Knowledge Bite
Safeguarding Connected Children
The safeguarding policy audit in November 2020 overwhelmingly found strong
safeguarding practice across the country, with children remaining at the heart of the
work. The quality of safeguarding and risk assessments was good, with generally
clear rationales for making referrals. 91% of referrals were deemed appropriate
which demonstrates that there is a good understanding of thresholds of risk across
the organisation, and practitioners are identifying when safeguarding referrals are
required as set out in the safeguarding policy.
A key learning point from the audit was in relation to safeguarding children in the
family who are not subject of proceedings. Previously referred to as ‘non-subject
children’, in line with wider thinking about the importance of language, and to
recognise that children would not want to be described as ‘non-subject’, the
language has changed to ‘connected children’.
From the 27 cases
27% of the cases
in which a
in the sample
connected child
required a referral
referral was
for a connected
needed, a referral
child
was only made in
17 cases (63%)
What does Cafcass’ Safeguarding Policy say?
The practitioner should make a referral under section 47 to local authority children’s
services where s/he believes that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant
harm.
The practitioner should refer under section 17 if the child is considered in need of
support or services to safeguard and promote their welfare. Consideration for a
referral applies to:
•
All children with whom practitioners come into contact through their work, not just
those who are subject to court proceeding
•
All types of risk of significant harm to children, including any current risk of self-
harm or suicide
•
All children, regardless of whether they are open to Children’s Social Care
already and even if they are already the subject of Child Protection plans.
Remember – we have a safeguarding duty to ALL children.
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
In all contact with families, we need to be mindful of any connected children who may
also be at risk, and continuously review their safety upon receipt of all new
information.
“I’m not seeing my
daddy now. I got scared
when I saw him and his
girlfriend, Rosie, fight.
Rosie has a baby called
Molly and I miss having
cuddles with her. I’m
worried about baby
Molly getting hurt when
they fight”.
Children may worry about the safety and welfare of other children in their family.
Have you asked them about other children in their family? Do they have any worries
about them?
The Family Justice Young People’s Board top tips for working with brothers and
sisters include:
Children need to be reassured that the other children in their family are safe.
Ask yourself - How do you find out about other
children in the family?
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Professional curiosity
Clear recording
Continuous assessment
Professional curiosity
•
Do any other children live in your home? Do any other children visit your home
regularly? Does your partner have any children? Do you live with any younger
relatives such as your own brothers or sisters?
•
A parent may choose not to disclose that they spend time with other children for
various reasons; is the other parent aware of them spending regular time with
any other children?
•
In public law, avoid assumptions that the local authority will already be aware of
the presence of connected children. Confirm this with the social worker to ensure
that they are safeguarded.
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Professional curiosity
•
Is there any reference to connected children in the application? Ensure that this
is followed up with the parents to confirm their whereabouts, relationship to the
subject child, and current arrangements.
•
It can be difficult to obtain connected children’s details after safeguarding issues
have come to light and a referral is needed. During the EIT process this
information should be gathered and recorded; it needs to be clarified in the
WAFH process to check if anything has changed since the safeguarding
interviews.
Clear recording
•
Even if no significant risk issues are
identified, the children’s record needs to
clearly highlight the presence of any
connected children so that their safety is
considered upon receipt of any new
information. This should be highlighted
on the contact log and case plan.
•
Clearly recording connected children’s
details (name, DOB and address as a
minimum) can avoid delay in making a
safeguarding referral if this becomes
necessary.
•
Highlight any connected children in the
case plan to ensure that upon transfer to
the WAFH team, the safety of any
connected children is considered as the
assessment progresses.
•
Management reviews and situational
supervision need to address the safety
of any connected children.
•
Consider adding a ‘connected child/ren’
heading to any templates that you use
such as for case reviews or interviewing.
Caution should be applied to including any information about connected children in
reports. Information about connected children should only be included where it is
relevant to the issues in the case. Any information included about connected children
should be minimal and names should not be included where this is unnecessary.
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Assessment is a continuous process
•
Upon receipt of all new information, reassess risk to both the subject and any
connected children.
•
Ask yourself ‘how is the connected child safe? If there is insufficient evidence to
confirm their safety, what action needs to be taken?’
•
Evidence your thinking about all children’s safety on the child’s record.
Don’t forget about us!
Sometimes connected children are mentioned at the beginning of a case, but there is
no mention of these children as the assessment progresses. Effectively they become
lost.
•
Remember to review the safety of connected children as the case progresses.
•
Ask yourself, if the case was suddenly reallocated would it be obvious from the
child’s record that there are connected children who the new practitioner needs to
be mindful of?
•
Highlight any connected children in the case plan and contact log to ensure that
they are not forgotten about when they case is reallocated, transferred to another
team, or is reopened.
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Making a connected child safeguarding referral
•
Where a safeguarding referral is made for a child who is not the subject of
proceedings (private or public law) the local team will add the child as a
connected child to the case record, using the ‘non-case related child
safeguarding enquires/referrals’ guidance available on the intranet and the
referral should be stored under the risk and safety folder within the case record.
•
The process for making the referral is the same as that for subject children (see
Safeguarding Policy – section 7.1 for details)
•
Our responsibility doesn’t end once the referral is made. If the local authority
response is not adequate to keep the connected child/ren safe, the escalation
process should be followed in the same way as for children subject of the
proceedings.
•
See the Cafcass
Safeguarding Policy – section 8 for full details of the escalation
process.
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Case example for team discussions
Work to First Hearing (WTFH)
Mr Alan makes an application for a Child Arrangements Order to spend time with his
two children. In his application he reports the mother has fabricated allegations of
domestic abuse about him and won’t allow the children to spend time with him.
Q. What needs to happen at the WTFH stage to ensure any connected children
are safeguarded?
During the safeguarding interview, Mr Alan reports he regularly spends time with his
son, Tom, including overnight stays. Tom is not subject of the proceedings.
Q. Are there any further steps that need to be taken to ensure the safety of Tom
at this stage? What steps may you need to take?
Tom’s details are obtained from Mr Alan. The FCA discusses the potential risks to
Tom arising from the allegations of domestic abuse with his Practice Supervisor and
it is agreed a safeguarding referral is not required at this stage and defensible
decision-making is recorded on the contact log in relation to Tom. The case is then
listed for a finding of fact hearing and closed.
Q. At the point of the case being closed, is there anything further you do in
respect of Tom? Would you have done anything differently if the case was to
remain open for a section 7 report prior to it being transferred to the WAFH
team?
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Case example for team discussions
Work After First Hearing (WAFH)
Following findings being made in relation to Mr Alan having perpetrated domestic
abuse against the subject children’s mother and having significant mental health
difficulties, a section 7 is directed and the case re-opened.
Q. At the point the case is re-opened what needs to be considered?
During the interview for the section 7 report the mother of the subject children reports
significant domestic abuse and the children appear to be displaying behaviours
associated with trauma.
Q. Is there anything you need to do in relation to Tom? How can you ensure
Tom’s safety is considered at the case review and planning stage? How can
you ensure Tom’s safety remains under consideration if there are any changes
in the safeguarding information, for example, further incidents of domestic
abuse, decline in parental mental health, disclosures of abuse from the subject
children?
Knowledge Bite Safeguarding non-subject children
Questions for team discussions:
•
How do you find out about connected children?
•
How can you ensure that risks to connected children
are reviewed upon receipt of all new information?
•
How do you evidence that connected children are
safe?
•
Is there anything that you will do differently?
