Referrals and Assessments
Last updated: October 7, 2008
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Given that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility professionals/workers in all agencies that work with children and / or adults who have parenting responsibilities share a commitment to safeguard and promote their welfare, and for many agencies this is underpinned by a statutory duty or duties. Local authorities which are children’s services authorities have a number of specific duties to organise and plan services and safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
The effectiveness of professional agencies is dependent on the awareness and support of the public / local community and therefore it is important that all members of the community understand that safeguarding children which includes protecting them is a concern for everyone; adults and children alike. The Children’s Plan: Building Brighter Futures (December 2007) describes the Government’s vision of a system-wide reform to the way services for children and young people work together. It describes how, by putting the needs of children and families first, we will provide a service that makes more sense to the parents, children and young people using them, for whom professional boundaries can appear arbitrary and frustrating. By locating services under one roof in the places people visit frequently, they are more likely to find the help they need. And by investing in all of those who work with children, and by building capacity to work across professional boundaries, we can ensure that joining up services is not just about providing a safety net for the vulnerable it is about unlocking the potential of every child.
Government has determined there are a number of key systems that will support agencies in their responsibilities to safeguard children, these are:
- ContactPoint (previously known as the Information Sharing Index);
- Integrated Children’s System;
- Lead professional;
- Assessment Framework;
- Common Assessment Framework.
