Section 11 Categories and Standards Scoring Guidance
2014
There are 7 Categories, and within these a total of 36 Standards (known as Questions within the Enable tool). Within each of the Standards there are a series of criteria that need to be fulfilled for the Standard to be fully achieved. These are laid out below.Some of the Standards won’t be applicable to all organisations that will be completing the audit. Where the entire Standard is not applicable to an organisation, then it is possible to assign ‘Not Applicable’ to these Standards, and give a reason for this. These Standards are then excluded from the self assessment scoring.
· Using the Enable audit tool, organisations are asked to rate their compliance to each of the Standards using a 0 – 100% rating scale, with 5% graduations. To help organisations to do this we have provided scoring guidance below.
· Each of the criteria within a Standard has been given a suggested score, and the score total for each Standard = 100.
· Rate your Organisation against each of the criteria, and add up the scores.
· The suggested scores are the maximum, therefore if you don’t think your organisation fully meets a particular criteria then award a lower score for it.
· If one or more of the criteria in a Standard is not applicable to your organisation then it will be necessary to re-score accordingly, ensuring that the relevant criteria scores add up to a total of 100. (It is suggested that where criteria in blue are not applicable to the organisation alternative scoring in blue could be used.)
· Only if your organisation fully meets all the criteria for a Standard should the maximum score of 100 be awarded.
The criteria scores are for guidance only, to help achieve a consistent approach to self-assessment between organisations completing the S11 Audit. You may adjust the suggested scores or use an alternative, as long as you consider all the criteria for each Standard, and are able to evidence the score that you award your organisation.
1. SENIOR LEVEL COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
1.1 / There is named person responsibility for safeguarding children at the highest level within the organisation / Max scorea / There is a named lead officer within the organisation with an appropriate background and demonstrable knowledge, with accountability for safeguarding children. / 20
(25)
b / This responsibility is included in the lead officer’s job specification and included in their annual performance appraisal. / 20
(25)
c / The organisation can demonstrate that it supports this person in the role e.g. training, resources, protected time etc. / 20
(25)
d / There is regular senior management discussion relating to safeguarding which has positively impacted upon organisational development and service delivery. / 20
(25)
e / Where applicable, Elected Representatives / Board Members are regularly made aware of safeguarding issues and risks affecting the organisation. They demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding children, and can hold the organisation to account regarding their safeguarding responsibilities. / 20
If N/A use scores in blue
100
1.2 / There is a strategic and/or corporate plan that references safeguarding children and is linked into relevant work streams. / Max score
a / The plan is updated in line with local and national developments. / 30
b / The plan is reflected in all relevant staff job descriptions and/or work plans. / 30
c / Annual monitoring of the plan is in place and is communicated to staff, and action plans to address issues developed. / 40
100
1.3 / There is regular and appropriate level attendance and effective contributions to the Safeguarding Boards, their sub groups/committees and consultations / Max score
a / Your agency has appropriate LSCB and Sub committee membership – provide names, roles, Sub-committee. Frequency of attendance meets LSCB requirements. / 30
b / Attendance at relevant LSCB multi-agency meetings is monitored, and action taken to address non-attendance. / 20
c / Mechanisms are in place for your LSCB member report back to your agency on safeguarding matters / 25
d / There is evidence that your LSCB member carries out their commitment to challenging your organisation on safeguarding matters / 25
100
1.4 / The organisation adequately apportions resources to meet its responsibilities with regard to safeguarding. / Max score
a / There is a dedicated resource assigned for Safeguarding within the organisation. / 60
b / There is a budget for Safeguarding Training. / 40
100
1.5 / There are clear lines of accountability from staff through the organisation to named safeguarding person(s) / Max score
a / There is an accountability framework which enables all staff to understand their role in safeguarding children (e.g. in job descriptions, through training) / 20
b / There is a named person / persons at an operational level with a clearly defined role and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. / 20
c / A flow chart of accountability is displayed and available to staff / 10
d / Anyone who comes into contact with children or their families has their responsibility towards children’s welfare explicitly stated in job description. / 20
e / Staff know who to report safeguarding concerns to / 20
f / The SET Child Protection Procedures are promoted and used within your agency / 10
100
1.6 / Systems are in place to embed safeguarding across all contracted / commissioning activity. / Max score
a / Standards in relation to the safeguarding of children are included in contracts with contracted out / commissioned services, where appropriate. / 20
b / Adherence to these safeguarding standards is monitored, and this can be evidenced. / 20
