LSCB Groups
Group 1 and Group 2
Group 3
Groups 4-6
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 suggest the following examples of staff/volunteers in each group
To download a copy of the LSCB Competencies, click here.
Group 1 and Group 2
Group 1. Those in infrequent contact with children, young people and/or parents/carers who may become aware of possible abuse or neglect.
AND
Group 2. Those in regular contact or have a period of intense but irregular contact, with children, young people and/or parents/carer, who may be in a position to identify concerns about maltreatment, including those that may arise from the use of CAF
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- Understand what is meant by safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the different ways in which children and young people can be harmed.
- Aware of the statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in accordance with the Children Act 2004.
- Familiar with What to do if you are worried a child is being abused national guidance and Cambridgeshire Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures.
- Appreciate own role and responsibilities and those of others in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
- Able to make judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote the welfare of a child in line with What to do if…
- Aware of Cambridgeshire LSCB and its remit
- Understand statutory requirements governing consent, confidentiality and information sharing.
- Understand the necessity for information sharing and accurate recording within the context of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of a particular child.
- Able to provide appropriate, succinct information to enable other practitioners to deliver support to the child and family.
- Know the boundaries of personal competence and responsibility, when to involve others and where to seek advice and support.
- Understand when you are required to consult with a manager/designated person.
- Able to identify concerns about possible maltreatment arising from completion of a Common Assessment Framework.
- Know when and how to respond to immediate safety issues in relation to a particular child and other children within the household.
- Aware of the increased vulnerability of disabled children.
- Are aware of the impact of aggression, anger and violence from carers on practice and know how to manage this.
- Know what to do when there is an insufficient response from other organisations and agencies, while maintaining a focus on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child.
- Be aware of normal child development.
Competencies Group 3
Group 3. Those who work predominately with children, young people and/or their parents/carers and who could potentially contribute to assessing, planning, intervening and evaluating the needs of a child and parenting capacity where there are safeguarding concerns.
All of the competencies for groups 1 and 2 plus
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- Understand the safeguarding roles of parents and carers and recognise factors such as domestic violence and substance misuse that can impact on parenting capacity.
- Have confidence to challenge own and other’s practice.
- Understand boundaries of personal competence and responsibility; know when to involve others and where to get advice and support.
- Able to communicate effectively and develop working relationships with other practitioners and professionals, children and families to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
- Understand the role of other practitioners and agencies in supporting and advising families and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the impact of own interviewing style, decisions and actions on others.
- Aware of, and understands the reasons behind the increased vulnerability of disabled children
- Work together with others as outlined in the What to do if…guidance and Cambridgeshire LSCB procedures.
- Have a sound understanding of the principles and processes for effective collaboration and be able to forge and sustain relationships with other practitioners and families to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
- Know who to share information with, when and how to record information related to assessment, planning, intervention and review.
- Appreciate the effect of cultural and religious beliefs on practice when working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
- Have the skills to work with others to address issues of aggression and/or non-compliance by service users that may impinge on practitioners’ ability to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and know when and how to seek support/advice.
- Understand the role of assessment, planning and review in effective service provision and the change process.
- Understand when you are required to consult with a manager or designated person.
- Able to write clear evidence based and outcome focused reports.
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Competencies Group 4-6
Group 4. Those who have particular responsibilities in relation to undertaking section 47 enquires, those who work with complex cases and social work staff responsible for co-ordinating assessments of children in need.
AND
Group 5. Professional advisors, named and designated lead professionals
AND
Group 6. Operational managers at all levels.
All of the competencies for group 3 plus
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- Work together with others as outlined in the What to do if…guidance and Cambridgeshire LSCB procedures, protocols and practice guidance.
- Able to work with other practitioners, children and families on complex tasks or particular areas of practice that have specific knowledge or skill requirement. For example, joint enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989.
- Have the knowledge, skills and confidence to challenge the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability of disabled children
- Have confidence to challenge decisions in complex situations by looking beyond immediate role and asking questions.
- Able to assess the relevance and status of information and to pass it on when appropriate.
- Be able to establish and maintain working relationships of trust and mutual respect whilst recognising ways in which group process can influence and distort decision-making.
- Understand and be able to make an effective contribution through report writing and verbal communication to multi-disciplinary case planning and review meetings.
- Know how to manage conflict and disagreement between professionals when working together on complex cases.
- Have the skills to work with others to address issues of aggression and /or non-compliance that may impinge on practitioners’ ability to safeguard and promote the welfare of a child in complex cases.
- Have an understanding of factors at an inter-personal, intra-personal and systemic level which influence the possibility of change.
- Able to take emergency action
- Able to advise others (where relevant to role)
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Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 suggest the following examples of staff/volunteers in each group
Group 1
Librarian, GP receptionists, community advice centre staff, grounds men, recreation assistants, environmental officers.
Group 2
Housing, hospital staff, YOTs in secure settings and in community, the police other than those in specialist child protection roles, sports development officers, allied health professionals, disability specialists, faith groups, community youth groups, play scheme volunteers.
Group 3
Paediatricians, GPs, youth workers, those working in early years sector, residential staff, midwives, school nurses, health visitors, sexual health staff, teachers, probation staff, sports club welfare officers, those working with adults in e.g. learning disability, mental health, alcohol and drug misuse services, those working in community play schemes.
Group 4
Professionals from health, education, police and children’s social care: those who work with complex cases and social work staff responsible for co-ordinating assessments of children in need.
Group 5
Professional advisors, named and designated lead professionals
Group 6
Including: practice supervisors, front line managers and managers of child protection units.
These examples do not preclude other roles, posts or professionals not mentioned.
To download the LSCB competencies
LSCB Guidance for Core Group Members
Competencies Check List
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