is a clearly established line of accountability within the organisation with regards to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children Guidance How clear is the line of accountability within the organisation for work on safeguarding and promoting welfare. There should be clarity about who has overall responsibility for the agency's contribution to safeguarding with a clear line of accountability. The policy should state what the lines of accountability are throughout the organization and should clearly identify with whom staff members should discuss and to whom they should report any concerns. Responsibilities can operate at 3 levels: Individual, which can be encompassed within job descriptions Professional which is governed by codes of conduct for different disciplines Organizational with clear lines of accountability throughout the organisation to senior officer level Safeguarding is taken into account in terms of policy, practice, training, recruitment and induction with specific identified actions in their implementation. This should be readily available for all staff and included in training and induction. All staff and volunteers should know under what circumstances and to whom they should report and how to escalate concerns. Safeguarding must be discussed in supervision and appraisal especially for those working with the most vulnerable families. Role specific policy and guidance on supervision must be followed and sessions must be recorded. Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist Safeguarding priorities are reflected in the organization's Strategic Plan The organisation has a named or designated person/people with a clearly defined role and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection Staff and volunteers are clear about who is/are the designated person/people within the organisation and of the circumstances in which Evidence 10

11 they should be contacted There are clear lines of accountability from staff throughout the organisation to the designated accountable person/people - a flow chart of accountability is displayed and available to staff Anyone who comes into contact with children or their families has their responsibility explicitly stated in their job description and they are aware of their own personal responsibilities if they are concerned about a child. Staff and volunteers are able to access effective supervision/support structure whilst working with children and young people - safeguarding is routinely discussed and is a standing item in supervsion. Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Not Met Partially Met Fully Met Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale 11

12 POLICY STANDARD 4 Service Development takes into account the need to safeguard and promote welfare and is informed, where appropriate, by the views of children and families Guidance How effectively does service development take into account the need to safeguard: How is it effectively informed by views of children and families? How can you demonstrate improved outcomes? Children and families should be involved in the planning process e.g. by participating in discussions about where to locate a service so it is accessible or how to develop a service so children's welfare is safeguarded. This could include individual consultations on specific projects, ongoing consultation with user groups or feedback from current services. Meaningful consultation must be reflected in all development plans. The workforce and service delivery reflect all sectors of the community. Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance Checklist Service development takes account of the need to safeguard and promote welfare Evidence Children and their families are actively involved in the design, development and provision of services and their involvement and views are demonstrated. This consultation with children and families is an agreed process for development of any service provided Different methods of communication are available to children/young people to express their views Children and young people are involved in the development of equal opportunities and the 12

13 services developed ensure equality of access for all sectors of the community. There is a responsive process in place to act on identified unmet need Improved outcomes for children matched to the organisation's business plans are demonstrated as a result of service development Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Not Met Partially Met Fully Met Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale 13

14 POLICY STANDARD 5 There is effective training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children for all staff working with, or in contact with children and families Guidance How effective is training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children for all staff and volunteers working with or in contact with children and their families? Can you demonstrate improved outcomes as a result? Staff should have an understanding of safeguarding roles and responsibilities and those of other organizations and professionals to ensure effective multi-agency collaboration. The training strategy should reflect the needs of all levels of staff. Agencies should demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding through evidence of staff receiving appropriate training. Training should cover children with additional needs and responsibilities. Information on the Common Core skills and knowledge is available on-line to all staff. Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist A timely induction process is in place for all staff that will have contact with children that includes familiarisation with the child protection policies and procedures as well as basic safeguarding/child protection training. Please provide a copy. Evidence The organisation's Training Strategy provides for staff to receive appropriate safeguarding training in accordance with their needs/job role and individual training plans are in place. Please provide a copy Additional training (single and multi-agency) is available for all staff working with children and young people appropriate to their role and 14

15 responsibilities, in accordance with the requirements of the LSCB Training enhances staff awareness of diversity issues A database is kept of staff who have completed induction and basic child protection training so the organisation can evidence training undertaken by staff Staff training needs are reviewed annually to ensure knowledge of child protection matters is maintained and up to date. The organisation can demonstrate the impact of training on practice and improved outcomes (It is particularly important that agencies evidence how they demonstrate the impact of training and improved outcomes) Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Not Met Partially Met Fully Met Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale 15

