Child Protection

Children & Families
Social Care staff work together with other professionals to give help and support to children and their families who are in difficult circumstances. We link with Education, Health, the Police and Courts and others, to give help to those who are most in need.

We believe that children should live with members of their family unless it is not safe for them to do so.

Family Support Services
If there is a risk of family breakdown, we may be able to give advice and support. This could be practical help in the home, advice about parenting, or help with family relationship problems. We work with families in their own homes and in different community settings.

Child Protection
If you think that a child is being harmed, you must report this as we have a duty to investigate when a child is at risk of abuse or neglect. We work closely with other professionals to help keep children safe.

Looking after children
When support in the family home is not the answer to serious problems and no-one else in the family is able to help, then it may be necessary for a child to be looked after within public care for a while, usually with foster families. This is usually with parents' agreement, but sometimes is part of Court proceedings.

Most children return to live with their family. However, if this is not possible, every effort is made to find them a safe, long term place to live. This might be fostering or adoption.

Children with disabilities
Our integrated team gives services to children and young people with a learning or physical disability or long term illness. This may include advice, practical and emotional support, respite care and/or equipment in the home after a report from an occupational therapist. We can also offer specialist advice and help to family members.

Our Levels of Need
Social Care has agreed with it's partner agencies three levels of vulnerability, which are set out in full within the Child Concern Model and governed by the revised multi-agency protocol 'Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families'. To view these circumstances in detail please follow the link from the Full Documentation page. Children and young people whose circumstances fall within Level One of Vulnerability must always be referred to Children's Services who will then undertake with you an assessment under the Framework for Assessment. This will help us to decide with you what additional services would be helpful for the child and the family. It may be that once the initial concerns have been addressed further advice and support may be needed from other agencies. In this case, Children's Services would look to refer your child to the appropriate agency under the arrangements for Levels Two and Three of the Model.

Particular arrangements apply for children and young people with disabilities and their families. Providing the criteria determining disability are met, a child, young person or carer of a child or young person are entitled to an assessment of need regardless of which level of vulnerability their needs fall within. Services beyond assessment are though subject to an eligibility test, which is currently set at circumstances corresponding to Level One of the Model. Service Managers have the discretion to make provision under Level Two if available resources permit them to do so.

If you are unsure where your concerns are located within the Model, you can contact the Children's Services Consultant to the Model on (01432) 260029.

If there is an emergency outside office hours, you should telephone the Emergency Duty Team on (01905) 768020.

If you are interested in becoming a Foster Carer or Adoptive Parent please ring our Resources Team on (01432) 262835.

NEW INTER AGENCY CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES FOR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN CAN BE FOUND ON: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/hscb_SafeguardingChildrenProcedures