Section 11 Audit Self-Evaluation Standards (Draft 2018)

Section 11 Audit – self-evaluation standards (draft 2018)

STANDARD 1: Senior management commitment to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare
1.1 / There is a designated lead with overall responsibility for safeguarding throughout the organisation.
1.2 / Staff are made aware of who the designated lead for safeguarding is within the organisation.
1.3 / The designated lead for safeguarding has a job description which clearly defines their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; they receive training and supervision in relation to this role.
1.4 / Systems are in place to ensure the agency monitors and quality assures implementation and compliance of child protection and safeguarding standards.
1.5 / When commissioning a service from another organisation (including grant giving / community groups) , there are robust mechanisms in place to ensure that they are compliant with s11 requirements regarding safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
STANDARD 2: A clear statement of the organisation’s responsibilities towards children is available for all staff
2.1 / The agency has written safeguarding policies and procedures that are reviewed regularly (at least every 3 years).
2.2 / All staff and volunteers are made aware of the safeguarding policies and procedures and how they are applied in practice.
2.3 / The agency has written online safety policies, procedures and/ or guidance, for staff (acceptable use of IT) and for children about how to stay safe online, that are reviewed regularly.
2.4 / The organisation has a clear, accessible and well publicised complaints procedure and there are effective systems in place for staff and service users (adult and child) to make a complaint where they have concerns that action to safeguard has not been followed in accordance with the procedures.
This includes information about how to complain to external bodies such as regulators and commissioners and is cross-referenced with safeguarding procedures. Relevant advocacy and advisory services are well publicised.
2.5 / The organisation has internal whistleblowing policies in place, which are integrated into training and codes of conduct. Organisations have processes and procedures in place to enable staff and service users to confidentially report any concerns they have about an individual’s practice or behaviour, and/or organisations practice in relation to children at risk, which may place them at risk of harm
STANDARD 3: A clear line of accountability within the organisation for work on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
3.1 / The organisation has a clear accountability framework which covers individual, professional and organisational accountability for safeguarding children; all staff are aware of the framework.
3.2 / Staff understand to whom they are directly accountable with regard to child welfare and the level of accountability they have.
3.3 / Job descriptions explicitly recognise responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
These are explicit about the individual, professional (e.g. codes of conduct of professional bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, etc) and organisational (e.g. line management) responsibilities.
STANDARD 4: Service development takes account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is informed, where appropriate, by the views of children and families.
4.1 / There are strategies, systems and initiatives in place to ensure children and young people are listened to, service provision is focused on their needs and experiences or, where they cannot represent their view themselves, they are advocated on their behalf.
There are systems in place to ensure children and young people are consistently seen and seen alone where statutory guidance requires that this should happen.
4.2 / There are strategies, systems and initiatives in place to ensure participation and user engagement from children, young people and their families is informing service development.
4.3 / Information provided is in a format and language that can be easily understood by all service users.
Different methods of communication are available to all children, including those with additional needs, to express their views.
4.4 / There is an agency awareness and focus on preventative activities in order to reduce the likelihood of children suffering harm.
4.5 / There are strategies, systems and initiatives in place to obtain the views of practitioners as to the effectiveness of agency business delivery in preventative work as well as safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
STANDARD 5: Staff training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children for all staff working with or, depending on the agency’s primary functions, in contact with children and families.
5.1 / An induction process is in place for all staff who have contact with children including:
a) familiarisation with child protection policies
b) basic child protection training that includes:
I) how to recognise signs of abuse & neglect
ii) how to respond to any concerns
iii) how to safeguard children in an online environment
5.2 / Records are kept of numbers and percentage of staff who have completed induction and basic child protection training.
5.3 / Additional training (both single- and multi-agency) is available for staff working with children and young people appropriate to their role.
5.4 / Training includes keeping children safe online
Training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children adequately equips staff, including managers, with the confidence, knowledge and skills to work with families from different cultures and religions
Training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children adequately equips staff, including managers, with the confidence, knowledge and skills to respond effectively to the potential additional vulnerabilities that children with disabilities may have.
5.5 / All individuals who come into contact with children and young people on an individual basis have regular, documented supervision / case management or similar opportunities to learn from critical incidents and can access further support when required.
5.6 / Staff are kept up to date with statutory requirements and findings from serious case reviews and inspections.
STANDARD 6: Safer recruitment and allegations management
6.1 / Robust recruitment and vetting procedures are in place to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children.
6.2 / Staff involved in recruitment are suitably trained, e.g. at least one member on the short listing/interview panel must have been on safer recruitment training.
6.3 / All staff who have contact with children, young people and families are properly selected and have appropriate checks in line with current legislation and guidance:

References are always taken up
Identity and qualifications are verified
Face-to-face interviews are carried out
Previous employment history is checked
The appropriate type of criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is carried out for all eligible staff, e.g. enhanced with barred list checks for regulated activities involving children and/or adults
Any anomalies or discrepancies are taken up