c / Contracted services regularly undertake safeguarding audits. / 10
d / Where contracted services are not safeguarding effectively there is evidence of action taken by the contractor and the commissioner. / 20
e / Safeguarding key performance indicators are included in contracts / 20
f / Safeguarding key performance indicators are reported on a frequent basis to the commissioning agency / 10
100
2. CORE SAFEGUARDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
2.1 / The organisation has a Child Protection policy and procedure in place. / Max scorea / The child protection policy can be easily accessed by all staff, and provides clear, straightforward guidance on how to recognise and respond to possible abuse or neglect. / 40
b / The child protection policy and procedure is in line with LSCB guidance. / 40
c / Systems are in place to review and update the policy in line with local and national developments, and at least every 3 years / 20
100
2.2 / E-safety policies and procedures are in place
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (http://www.ceop.police.uk) is a key source of advice. See also Childnet International website http://www.childnet-int.org/) / Max score
a / There are E-safety policies, procedures and practices in place for both children and young people, and staff. / 10
(15)
b / The organisation is aware of and follows when required the E-safety guidance provided by the LSCBs within the SET child protection procedures. / 10
c / The organisation has guidance notes e.g. flow chart for managing any e-Safety child protection incident. / 10
d / There is a designated or named person who manages e-safety child protection incidents, and champions E safety in the organisation. / 10
e / The designated or named person keeps a log of e-safety incidents, resulting outcomes and follow up actions. / 10
f / The organisation provides guidance to staff working with C&YP on professional boundaries in relation to personal internet use and social networking online. / 10
g / Adults working with children and young people
· Receive regular training and updates
· Know how to report and manage issues or concerns
· Know how to protect and conduct themselves safely online / 10
(15)
h / The organisation raises awareness of e-safety issues amongst its staff and any children and young people it works with / 20
i / Agencies who care for children in residential settings: (e.g. within Hospitals, mental health residential settings, children in care of the local authority) ensure that these particularly vulnerable children are able to use the internet including gaming and social networking, and mobile technologies safely / 10
If N/A use scores in blue
100
2.3 / There is a complaints policy and procedure in place. / Max score
a / The complaints process is in line with statutory guidance, and available for staff, children and other service users. / 20
b / The procedure is promoted and monitored. / 20
c / The policy is included in Induction packs / 20
d / The procedures is available to all staff, children and other service users in appropriate formats / 20
e / Information is available on the time span within which complaints should be responded to, and adherence to this target is monitored. / 10
f / Evaluations / audits of the use of the complaints process are undertaken / 10
100
2.4 / “Whistle Blowing” procedures for staff to raise safeguarding concerns against colleagues or managers are clearly understood and correctly followed where required. / Max score
a / There is a well-publicised ‘whistle blowing’ or ‘speak out’ procedure that provides alternative methods of reporting concerns, using a direct specialist telephone line. / 25
b / A leaflet or poster is available to all staff to publicise the whistle blowing procedure / 25
c / The organisation publicises ‘Public Concern At Work’, an independent charity whose lawyers can give free confidential advice about how to raise a concern about malpractice at work / 20
d / The Whistle-blowing process is in line with statutory guidance, included in Induction packs and its use is monitored. / 30
100
2.5 / There is a procedure in place for managing child protection allegations made against staff. / Max score
a / The LADO is responsible for the management and oversight of individual cases and is informed of all child protection allegations or concerns relating to staff or volunteers. / 20
b / There are clear written procedures for dealing with situations where allegations of child abuse are made against someone working in your organisation. / 20
c / The workforce that are in contact with children and families are aware of the existence of this policy and procedure. / 20
d / A senior manager has been identified for the managing allegations process & knows who the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is and when to contact them. / 20
e / Support is available for staff who are subject to allegations / 20
100
3. SAFER RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
3.1 / The organisation has a safer recruitment policy in place. / Max scorea / This policy covers how to recruit safely for staff who have contact with children and which follows local safeguarding children board Recruitment Standards. / 40
b / The Policy has been reviewed within the agreed timescale. / 20
c / Relevant staff who are involved in recruitment are aware of the policy, how to access it and how to adhere to it. / 40
100
3.2 / Human Resources and Recruiting staff follow safe recruitment practices
a / Safe recruitment practices ensure the proper selection of staff who will have regular contact with children or vulnerable adults. These practices include:
· Policies on when Disclosure and Barring Service checks are necessary
· Adherence to the Disclosure and Barring Service referral process.
