Care safeguarding systems
Absence of effective systems to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm, including failures in reporting suspected abuse.
342 items
1 source
11 inquiries
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Inquiry recommendation
81match
9 - Suspicion of Deliberate Harm Protocol and guidance
Protocol i. By 31 March 2027, NHS England must produce and distribute a one-page protocol setting out the steps to be taken by managers when concerns or suspicions are raised that a healthcare professional may have deliberately harmed a patient. The Suspicion of Deliberate Harm Protocol must make explicit that: a. It is irrelevant whether the person to...
Matched on
terms: care, safeguarding
Inquiry recommendation
70match
4 - Safeguarding and contracts of employment
i. All Trusts must provide safeguarding training to all staff (appropriate to their role and expertise) and Board members, including Non-Executive Directors. This training should include how to deal with concerns and suspicions about deliberate harm caused by staff. ii. By March 2027, every existing contract of employment for work in an NHS hospital must be amended to...
Matched on
terms: safeguarding
Inquiry recommendation
61match
45 - Evidence sufficient to secure retention
Where there is a likelihood of harm continuing to the child if he or she is not retained in care the evidence for a Child Protection Order should be sufficient to give a reasonable expectation of securing such retention after a referral to the Children’s Hearing (16.17).
Matched on
terms: care
Inquiry recommendation
57match
FR-10 - Improve DBS Referral Compliance
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government takes steps to improve compliance by regulated activity providers with their statutory duty to refer concerns about the suitability of individuals to work with children to the Disclosure and Barring Service, including: all relevant regulators and inspectorates include compliance with the statutory duty to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service...
Matched on
terms: safeguarding
Inquiry recommendation
57match
64 - Welsh independent school standards update
The Welsh Government should: update the Independent School Standards as a matter of urgency; update the national minimum standards for boarding schools as a matter of urgency; legislate so that all residential special schools are judged against the quality standards in place for care homes in Wales; ensure that all teachers and learning support staff in independent schools...
Matched on
terms: care
Inquiry recommendation
53match
73 - Sheriff powers where consents not given
Where consents are required for matters of the care of the child, for interviewing or for examination and parental consents are not forthcoming, specific powers should be obtained from the Sheriff (17.3).
Matched on
terms: care
Inquiry recommendation
53match
68 - No special forms on removal
No special forms need be required when a child is removed to a place of safety but where occasion permits the Reception into Care Forms should be completed as far as possible to reflect the information available (16.42).
Matched on
terms: care
Inquiry recommendation
53match
48 - Orders from Sheriff or JP
Child Protection Orders should be obtained either from a Sheriff or a JP but where the case is one of suspected sexual abuse the Order should if practicable be obtained from a Sheriff (16.20).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
53match
63 - Extend TRA jurisdiction to teaching assistants
The Department for Education should amend the Teachers' Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012 to bring all teaching assistants, learning support staff and cover supervisors within the misconduct jurisdiction of the Teaching Regulation Agency. The Department for Education and the Welsh Government should amend Keeping Children Safe in Education and Keeping Learners Safe to: provide more detailed guidance as to...
Matched on
terms: safeguarding
Inquiry recommendation
49match
37 - Rewrite section 37(2) removal power
Section 37(2) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 should be re-written so as expressly to empower removal of a child where the child is likely to suffer imminent and significant harm of any kind and the removal is necessary for the child’s protection (16.1-6).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
49match
24 - Sheriff power to exclude suspected abuser
Consideration should be given to empowering a Sheriff to order a suspected abuser to be excluded from contact with a child where abuse is suspected (15.51).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
49match
104 - High risk countries list for travel orders
The Home Office should bring forward legislation providing for the establishment and maintenance by the National Crime Agency of a list of countries where children are considered to be at high risk of sexual abuse and exploitation from overseas offenders. This list should be kept under regular review. The list of countries should be made available to the...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
49match
103 - Ratify Lanzarote Convention
The Chair and Panel recommend that the UK government ratifies the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the 'Lanzarote Convention') without further delay. They also recommend that ratification is followed, again without further delay, by action to implement the Lanzarote Convention. The Chair and Panel recommend that the Home...
