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Amendments

2024

June 2024

Online Safety

This chapter was refreshed in June 2024, and additional links added in Further Information.

Child Protection Conferences

This chapter was updated in June 2024 with new guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children around purpose and function of Child Protection Conferences and the role of the Lead Practitioner.

Harmful Sexual Behaviour

This chapter was refreshed in June 2024, and additional links added in Further Information.

Children and Families Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries

Minor amendments were made in June 2024.

Assessment

In June 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

Domestic Abuse

This chapter was updated in June 2024. A new Section 6, Non- Fatal Strangulation was added. Definitions were also updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children which now uses the statutory definition of domestic abuse in Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Oxfordshire Transitional Safeguarding Procedure

In June 2024, this chapter was replaced with an updated document.

Child Criminal Exploitation

In June 2024, minor amendments were made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Forced Marriage

This chapter was updated in June 2024.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

In June 2024, a new Section 8, Other Harmful Practices was added. The Health and Care Act 2022 has made it illegal to carry out, offer or aid and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty in any part of the UK. It is also illegal for UK nationals and residents to do these things outside the UK. Information was also added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance. Section 7, NHS Data Sharing was also refreshed and updated.

Recognising Abuse and Neglect

In June 2024, definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Dangerous Dogs and Safeguarding

This chapter was refreshed in June 2024.

Pre-Birth

In June 2024, a new Section 3, Safe Sleeping was added. Additional information was added into Section 4, Working with Fathers/Partners.

Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation

In June 2024, this chapter was amended to include information on Identifying Suspected Perpetrators of Modern Slavery to Section 2.3, Indicators. A link was also added in Section 1.2.1, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.

2023

December 2023

Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation

This chapter was updated in December 2023. Information in relation to the National Age Assessment Board was added into Section 1.2.1, Age Assessments.

Safeguarding Children and Young People Against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism

This chapter was refreshed in December 2023 and links to additional guidance were added into Further Information.

Gang Activity, Youth Violence and Criminal Exploitation Affecting Children

In December 2023, information in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders was added into Section 4, Protection and Action to be Taken.

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

In December 2023, a new subsection 'Principles' was added into Section 2, Serious Violence Duty to include information from the Ofsted Framework Joint Targeted Area Inspections of the Multi-agency Response to Serious Youth Violence. 

June 2023

Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment

In June 2023, this chapter was refreshed and a new section on Resources and Support was added including those from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse.

Disabled Children

In June 2023, this chapter was updated to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report.

Spiritual, Cultural and Religious Beliefs

In June 2023, this chapter was refreshed and additional information was added into Section 3, Indicators.

Child Criminal Exploitation

In June 2023, this chapter was refreshed with information added on the Serious Violence Duty, under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2002.

Information Sharing

In June 2023, information was added into Section 5, National Guidance in Information Sharing in relation to the Serious Violence Duty.

Forced Marriage

In June 2023, this chapter was updated to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023.

Self Harm and Suicidal Behaviour

In June 2023, this chapter was updated to include information from Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance.

Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

In June 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern was also added.

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

This chapter was refreshed in June 2023. Section 5.19, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements was updated to include information on the extension of the duty to co-operate under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. A link to Matters of Concern, Safeguarding Concerns, Allegations and Complaints for Children in Custody – Youth Custody Service (Youth Justice Resource Hub) was added into Section 5.9, The Secure Estate for Children. A new Section 2, Serious Violence Duty was also added.

Guidance for Safe Recruitment, Selection and Retention for Staff and Volunteers

In June 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. Section 4.5, Application Form was updated to note that Keeping Children Safe in Education provides that schools and colleges should only accept copies of a curriculum vitae alongside an application form. A curriculum vitae on its own will not provide adequate information. Information in relation to online searches was added into Section 4.6, Scrutinising and Shortlisting.

2022

December 2022

Parents who Misuse Substances

In December 2022, a link was added in Further Information to NICE Quality Standard QS 204 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

In December 2022, this chapter was updated as the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act 2022 has extended the definition of Position of Trust within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 22A to include anyone who coaches, teaches, trains, supervises or instructs a child under 18, on a regular basis, in a sport or a religion. Links were also added to the HMPP Child Safeguarding Policy.

Child Sexual Exploitation

In December 2022, this chapter was updated as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has extended the definition of Position of Trust within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 22A to include anyone who coaches, teaches, trains, supervises or instructs a child under 18, on a regular basis, in a sport or a religion.

Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

Pre-Birth

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in December 2022.

Underage Sexual Activity

Concealed Pregnancies

Harmful Sexual Behaviour

This chapter was updated in December 2022.

Recognising Abuse and Neglect

Online Safety