· Face to face interviews
· Verification of identity and qualifications, which can be evidenced by audit activity.
· Professional and character references are obtained
· Previous employment history is checked
· Any anomalies or discrepancies are taken up / 40
b / The organisation has procedures to manage and record positive disclosures on DBS (CRB) checks / 20
c / The organisation has procedures in place stating when should be cases referred to the DBS / 20
d / The organisation audits/quality assures its recruitment practice / 20
100
3.3 / The organisation provides specific training on safe recruitment / Max score
a / The training is accessed by all those who have a role in recruiting staff who will have contact with children / 40
b / Training is systematically evaluated and impact outcomes used to improve future training programmes. / 30
c / A training database is in place and updated. / 30
100
3.4 / The organisation can demonstrate that agencies contracted / commissioned to provide services have safer recruitment in place / Max score
a / Safer recruitment standards are embedded in the contracts with commissioned service providers. / 50
b / Adherence to these standards is checked as part of the contract management process. / 50
100
4. SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
4.1 / Service development is informed, where appropriate, by the views of children & families / Max scorea / There is a stated policy on the involvement of children and young people in the development of the organisation’s service. / 20
b / The organisation takes a pro-active approach to engaging with children and families in the design, development and delivery of services. / 20
c / Feedback mechanisms are embedded within the organisation, and clear service changes can be demonstrated as a result. / 20
d / Providers of feedback are informed how the information they provide has been used. / 20
e / Different methods of communication are available to children to express their views / 20
100
4.2 / The organisation has an effective strategy in relation to Domestic Abuse and Violence / Max score
a / There is a senior lead for domestic abuse and violence. / 10
b / There is a policy/ procedure in place for managing domestic abuse and violence issues. / 20
c / There are processes in place for disseminating basic domestic abuse and violence awareness to all staff. / 20
d / Appropriate staff are trained in the use of DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, Honour Based Violence) Risk Assessment Model. / 20
e / Where high risk cases are identified, a referral to MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) is made. / 20
f / There is adequate resourcing for services responding to Domestic Abuse and violence. / 10
100
4.3 / The organisation has an effective strategy in relation to Honour Based Abuse (HBA) - this includes forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation. / Max score
a / There is a senior lead for HBA. / 10
b / There is a policy/ procedure in place for managing HBA issues. The policy makes specific reference to Honour based Abuse, Forced Marriages, Female Genital Mutilation / 20
c / The organisation has processes in place to deal with these forms of abuse that includes the recording and storage of records relating to cases of HBA / 10
d / Relevant staff can access HBA training and have a clear understanding of the procedures in place to deal with incidents or concerns relating to HBA / 20
e / There are processes in place for disseminating basic HBA awareness to all staff. / 20
f / There is adequate resourcing for HBA, FM & FGM / 20
100
4.4 / The organisation has an effective strategy in relation to Prevent (The Counter Terrorism Strategy). / Max score
a / The organisation has a senior lead for Prevent. / 20
b / There is a policy and a procedure in place and staff are aware of its existence. / 20
c / There is a training plan in place. / 20
d / The Prevent lead receives information from the Channel Panel and disseminates information as appropriate. / 20
e / There is adequate resourcing for Prevent. / 20
100
4.5 / The organisation has an effective strategy in relation to Child Sexual Exploitation / Max score
a / There is a senior lead to take forward the CSE agenda. / 20
b / The organisation has an action plan for how it can contribute to the reduction of CSE in Essex. / 20
c / Objectives in relation to child sexual exploitation are clearly identified and delivered upon by the named lead / 10
d / Safeguarding training includes signs and symptoms of CSE. / 20
e / Where required, key staff are able to access more in-depth training in Child Sexual Exploitation within acceptable timescales. / 10
f / There is adequate resourcing for services responding to Child Sexual Exploitation / 20
100
4.6 / Effective systems are in place to evidence the impact of your service on outcomes for children and young people / Max score
a / The organisation has a range of systems in place to assess the impact of their professionals’ actions on the lives of children and young people.2 / 50
b / Outcomes for children and young people are routinely monitored, and reported to senior level. / 50
100
5. LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT AND STAFF SUPPORT