Repeat DBS checks are carried out according to organisational policy

6.4 / Records are maintained detailing checks carried out for employees.
6.5 / Procedures and processes are in place to notify the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) of relevant information so that individuals who pose a threat to vulnerable groups can be identified and barred from working with these groups and ensuring the organisation does not knowingly employ someone who is barred from working with vulnerable groups.
6.6 / There is a named senior officer with responsibility for dealing with allegations against staff and volunteers.
6.7 / There are written procedures for handling allegations against staff and volunteers. Within these it is made clear that immediate consideration must be given as to whether a criminal offence has taken place and this is reported to the police. Staff seek advice form the police where there is any uncertainty.
6.8 / Incidents and allegations of abuse are recorded appropriately.
STANDARD 7: Effective inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
7.1 / Strong strategic leadership in multi-agency working is demonstrated by regular attendance at Board and Subcommittee LSCB meetings.
7.2 / Policies are in place locally to support effective inter-agency working in individual cases. Staff have access to these policies.
7.3 / Staff participate in multi-agency meetings and forums to consider individual children.
7.4 / Staff are able to identify children who would benefit from additional services and require an Early Help Plan or CAF.
7.5 / Staff are clear about the circumstances in which a referral to Children’s Services is necessary.
7.6 / Staff participate in Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) and Multi-Agency and Partnership/Learning Reviews as and when required to do so.
7.7 / The agency has a clear process for:

gathering the evidence required for Reviews
embedding Review recommendations into practice
Completing actions from Reviews within agreed timescales.
Learning from incidents

STANDARD 8: Information sharing & Data Management
8.1 / The organisation has in place agency-specific guidance on information sharing that is in accordance with Government guidance at both strategic and operational levels.
8.2 / The organisation has arrangements in place that set out clearly the processes and the principles for sharing information between each other, with other professionals and with the LSCB. The organisation can evidence how this impacts on outcomes for children.
8.3 / This guidance and training are made available to existing and new staff as part of their induction and ongoing training.
8.4 / All staff who come into contact with children understand the purpose of information sharing in order to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
8.5 / Staff are confident about what they can and should do under the law, including how to obtain consent to share information and when information may be shared even though consent hasn’t been obtained.
8.6 / Staff are confident about how to involve parents and carers in discussions about consent and how to support a child to discuss their concerns with parents/carers.
8.7 / There is a clear and robust recording policy in place that ensures staff maintain an accurate and clear record of their involvement with a child and family – including any decisions resulting from casual/ informal conversations
8.9 / Historical information can be retrieved and shared were necessary to inform assessment of risk.
8.10 / Data and information are held appropriately and securely in line with government guidance.
8.11 / Data/ performance / case management systems and reporting supports effective safeguarding.
STANDARD 9: Recognition and response to risk
Private Fostering
9.1 / The Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 introduced legislation to safeguard children who are Privately Fostered. As a result, local authorities must be notified about all Private Fostering arrangements. Frontline workers in your service who work directly with children, are made aware of the expectation that all children who are Privately Fostered must be notified to the Local Authority.
9.2 / Staff understand the definition of a “close” relative, under the terms of the Children Act relating to Private Fostering.
9.3 / Staff in your service who work directly with children, are able to clarify the relationship between the adult caring for the child and the child, and so are aware of the concept of Parental Responsibility.
9.4 / Staff in your service know how to make contact with the Local Authority for advice and guidance about issues relating to Private Fostering.
Role of fathers, male partners and other significant males in family
9.5 / Your organisation has specific guidance for practitioners to consider fathers, male partners and other significant adult males in the family when gathering family information as well as in all assessments addressing the needs and welfare of children and young people.
Child Sexual Exploitation
9.6 / Your organisation is proactive in tackling child exploitation, focusing on prevention, early identification and intervention; this includes appropriate policies or guidelines on responding to child sexual exploitation and awareness raising and preventative education.
9.7 / Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation are provided with training to recognise key indicators of child sexual exploitation.
9.8 / Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation know how to identify children at risk of child exploitation or are being sexually exploited; they know what to do once risks are recognised and how to escalate concerns as appropriate.
9.9 / The work to address child exploitation is integrated into the wider work of your organisation, including addressing risks of child exploitation in all assessments.
9.10 / Your organisation works effectively with other agencies to manage individual cases and to prevent and disrupt child exploitation.
9.11 / Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation know the signs, indicators and effects of child trafficking and how to escalate concerns as appropriate.
PREVENT
9.12 / Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the Act) places a duty on certain bodies. These are:

Local Authorities
Schools and Registered Childcare Providers
The Health Sector
Prisons and Probation
The Police
Further Education Institutions
Higher Education Institutions

