1.1 Foreword and Introduction

Contents

1. Welcome to the Manual
2. Accessing the Procedures
3. Context
4. Safeguarding and Promoting Children's Welfare
5. Child Protection
6. Other Terminology in the Manual
7. Relationship of Policy, Procedures and Guidance
8. Relevant Staff

1. Welcome to the Manual

Welcome to the July 2009 update of the electronic Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual for Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board.

The Manual was initially written following wide consultation with member agencies across Oxfordshire. The responsibility for ensuring that it is kept up to date now belongs to the Safeguarding Children Board's Procedures Sub Group.

The 'Quick Guide' chapter sets out the key changes that have been incorporated into this edition of the manual, as well as explaining how the Manual has been constructed and the key features which have been included to assist you in navigating the chapters.

Users of the Manual should also be aware that since the Manual was first published, the Safeguarding Children Board has appointed a new Independent Chair - Andrea Hickman.

2. Accessing the Procedures

The Manual is permanently available via the website for the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board to facilitate ready access and permit regular updating.

Please do not make copies of the Manual or parts thereof as these are likely to become out of date.

If you do come across any errors or omissions when using the Manual, please alert your manager or contact us by using the button on the left hand side of the screen. If you become aware of a necessary addition or revision to the manual, please contact the SCB Business Manager (dawn.hodson@oxfordshire.gov.uk) or Barry Armstrong (barry.armstrong@oxfordshire.gov.uk)who will be collating the information for updates.

3. Context

The procedures reflect current legislation, accepted best practice and comply with the government guidance: Working Together to Safeguard Children published in April 2006

Further professional guidance is available from “What to do if you’re worried that a child is being abused” which was reissued in December 2006.

The procedures aim to encourage close working between agencies to facilitate early intervention in a supportive way to meet the needs of children and their families.

The development of the procedures is one of the core functions of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB) in its role to coordinate local work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. 

4. Safeguarding and Promoting Children's Welfare

Throughout this Manual, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

and undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

Protecting children from maltreatment and preventing impairment of children’s health or development are necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.  These aspects of Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare are cumulative and all contribute to the five Every Child Matters outcomes that are key to children and young people’s wellbeing, namely:

1. Stay safe.
2. Be healthy.
3. Enjoy and achieve.
4. Make a positive contribution.
5. Achieve economic wellbeing.

5. Child Protection

Child protection is part of Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare, focusing on the ‘Staying Safe’ outcome referred to above; it refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or at risk of suffering Significant Harm.

6. Other Terminology in the Manual

So as to ensure consistency in the use of terminology throughout the Manual, a glossary of terms which have a technical significance or for which abbreviations may be used in the text, is provided in the Keywords Appendix which can be accessed by using the button on the left hand side of the screen.

7. Relationship of Policy, Procedures and Guidance

7.1 Policy Framework

The Policy Framework chapters within which all procedures should be read are set out in Part 1 of the Manual.  All users should be familiar with these chapters before accessing other Parts of the Manual.

If necessary, agencies may develop supplementary ‘internal’ policies which represent higher standards or which reflect an agency specific contribution to safeguarding children and child protection.  However, if they do so, they must be consistent with those in this Manual.

7.2 Procedures

Procedures indicate what must or may be done in specified circumstances and define the limits of professional discretion.

The procedures have the status of instructions to practitioners in Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board member organisations.

Any supplementary internal procedures developed by organisations should also refer to, and comply with these procedures.

7.3 Guidance

Guidance provides contextual information or addresses the question of why specified actions may be required.

8. Relevant Staff

The contents of this Manual are for application by those working, whether paid or unpaid, in Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB) member agencies and in private or voluntary sector organisations with responsibilities for children living or present in the OSCB area.

End