8. Referring concerns about a child The designated safeguarding lead will act on behalf of the Adelaide Primary School in referring concerns or allegations of harm to Local Authority Access and Assessment Team or the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit. In the case of it being out of hours the Immediate Help Team should be contacted. If the designated safeguarding lead is in any doubt about making a referral it is important to remember that advice can be sought from the Access and Assessment Team. The name of the child and family should be kept confidential at this stage and will be requested if the enquiry proceeds to a referral. It is not the role of the designated safeguarding lead to undertake an investigation into the concerns or allegation of harm. It is the role of the designated safeguarding lead to collate and clarify details of the concern or allegation and to provide this information to the Access and Assessment Team, or Locality Team if Children’s Social Care is already involved, whose duty it is to make enquiries in accordance with Section 47 of the Children Act 1989. Consent Issues of consent should always be considered. Before making a referral, parents/carers must be informed that you are making contact with Children’s Social Care including the reasons for you doing this and be asked – – to give consent to the referral being made. This includes protecting a child from Significant Harm. are circumstances when it may appropriate to dispense with the requirement to obtain consent to share information, this includes when: Discussion with the parents/ carers could place the child or other family members at risk; The child is in immediate danger (e.g. requires medical attention) Discussion with parents / carers may place you or another member of staff at risk
8. Referring concerns about a child The designated safeguarding lead will act on behalf of the Adelaide Primary School in referring concerns or allegations of harm to Local Authority Access and Assessment Team or the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit. In the case of it being out of hours the Immediate Help Team should be contacted. If the designated safeguarding lead is in any doubt about making a referral it is important to remember that advice can be sought from the Access and Assessment Team. The name of the child and family should be kept confidential at this stage and will be requested if the enquiry proceeds to a referral. It is not the role of the designated safeguarding lead to undertake an investigation into the concerns or allegation of harm. It is the role of the designated safeguarding lead to collate and clarify details of the concern or allegation and to provide this information to the Access and Assessment Team, or Locality Team if Children’s Social Care is already involved, whose duty it is to make enquiries in accordance with Section 47 of the Children Act 1989. Consent Issues of consent should always be considered. Before making a referral, parents/carers must be informed that you are making contact with Children’s Social Care – including the reasons for you doing this – and be asked to give consent to the referral being made. This includes protecting a child from Significant Harm. are circumstances when it may appropriate to dispense with the requirement to obtain consent to share information, this includes when: Discussion with the parents/ carers could place the child or other family members at risk; The child is in immediate danger (e.g. requires medical attention) Discussion with parents / carers may place you or another member of staff at risk
Safeguarding-Policy-2017.docx