Local referral process
If you have concerns about a child in your setting, you should follow the local referral process, or child protection policy.
Action to be taken by the school/college
- Step 1 - follow your local child protection policy and speak to your designated safeguarding lead (DSL).
- Step 2 - if referral to social work is not required, your school/college takes relevant action, possibly including pastoral support and/or early help and monitors locally.
- Step 3 - if concerns escalate, staff or the designated safeguarding lead make a referral to children’s social care (and call the police if appropriate).
Action to be taken by social care
Within one working day, a social worker makes a decision about the type of response required, for example:
- Response option 1 - child in need of immediate protection. Referrer informed. Appropriate emergency action taken by social worker, police or NSPCC.
- Response option 2 - Section 47 enquiries are appropriate. Referrer informed. Identify child at risk of significant harm. Possible child protection plan.
- Response option 3 - Section 17 enquires appropriate: referrer informed.
- Response option 4 - no formal assessment required: referrer informed. School/college considers pastoral support and/or early help assessment accessing universal services and other support.
Key things to remember
- Staff should do everything they can to support social workers.
- At all stages, staff should keep the child’s circumstances under review, involving the designated safeguarding lead (or deputies) as required.
- The child’s best interests always come first. Staff should re-refer if appropriate to ensure the child’s circumstances improve.