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
84 - Pilot scheme for enhanced safeguarder role
A pilot scheme should be run in order to try out an enhanced role of a safeguarder in cases of child protection before further consideration is given to the possible development of a Child’s Advocate (17.17).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
82 - Consider appointing a safeguarder
In every case when a child is removed under a Child Protection Order the appointment of a safeguarder must be considered at the time of the granting of the Order or if the appointment is not then made at any later stage when the case comes before the Sheriff (17.14-15).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
80 - Independent person to protect child's interests
In all cases of Child Protection Orders there should be an opportunity for the appointment of an independent person with a role wider than that of the present safeguarder to protect the child’s interests (17.10-12).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
72 - Local authority obligations under section 20
When a child is removed under a Child Protection Order the local authority should be under the same obligations as are set out in Section 20(1) and (2) of the Act of 1968 (17.1-2).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
71 - Guidance on Interim Protection Orders
Guidance should be given on the matters to be considered before resort is had to an Interim Protection Order (16.46).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
70 - Intimation of Interim Protection Order application
The application for an Interim Protection Order should be intimated to the child and to the parent and they should be given an opportunity to object to it (16.45).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
69 - Interim Protection Orders
A procedure should be introduced for application to the Sheriff to obtain any of a wide range of Orders as may be appropriate in the circumstances either for purposes of investigation or for the immediate protection of a child pending investigation. Such Orders are here referred to as Interim Protection Orders (16.43-44).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
60 - Three day enforcement period
Child Protection Orders should be enforceable only within a period of three days only from the date of the grant (16.33).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
58 - Supplementary Orders when Order granted
On the occasion of the grant of a Child Protection Order such authorisations or supplementary Orders as may be appropriate to the circumstances should also be granted (16.31).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
56 - Reporter's power to return the child
The Reporter’s existing power to have the child returned should continue but should be qualified in its exercise by the proviso that the return of the child would not expose the child to the risk of significant harm (16.29).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
52 - Standard form of application
A simple standard form should be designed for applications for Child Protection Orders in Scotland (16.24).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
47 - Two sources of evidence not necessary
Guidance should state for the avoidance of doubt that evidence from two or more separate sources is not a formal necessity for the obtaining of a Child Protection Order (16.19).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
46 - Standard of satisfaction for Sheriff or JP
The Sheriff or JP granting the Order must be satisfied on the whole material which is placed before him or her that there is reasonable cause to believe that the child is likely to suffer significant harm if the child is not removed (16.18).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
41 - New name for Place of Safety Order
To avoid confusion a name other than ‘Place of Safety Order’ or the corresponding English Order should be adopted and the title ‘Child Protection Order’ is used for convenience (16.13)
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
28 - Local authority child abuse guidelines
All local authorities should have guidelines for the management of cases of child abuse consistent with and in the context of national guidelines (15.57).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
8 - Treat allegations seriously but test them
Where allegations are made by a child regarding sexual abuse those allegations should be treated seriously, should not necessarily be accepted as true but should be examined and tested by whatever means are available before they are used as the basis for action (15.23).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
7 - Keep an open mind when investigating
Those involved in investigating allegations of child sexual abuse must keep an open mind and not fall into the trap of confusing the taking of what a child says seriously with believing what the child has said (15.22).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
FR-12 - Pre-screening by Internet Providers
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government makes it mandatory for all regulated providers of search services and user-to-user services to pre-screen for known child sexual abuse material.
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
70 - Include clergy in position of trust definition
The government should amend Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 so as to include clergy within the definition of a position of trust. This would criminalise under s16-s20 sexual activity between clergy and a person aged 16-18, over whom they exercise pastoral authority, involving the abuse of a position of trust.
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Inquiry recommendation
41match
96 - Refuge provision and definition of places of safety
Consideration should be given to a possible provision for refuge for children and to a possible amendment of the definition of ‘places of safety’ (17.33).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
92 - Sheriff to resolve disputes on visits
Any dispute regarding visits by professionals to a child should be resolved by application to the Sheriff (17.30).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
90 - Sheriff to regulate access
The Sheriff should be empowered to regulate access to a child in a place of safety and should be obliged to consider that matter when the case first comes before him or her after the granting of the Order (17.26-27) with the assistance of a confidential report where appropriate (17.28).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
83 - Powers of curators ad litem
Where curators ad litem are appointed their specific powers should be stated in the interlocutor of their appointment (17.16).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
81 - Sufficient supply of safeguarders
All local authorities should explore the sufficiency of their supply of persons able and willing to serve in the capacity of safeguarders and if that supply is deficient should take steps to recruit a greater number and arrange training for them (17.13).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
76 - Constable to intimate removal likewise
Correspondingly any constable or other person removing a child should give a like intimation to the Social Work Department (17.6).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
75 - Intimate removal to Social Work Department
Any Order authorising the removal of a child should require the person so authorised to intimate the removal and the whereabouts of the child to the appropriate Social Work Department (17.5).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
74 - Procedures to resolve welfare disputes
Procedures should be provided for the resolution of any disputes regarding the welfare of the child either by the Sheriff or by the Children’s Hearing, depending on which of them has last given directions regarding the child (17.4).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
59 - Concealing child's address from parent
Where the address of the child or children should be concealed from the parent a specific Order should be made to that effect at the time of the grant of the Order with or without a limit on the period for such concealment (16.32).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
55 - Immediate opportunity to vary or cancel
The child and his or her parent or guardian should have an immediate opportunity to have the Order varied or cancelled by the Sheriff (16.28).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
54 - Order to state its grounds
The Order should contain a brief statement of the grounds on which it was granted in addition to the other necessary details (16.27).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
53 - Written statement of grounds
At the time of making the application or within forty-eight hours thereafter a written statement of facts setting out the grounds for the perceived risk to the child should be prepared and presented to the Sheriff or JP (16.25) The evidence need not be given on oath or affidavit (16.26).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
51 - Amend Criminal Procedure Act terminology
Consideration should be given to the possible amendment of Sections 14 and 323 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 so as to bring their terminology into accord with the revised provisions of Section 37(2) of the Act of 1968 (16.23).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
50 - No change to who may remove a child
No change should be made so far as concerns the definition of the persons who may remove a child to a place of safety (16.22).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
40 - Removal as last resort
Removal of a child should be recognised as a course to be considered where no alternative exists and the urgency of the risk requires it (16.9). Caution must be exercised (16.10). The gravity of the threat has to be considered (16.11) and the applicant must be satisfied that the situation calls for immediate removal of the child (16.12).
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
FR-20 - Age Verification Online
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its The Internet Investigation Report, dated March 2020) that the UK government introduces legislation requiring providers of online services and social media platforms to implement more stringent age verification measures.
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
FR-11 - Extend Disclosure Regime Overseas
The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report, dated January 2020) that the UK government introduces legislation permitting the Disclosure and Barring Service to provide enhanced certificates with barred list checks to citizens and residents of England and Wales applying for: work or volunteering with UK-based organisations, where the...
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
FR-9 - Greater Use of DBS
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government enables any person engaging an individual to work or volunteer with children on a frequent basis to check whether or not they have been barred by the Disclosure and Barring Service from working with children. These arrangements should also apply where the role is undertaken on a supervised basis.
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