Safeguarding and reviewing

Child Protection Chairs (CPCs) are experienced social work practitioners who independently chair multi-agency meetings which discuss whether or not a child living at home with their parents needs to be made subject to a Child Protection Plan because we are worried about them.

A Child Protection Plan is made when a child is judged to be at risk of significant harm which means that people are really worried about the health, welfare and development. There a four categories under which significant harm is agreed when thinking about making a Child Protection Plan – physical, sexual, emotional and neglect.

The CPC chairs the first meeting called an Initial Child Protection Conference. Each agency represented has to share their information to help understand what is impacting on the parents’ ability to keep their child or children safe. Everyone is also asked for their views on whether the child should be made subject to a Child Protection Plan based on the information heard. At this meeting the Child Protection Plan is agreed, and says who will do what to ensure that there is support to make sure children and young people are safe.

There is a Child Protection Review meeting 12 weeks later and then every 6 months after that. These meetings will discuss the need for the Child Protection Plan to continue. The chair will also ensure that the plan is working, the children are safer as a result of the plan, and that people have done what they said they would do to help the family.

The most important person is the child or young person; they should be central to all discussions and planning. Wherever possible we encourage children and young people to attend their reviews and give their experience of how they feel and what they would like help with.

The CPC follows the Child Protection Plan for each child or young person and will ensure that every professional involved with the plan is doing what they say they will do. When this doesn’t happen they will take action with the professional agency to get planning back on track.

Fostering Independent Reviewing Officers (FIROs) are experienced social work practitioners with a background in fostering social work practice that chair the annual reviews for Bradford Local Authority foster carers.

There are mainstream foster carers, friends and family (connected persons) carers and short break carers that provide care to Bradford’s children.

All foster carers should have an annual review which looks at how the year has been, the support they have been provided and training they have attended. Foster carers have to evidence that they meet the fostering standards to be able maintain their registration to foster.

FIROs are independent to the fostering service and they look holistically at the review period. This means they listen to what the foster carers say, they read reports from practitioners who have been involved with the fostering household, they review information provided by the fostering service and they listen to the voice of any children who are placed or have been placed with the foster carers over the year.

FIROs will also hold reviews following any allegations or worries around professional practice of foster carers.

FIROs make recommendations on whether the registration of the foster carers is appropriate and what support needs the foster carers may have for the next year.

FIROs also monitor the progress of the review recommendations over the course of the year and take action if there are problems in keeping the promises made at the meeting.

Fostering Independent Reviewing Officers (FIROs) are experienced social work practitioners with a background in fostering social work practice that chair the annual reviews for Bradford Local Authority foster carers.

There are mainstream foster carers, friends and family (connected persons) carers and short break carers that provide care to Bradford’s children.

All foster carers should have an annual review which looks at how the year has been, the support they have been provided and training they have attended. Foster carers have to evidence that they meet the fostering standards to be able maintain their registration to foster.

FIROs are independent to the fostering service and they look holistically at the review period. This means they listen to what the foster carers say, they read reports from practitioners who have been involved with the fostering household, they review information provided by the fostering service and they listen to the voice of any children who are placed or have been placed with the foster carers over the year.

FIROs will also hold reviews following any allegations or worries around professional practice of foster carers.

FIROs make recommendations on whether the registration of the foster carers is appropriate and what support needs the foster carers may have for the next year.

FIROs also monitor the progress of the review recommendations over the course of the year and take action if there are problems in keeping the promises made at the meeting.

LADOs are experienced social workers who oversee the allegations management process when allegations are made against people who work with children (in a paid or voluntary capacity). Concerns may arise in a wide range of circumstances and can relate to an individual’s behaviour in work, outside work or at home.

The role of the LADO is to provide advice and guidance to employers and organisations regarding allegations against people who work with children. The LADO co-ordinates and oversees investigations, where the following criteria applies:

• Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child;
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
• Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.
• Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

An allegation means a behaviour which causes concern within the context of the four categories of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional and neglect). This could include concerns relating to inappropriate relationships between members of staff and children, grooming, possession of indecent photographs and concerns that arise in one role which may impact on another.

Other concerns that can arise are behaviour or issues in an individual’s private life which may meet the criteria, if the welfare of children is a concern. For example, where an individual’s own children become subject to a Child Protection Plan.

The LADO makes sure that all the practitioners involved in the allegation management process undertake their required duties to ensure that the child is kept safe and that allegation is managed as quickly and as fairly as possible through to conclusion.

Quality Assurance Managers (Reg 44) are experienced residential staff who have previously managed a children’s home. Their role is to undertaken monthly quality assurance visits of all Bradford owned Children’s Homes.

Quality Assurance Managers are independent of the Residential Services. Each month they visit each home and compile a quality assurance (Reg 44) report which is underpinned by the ‘Children’s Home Regulations’.

These reports provide oversight and adherence to the Children Home Regulations. They include consultation with children and young people placed at the home, parents of children placed and with practitioners involved with the children. The reports make any necessary recommendations to ensure that the homes adhere to regulations.

These reports are sent to the Home, Senior Managers for Residential Services and to Ofsted.