16 POLICY STANDARD 6 The organisation maintains safer recruitment, vetting and managing allegations against professionals and volunteers Guidance How robust are the organisation's recruitment, vetting and managing allegations procedures? Policies should be current and updated in accordance with new legislation. Organizations should be clear on the need for and frequency of DBS checks. All staff engaged in recruitment and selection should train on safer recruitment. The organization should be able to evidence referrals to the LADO Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist The organisation has an accessible safer recruitment and selection policy in line with statutory guidance which covers how to recruit safely for staff who have contact with children, including what checks need to be undertaken to determine suitability Evidence The organisation can demonstrate that agencies commissioned to provide services employ safer recruitment procedures. Staff are aware of the safer recruitment policy and how to access it The organisation provides specific training on safer recruitment, which is accessed by those who have a role in recruiting staff who will have contact with children All interview panels have one member 16

17 trained in safer recruitment when recruiting staff who will have contact with children All those who have contact with children have had appropriate checks in line with current legislation and guidance (e.g. DBS check etc) which are updated in line with organisational policy The organisation has a retention policy for the results of checks carried out on staff The organisation obtains professional and character references, checks previous employment history and verifies the identity of applicants Systems are in place for children/young people and staff to make a complaint where there are concerns and/or allegations about a member of staff Whistle blowing procedures are in place such that all staff/volunteers can raise issues of poor practice The organisation has a Named Senior Officer with a clearly defined role and responsibilities in relation to dealing with allegations against staff and volunteers. The senior manager knows who the LADO is and when and how to contact them All staff are aware of procedures to follow in 17

18 the event of an allegation or concern about a member of staff or volunteer The organisation has recording and retention systems in place for allegations Support is available for staff who are subject to an allegation Audit processes are in place to monitor safer recruitment and managing allegations Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Not Met Partially Met Fully Met Lead Person Outcome Timescale 18

19 POLICY STANDARD 7 The organisation participates in effective inter-agency working to ensure the safeguarding of children and the promotion of their welfare Guidance Information sharing and constructive relationships should be supported by the Lead Member and Director of Children's services. Inter agency working should work effectively from strategic to individual levels in accordance with LSCB guidance. Agencies should be able to evidence examples of inter-agency collaboration from attendance and contribution to multi -agency meetings such as child protection conferences, MAPPA etc. Staff should understand and be able to apply thresholds appropriately for making referrals to Children's Social Care. Staff should know when and how to initiate a CAF. Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist The organisation has a role in multi agency strategic planning arrangements for services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children Evidence Arrangements are in place to actively promote and support effective interagency working on individual cases Early assessment Tools are used to improve outcomes and are monitored for effectiveness of improved outcomes The organisation participates in the CAF and Team Around the Child process. Staff are aware of the thresholds for making a referral 19

20 to Children's Social Care. Provide evidence of the numbers of CAFs initiated. The organisation uses the LSCB interagency protocols for specific issues where appropriate The organisation ensures it contributes effectively to Section 47 investigations, child protection conferences, core groups and child protection plans Participation in multi-agency strategic and operational planning meetings is monitored and non attendance is addressed. Provide evidence of the number of meetings attended Outcomes identified through assessment of children are monitored to demonstrate improvement at all levels of intervention Children and their families are consulted regarding the effectiveness of inter-agency working Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Not Met Partially Met Fully Met 20

21 Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale POLICY STANDARD 8 The organisation participates in effective information sharing to ensure the safeguarding of children and the promotion of their welfare Guidance Effective information sharing is central to safeguarding and makes an important contribution to the shift in addressing children's needs at an early stage. Agencies should have agreed systems, standards and protocols for sharing information within and between themselves. Those who work with children should understand the purpose of sharing information to safeguard and facilitate a full understanding of the child and family circumstances. Staff need to be confident about their responsibilities under the law including how to gain consent, when information may be shared without consent and when seeking consent may place a child at increased risk of harm. Decisions to share information should be based on professional judgments supported by Government guidance and training. Arrangements should ensure that. a. All staff in contact with children understand what to do and are aware of the most effective ways of sharing information if they believe that a child and family may require particular services in order to achieve their optimal outcomes. b. All staff in contact with children understand what to do and when to share information if they believe that a child may be a child in need, including those children suffering or at risk of suffering harm. c. Appropriate agency-specific procedures are produced to complement guidance issued by Central Government, and such guidance and appropriate training is made available to existing and new staff as part of their induction and ongoing training. d. Guidance and training specifically covers the sharing of information between professions, organisations and agencies, as well as within them, and arrangements for training takes into account the value of multi-agency training as well as single agency training. e. Managers in Children s Services are fully conversant with the legal framework and good practice guidance issued for practitioners working with children. Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist The agency is signed up to the local One Evidence 21

