Developing Interagency Child Protection Work: Report of a Cross Agency Audit Dr Pam Green Lister

1. Developing Interagency Child Protection Work: Report of a Cross Agency Audit Dr Pam Green Lister

2. Historical Context • DOH 1991 Report of Child Abuse Inquiries in 1980s • Butler Sloss 1988 • Clyde 1992 • DOH 1995 Messages from Research • Hammond 2001 • Laming 2003 • O’ Brien 2003 • Scottish Executive 2005 • Herbison 2006

3. Scottish Executive Policy Documents • 2001 For Scotland’s Children • 2002 It’s Everyone’s Job .. • 2003 Getting Our Priorities Right • 2004 Protecting Children and Young People, Charter and Framework • 2004 Hidden Harm • 2005 Getting it Right for Every Child • 2005 Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection Committees

4. The Audit Aim • to analyse the effectiveness of interagency working at the early stage of the child protection process Objectives • to identify the features of interagency working where there is concern about a child before child protection procedures may have been invoked • to examine this stage of concern from the perspective of the core agencies involved • to analyse what assists the development of good interagency practice and what inhibits such practice

5. Methodology 40 children identified by GCCP where cause for concern in timeframe of 1st August to 31st October 2004 10 provided by Social Work, Police, Health and Education 1 child named by 2 agencies Total 39 children • Documentary Analysis of agency files • Questionnaires • Interviews

6. Documentary Analysis 1st Stage Analysis of Referral Documentation • Health : Cause for Concern Referrals • Education: Circular 57 Forms • Police: Incident Reports and Files • Social Work : Care First and Paper Files • Total 39 2nd Stage Analysis: Cross referencing of Documentation • Police: 24 Incident Reports and Files • Social Work : 38 Care First and 30 Paper Files

7. Audit Tool • Referring agency • Date and nature of referral/ incident • Sex, ethnicity, age • Alleged perpetrator • Referral category • Registration • Summary of previous involvement • Immediate response to the referral • Post referral activity

8. Questionnaires: Education and Health • Contact with the family prior to the referral • Contact with other agencies prior to the referral • Contact with other agencies with regard to this specific referral Health : 16 health visitors 17 school nurses Education: 7 head teachers

9. Interviews 14 follow up interviews – semi structured • Discussion of the specific case • Issues in interagency work with the other three agencies • General interagency issues • Intra agency issues • What assists interagency work • Social Work ( 5), Police (3) Health (3) Education (3)

10. Findings: Documentary Analysis • Issues raised from the nature of the files made available • The immediate response by lead investigative agencies • Previous interagency activity

11. Issues Arising from Agency Files • Social Work • The advantages and disadvantages of CareFirst files • The recording of opinions and the ‘why’ question • The use of research to inform practice • Importance of explicit identification of aims, evidence base, planning and evaluation • Police • Detailed recording and monitoring • Health • Comprehensive – ‘what’ was done • Separate notes for children and parents • Importance of explicit identification of aims, evidence base, planning and evaluation

12. Seeing the child Immediate harm Nature of physical injury Current or historical 3. Medical Presence / severity injuries Previous exposure to examination 2. Joint interview Communication needs Consistency Adult witness of abuse Availability of JIT trained social worker Availability of police surgeon Factors Affecting Responses: Physical Injury

13. Seeing the child Allocated social worker Receipt other services Current or historical abuse Nature of allegation Alleged perpetrator outwith the home Joint interview Factors related to seeing the child Availability of JIT trained Social Worker Medical examination Factors related to seeing the child and joint interview Child accommodated Factors Affecting Responses: Sexual Abuse

14. Child in immediate danger Allocated social worker Accumulation of concerns Range of agencies providing services Communication between workers Different thresholds Factors Affecting Responses: Neglect

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

16. Interviews: Social Workers’ Perspectives • Examples productive relationships all agencies • Health Visitors high tariff cases • JIT interviews • Head teachers regular feedback • Areas of Concern • Timescale and JIT led by police • Teachers professional responsibility • Differing thresholds health visitors • Other agencies understanding of social work legal remit • Other agencies understanding of role of reception and duty • Attendance at core groups • Legislative timescale leaving children in limbo

17. Interviews: Police Perspectives • Examples of positive co-working all agencies • Good understanding roles of police and social work • JIT training and interviewing • Health Visitors untapped resource • Head teacher – child communication difficulties • Areas of Concern • Difficulty accessing some social workers • Non JIT trained social workers in interviews • Some head teachers not understand role in CP • Legislative timescale/ Reporter response

18. Interviews: Health Visitors’ Perspectives • Examples of positive co-working all agencies • Complex child care work with Social Workers • Good liaison nursery teachers • Well organised professional case conferences • Areas of Concern • Difficult initial access to social work • Absence of qualified social worker • Patchy ongoing communication social work • Less preventative work • Lack of knowledge health visitor professional role • Lack of statutory powers health visitors

19. Interviews: Head Teachers’ Perspectives • Examples of positive co-working all agencies • Coordinated support asylum seekers • Case conferences and core groups • Co-work health visitors • Areas of Concern • Access to social workers • Less preventative work • Role of school nurses

20. Themes from Interviews • Understanding of professional role • Communication and accessibility • Continuity of contact and feedback • Informal and formal agency forums • Joint Training • Possible co-location

21. Areas for Consideration • Social Work • File organisation and index • Rationale for decisions • Reception / Duty Services / Access • JIT trained workers • Neglect cases • Review of files

22. Areas for Consideration • Police • Arrangements for JIT interviews • Staffing • Education • Reaffirmation of roles and responsibilities • Role of head teachers in joint interview

23. Areas for Consideration • Health • File organisation • Explicit rational for activity • Evaluation of files • Explicit risk assessment • Provisions of written report

24. Areas for Consideration • General Interagency • Delays in children hearing system • Panel member training • Continued interagency training • Knowledge all professional roles • Co-location • Monitoring attendance of core groups

25. References • Butler- Sloss, E. (1988). Report of the Inquiry into Child Abuse in Cleveland 1987, presented to the Secretary of State for Social Services by the Right Honourable Lord Butler Sloss DBE. London: HMSO. • Clyde, Lord (1992). Report of the Inquiry into the Removal of Children from Orkney February 1991. London: HMSO. • Department of Health (1991). Child Abuse. A Study of Inquiry Reports 1980-1989. London: HMSO. • Department of Health (1995). Child Protection: Messages from Research. London: HMSO

26. References • Hammond, H. (2001). Child Protection Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Kennedy McFarlane. Commissioned by Dumfries and Galloway Child Protection Committee. • Herbison, J. (2006). Danielle Reid Independent Review into the Circumstances Surrounding Her Death • Scottish Executive (2001). For Scotland’s Children. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive • Laming, Lord (2003). The Victoria Climbie Inquiry. Report of an Inquiry by Lord Laming. The Stationery Office: London • O’ Brien S. QC (2003). Report of the Caleb Ness Inquiry Commissioned by the Edinburgh and Lothians’ Child Protection Committee. • Scottish Executive (2002). It’s Everyone’s Job to Make Sure I’m Alright. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive

27. References • Scottish Executive (2003). Getting our Priorities Right-Good Practice Guidance for Working with Children and Families affected by Substance Misuse. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. • Scottish Executive (2004a). Protecting Children and Young People:the Charter. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. • Scottish Executive (2004b). Protecting Children and Young People :The Framework for Standards. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. • Scottish Executive (2004c). Hidden Harm. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.