Procedures and guidance
How do I Make a Child Protection Referral?
If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, you should telephone
For more detailed information, see the Procedures Page 'How do I make a Child Protection Referral?', this also gives details of the other three Cheshire Local Authorities.
Thresholds of needs
This guidance provides a framework for professionals who are working with children, young people, and families, and aims to help identify circumstances when children may need additional support to achieve their potential. The stepped approach provides information on the levels of children’s needs and gives examples of some of the factors that may indicate when a child or young person needs additional support or protection. There are four different levels of need from universal services, which are available to all children and include education and health; extra and targeted help for those children who need some additional support to reach their potential; and statutory and specialist help where the issues are more complex.
This multi-agency threshold framework (PDF, 440KB) is a guidance tool that all agencies, professionals, and volunteers can use to consider how best to meet the needs of individual children and young people. This support can be provided on a single agency basis or a multi-agency basis. The stepped approach aims to reduce risk and vulnerability and meet needs at the appropriate level of support and/or intervention. Access to effective early intervention and prevention services is essential to achieving this. It is only a guide and should be used in conjunction with other assessment tools and in consultation with children, families, and other professionals
Whistleblowing to Ofsted
Ofsted have published a revised policy and guidance for whistleblowers: 'Whistleblowing to Ofsted about children's social care services'.
The policy and guidance outlines what Ofsted will do when they receive certain concerns about children's social care services from a whistleblower. Their previous whistleblowing policy referred only to safeguarding in local authority children's services, whereas their new policy extends to all matters relating to the inspection and regulation of children's social care establishments, agencies, services and providers (children's social care services).
You can find further information is on the GOV.UK whistleblowing page.
Any questions about the policy should be directed to: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
Child Protection Medical Assessment Procedures
A paediatric medical assessment should always be considered when there is a suspicion or disclosure of child abuse and/or neglect involving injury, suspected sexual abuse or serious neglect. This is often referred to as a Child Protection Medical Assessments Procedure October 2023 (PDF, 1.5MB) or section 47 medical.
The concealment and denial of pregnancy presents a significant challenge to professionals in safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of the foetus (unborn child) and the mother. This guidance is for anyone who may encounter a woman who conceals the fact that she is pregnant or where a professional has a suspicion that a pregnancy is being concealed or denied.
Child Sexual Exploitation