Training session
To receive training as necessary from the Independent Panel member relevant to items for consideration on the agenda, including an overview of initial assessments.
Minutes:
The Committee received a training session from the Independent Committee Member on Initial Assessments (IA) and considerations underpinning the safeguarding assessment process. The Government Framework for Assessment provides for a systematic approach to be used by local authorities to determine whether a child is in need and is suffering or at risk of significant harm. This is based around a series of key principles such as inter-agency working and a conceptual map focusing on the child’s development needs, parenting capacity and family and environmental factors when assessing information.
The Committee were advised of key elements required for IAs, including seeing the child and family, information gathering and analysing etc. IAs are required to be completed within 7 working days, and the Committee were advised of the difficulties experienced nationally by local authorities in meeting this target within the allocated timescale, whilst maintaining necessary quality of work.
In response to a query regarding the definition of significant harm and assessing the impact of neglect, confirmation was provided that the judgement of harm was considered as a continuum, in accompaniment with threshold considerations guiding what constitutes significant harm. A revised threshold document was currently being drafted, with approval to be sought by the Local Safeguarding Board in October, along with roll out of a threshold training programme for partner organisations. It was advised that for situations where the threshold for significant harm was deemed not to be met but where harm could potentially be detrimental to a child, support services were available at a lower level of intervention, for example referral to parenting intervention programmes, children’s centres etc.
RESOLVED:
· That the training session be noted.