ACCESS THE FLOWCHART HERE

As a DSL, there’s nothing more frustrating than having that niggling feeling that something really isn’t safe in the life of a child but not being able to completely identify what is wrong.

Maybe you suspect there is domestic abuse or some physical violence in the home, perhaps the child has made a comment, or you’ve observed concerning behaviours?

Parents won’t consent to sharing information with social care and won’t work with consent at Early Help level – but the concern for the child is still there. The small amount of information you do know means you can’t meet the threshold of sharing with social care (to the MASH) without consent as a significant harm concern – but you know something is not right.

This is the concerning situation DSLs have faced for many years – knowing the child and the family enough to know there’s a genuine risk to a child, but not having enough information as just one agency to meet threshold. So what can be done?

If you have attended our DSL update so far this academic year, you will be aware that I have been working with a colleague in NHS Primary Care (a named GP for Safeguarding) on exactly this topic.

In this course we’ve shared anonymised real-life examples of how information sharing has led to support for the child as risk has become known. What can we share as lateral checks about a family, without consent, in order to determine the whole picture? And on what basis?

In safeguarding we often talk of different people holding a different piece of the jigsaw – and that includes other agencies too. With health and education it is a two-way communication as either sector might hold information that raises or lowers risk. Without this joined up approach a child might live with significant harm or risk of significant harm for longer.

If you consider Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (or SCRs as they once were) – one of the most common learning themes is that agencies hadn’t shared information. I don’t recall any that have criticised agencies for sharing information. The DFE document “Information Sharing Guide for Practitioners 2024” is crystal clear that agencies can share information, without consent, to ascertain the level of risk to a child. We also need to be mindful of local threshold documents – however the principle of the DFE document takes precedence, that it is better to share to gain a clearer picture of the level of risk a child faces.

To support education settings in knowing exactly how to contact Primary Care (GPs) to ask for a conversation about safeguarding relating to a child, please use the attached flow-chart, which gives a step-by-step guide to how to approach this inter-agency aspect of work in order to achieve the best result to keep a child safe. GPs are also being made aware of this in their regular training.

This is a fantastic piece of work between SFE and NHS Birmingham and Solihull – though the principles are sound for any geographical area in England. Thanks go to Dr Yasmin Husain (Named GP for NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB Safeguarding Team) for her work on this flowchart and for her continued dedication to inter-agency safeguarding.

ACCESS THE FLOWCHART HERE

Jo Perrin - Interim School Support Lead,  Adviser, Services For Education

Jo Perrin is a seasoned Education Adviser with a strong background in safeguarding. She has held key roles as a Designated Safeguarding Lead and pastoral lead in the education sector. Facilitating training to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working directly with children and young people is her passion.

With a wealth of experience in teaching PSHE and expertise in childhood trauma from her time as a foster carer, Jo is dedicated to supporting organisations that work with children and vulnerable adults on safeguarding issues. She is actively involved in professional safeguarding groups in the West Midlands and is currently collaborating on a research project with colleagues from the University of Birmingham and the NHS focusing on FGM awareness within communities. Jo’s has worked as a West Midlands' Adviser for national PSHE resources, presented at the Sex Education Forum National Members' Event and authored an advertorial for PSM magazine and an article for SEND magazine.

Jo's expertise extends to training on topics such as Safer Recruitment and Mental Health at Work. She is also a facilitator for the nationally recognised NPQSL qualification, supporting senior leaders in education. Her contributions to publications and development of resources for RSE provision have been well-received by schools nationally and internationally.

With her extensive experience and dedication to professional development, Jo Perrin is a highly respected figure in the field of education. Her guidance on safeguarding, mental health awareness, personal development, and relationships education is highly valued within the industry.