These specified authorities have sector specific guidance from the Home Office in relation to the Prevent duties.
Risk Assessments should be undertaken by specified authorities ,if risks are identified, which assess the risk of individuals being drawn into terrorism, including support for extremist ideas that are
part of terrorist ideology. This should be based on an understanding, shared with partners, of the potential risk in the local area.
9.13 / Your organisation has an identified Prevent lead who is responsible for implementing the Prevent duties within your agency. if it is listed as a specified authority (as above)
The Prevent lead has the relevant networks in place for their own advice and support to make referrals to the Channel programme.
9.14 / Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation are provided with training, appropriate to their role, to support with identifying and responding to concerns about children who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. Staff should know how to make appropriate referrals to Channel (a programme which provides support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism which is put on a statutory footing by Chapter 2 of Part 5 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015)
9.14 / Your organisation can demonstrate it supports against children and young people from being drawn into terrorism by having robust safeguarding policies in place to identify children at risk, and intervening as appropriate.
9.15 / If applicable to your organisation:
To ensure children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet, including by establishing appropriate levels of filtering.(link to standard 2.3)
9.16 / Your organisation works effectively with other agencies, including the police, to manage individual cases and to prevent and disrupt children being drawn into terrorism.
Harmful Traditional Practices (Honour based Violence (HBV), Forced Marriage, Breast Ironing, Spirit Possession and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM))
9.15 / Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of all girls and women and has been illegal in the UK since 1985. All agencies have a duty to respond to girls who have suffered, or who are likely to suffer, FGM.
Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation are provided with training, appropriate to their role, to support them to identifying and responding to concerns about children who are at risk of, or may have been subject to Harmful Traditional Practices, including FGM.
Key information is disseminated to frontline practitioners within your agency about the issues relating to Harmful Traditional Practices, including FGM.
9.16 / From October ’15, there is a new
Key information is disseminated to frontline practitioners within your agency about the duty for professionals working in “regulated professions” (healthcare workers, teachers, and social care workers), to notify the Police if they discover that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl who is under the age of 18 years (or if they suspect that a child may be at risk). issues relating to FGM, including taking proactive steps in respond to a disclosure.
Domestic Violence & Abuse
9.17 / Your organisation is proactive in tackling Domestic Violence & Abuse (DV&A), focusing on prevention, early identification and intervention; this includes appropriate policies or guidelines on responding to DV&A.
9.18 / Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation are provided with training to see incidents of domestic violence & abuse through the eyes of the child. They are able to recognise key indicators of DV&A, as well as understanding the impact and opportunities for referral and intervention as appropriate.
9.19 / Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation know what to do once Domestic Abuse is identified or disclosed and are aware of local procedures regarding DV&A, including making onward referral to local care pathways for children, non-abusive parents and the abuser.
Safeguarding children who do not attend school
9.20 / Many children and young people receive good-quality education in alternative provision or at home. However, vulnerable children who do not attend school can become hidden from professionals and agencies, which means that we are less able to help and protect them.
Managers and frontline practitioners in your organisation are aware of their responsibility to identify children who are educated in alternative provision or at home, and share any concerns about their welfare with children’s social care.
Working with ‘hard to engage’ families
9.21 / Where families refuse to engage, and engagement is necessary, staff in your organisation make appropriate attempts to help them to do so. However, where there are concerns about the safety and protection of children and parents do not engage, there is a full risk assessment and urgent involvement of a senior manager in all decisions about next steps.
9.22 / There are systems and support in place for staff in your organisation to confidently challenge and support parents/carers where their engagement is causing concern.
Neglect
9.23 / Staff in your organisation are trained, confident and knowledgeable in responding to neglect. They understand the impact of neglect on children’s daily lives as well as the long-term and cumulative impact on their health and well-being.
9.24 / Staff in your organisation are able to identify children who are neglected. The risks to them and their needs are assessed effectively and responded to appropriately. Assessments consider family history and the cumulative impact of neglect. The views of the child and family are recorded and central to the work with the family. They use all of this knowledge to inform planning and interventions.
9.25 / Staff in your organisation have an awareness and understanding of how the behaviour of parents and carers affects children. Staff working with children and families are able to assess any strengths and risks in parenting and support from the extended family
9.26 / There are systems and support in place for staff in your organisation to confidently challenge other professionals appropriately to ensure good practice, and they challenge and support parents/carers where poor parenting is resulting in neglect, and provide appropriate challenge when needed.
Online Safety
9.27 / Staff working with children and families are trained, confident and knowledgeable in assessing the impact of children’s online activity in keeping them safe.
9.28 / Staff working with children and families are trained, confident and knowledgeable in supporting parents and carers to keep their child/ren safe when using social media and the internet.
9.29 / Your organisation has an acceptable use of the internet policy and frontline staff are aware of how to protect their professional reputation online.