22 Barnsley Information sharing agreement The organisation has a clear statement of its responsibility to share information relevant to the safeguarding and promotion of welfare in a secure manner and clear protocols are in place for all staff and volunteers about how, when and what information to share. Staff/volunteers are aware of this statement and the information sharing protocols and their personal responsibilities relating to it, including the obtaining of consent where appropriate Staff know where to seek advice on information sharing and have confidence to use their own professional judgement Training addresses the need for effective information sharing and encourages staff to use professional judgment Records relating to children and young people are stored securely and safely Staff are aware of their responsibilities in relation to the reporting of private fostering arrangements Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or Not Met Partially Met Fully Met 22

23 improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Lead Person Outcome Timescale 23

24 POLICY STANDARD 9 The organisation participates in effective work with individual children and their families Guidance The ways in which agencies work with or have contact with individual children differs depending on the agency's functions. The following should be taken into account as the key features of an effective system: Children and young people are listened to and what they have to say is taken seriously and acted on in an appropriate manner. Interventions take place at an early stage when difficulties or problems are identified; perhaps as a result of undertaking a CAF. Where possible and practicable, the wishes and feelings of the particular child are obtained and taken into account when deciding on action to be taken. The preferred communication method or language of that child is used. Racial heritage, language, religion, faith, gender and disability are taken into account when working with a child and their family; Practitioners are clear when and how it is appropriate to make a referral to Children s Social Care in respect of a child in need. The CAF provides a basis for identifying need at an early stage and sharing information between organisations to agree co-ordinated multiagency support. Where there are concerns about a child s welfare, assessments of children and families led by Children s Social Care are consistent with the locally agreed Risk Assessment Framework. Professionals contribute to subsequent care plans, interventions and reviews in accordance with the requirements of relevant regulations and guidance. Following assessment, relevant services are provided to respond to the identified needs of children and to support parents and carers in effectively undertaking their parenting roles. This may require referral to a colleague within the agency or to another agency to secure the service. Where there is a delay or a particular service is not available, alternative services should be provided where possible to ensure the child s welfare is safeguarded. There is effective supervision and monitoring of work with individual children and their families. Good records are kept and information is shared appropriately on all work with individual children in accordance with agency requirements. IT. systems for recording information support effective work with children and their families, and have the capacity to aggregate information for strategic planning and management purposes. In cases where children, and their families have multiple needs requiring integrated support from a number of professionals, it may be appropriate for one practitioner to take a Lead Professional role to co-ordinate the support. The functions of this role are to : i. Act as a single point of contact that children, young people and families can trust, who is able to support them in making choices and in navigating their way through the system. ii. Co-ordinate the delivery of the actions according to a plan agreed by the practitioners to ensure that the service is effective and 24

25 iii. iv. regularly reviewed. Reduce overlap and inconsistency from other practitioners. Work with each child and family focuses on improving outcomes for each child Identify and describe how your organisation meets the points in the compliance checklist. Include evidence of improved outcomes and provide proposed actions to improve effectiveness. Although your answers relate to all children please provide specific information about your arrangements to safeguard children and young people with disabilities Compliance checklist Staff are aware of the roles of other professionals and agencies and understand the principles of Working Together with children, young people and their families within a multi-agency approach as defined in the BSCB child protection procedures Evidence Assessments carried out with children and their families adhere to the principles underpinning all work to safeguard children as defined in the BSCB child protection procedures The principles of good practice identified above are included in induction programmes where appropriate. Provide outline of induction and numbers of staff attending Work with individual children and families adheres to the principles of antidiscriminatory practice and equality of opportunity and they are made aware of their right to be safe from abuse These principles of good practice are reinforced in supervision and the supervisor 25

26 regularly reads and signs off case records and plans. Provide evidence of the policy that incorporates this Audit and training evidence is available to substantiate effective work with children and families Please indicate the status of your success in meeting the standard If your rating is not met or partially met please provide details of plans to meet or improve on the current standards. Who is responsible and by when? Proposed actions to improve effectiveness Not Met Partially Met Fully Met Lead Person Outcome Timescale Acknowledgment This tool was developed using good practice examples developed by the London network of LSCB Development Officers and Managers, the West Yorkshire SCB Consortium and Peterborough SCB 26