Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

Coronavirus: update on multi-agency safeguarding arrangements

DDSCP multi-agency subgroup meetings 

In light of the latest government advice the DDSCP will put in place on a temporary basis arrangements to hold DDSCP meetings including subgroups and case review meetings using conference call facilities until further notice.

Individual invitations and details how to join a specific meeting will be sent direct to participants so that they can use the unique log on number for the particular meeting.

The Partnership and sub-group activity will continue using other virtual media, including email and telephone contact. 

DDSCP multi-agency safeguarding training (Derby and Derbyshire)

The DDSCP safeguarding face to face training events have been cancelled up until the end of April (this will be subject of review). E learning and podcasts remain available on the DDSCP training pages.

Multi-agency safeguarding meetings - Derby

As from the 23^rd of March all meetings (for example Looked After Reviews, Child Protection Conferences, Children in Need Reviews) will take place virtually and no face to face conference / meetings  will take place at the Kedleston Road site.

All attendees of meetings will be notified of how they will contribute the meeting.

Children, young people and their families / carers will be spoken to before and after the meeting to ensure that their voice is captured and the outcome of the meeting is fed back to them.

There will be delays in circulating minutes so it is important that those professionals attending meetings take notes also of recommended actions.

For these statutory meetings to go ahead it is equally important that all professionals and especially the allocated social workers provide updated reports- care plans and review of arrangements - to these meetings. This needs to be a priority.   All reports are to be emailed to the Chairs / IRO in the normal way in ‘good time’ for the meeting to be purposeful. If social workers are unable to attend and managers are not able to send a backup due the COVID-19 concerns  please let the Chair / admin (via email address) know and this will be minuted. It is important that there is a record of how we continued to evidence that keeping children safe remained our top priority even in these challenging times.

Multi-agency safeguarding meetings - Derbyshire

Derbyshire has made the decision that all child protection conferences, strategy discussions, child in care reviews and child in need meetings will be taking place using virtual arrangements – largely telephone calls or skype where possible.  CPM’s, IRO’s and children’s social care staff are enabling children and parental contribution as much as possible.

Colleagues in health are working on arrangements to bolster any health contribution to the risk management and decision-making process of child protection conference. All partners are all aware that it is essential that they ensure that their contributions/ reports are sent in via the normal routes and in the timeframes expected to allow for distribution to members of the conference so they can contribute as much as possible.

Activity will be recorded in case notes and workflow steps as per usual arrangements and files will highlight that the approach taken is in line with our risk mitigation arrangements due to COVID-19.  Reports will be expected as per usual although it is understood that the Child Protection Managers and the Independent Reviewing Officers may need to gather information from other points of contact/sources as time progresses and the number of staff available reduces.

Participants / contributors to conference and reviews should, at the conclusion of any virtual meeting, receive a word copy of the Outline CP /CIN Plan/Child in Care review by email to enable them to understand the risks and actions required to protect and support the child or children in question.

Child Protection Managers and Independent Reviewing Officers will continue to have oversight on their most concerning cases to enable escalation of concerns in a timely manner.