Amendments

In September 2025, this chapter was updated throughout and should be reread.

In September 2025, in Section 10.1, Discontinuing a current Child Protection Plan the following information was added 'If the allocated social worker is seeking to end the Child Protection Plan at the first statutory review (3 months) this must have Senior Manager oversight and agreement to this recommendation before it can be brought to and considered within the conference. This should be clearly recorded within the child's case records. The overall decision to step down a Child Protection Plan at 3 months remains the multi-agency decision ultimately however within the conference itself.'

In September 2025, this chapter was updated and should be reread.

In September 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be reread.

In September 2025, the Pan Berkshire Child Exploitation Indicator and Analysis Tool and the Pan Berkshire Child Exploitation Simple Screening Tool were updated and the Guidance for completing the Child Exploitation & Serious Youth Violence Indicator and Analysis Tool was added to this section. The procedure on Child Criminal Exploitation was updated and a new section was added to the chapter on Child Financial Exploitation.

In September 2025, Information was updated in Section 3, Protection and Action to be Taken that if a child has an acute injury, appropriate medical treatment should be sought. A child should only be presented to the hospital if there is an urgent medical need.

If after receiving all required medical or mental health assessment/treatment and a child remains in hospital due to no suitable placements being available all relevant agencies should convene an urgent multi-agency meeting. This is to minimise and manage unnecessary periods of hospitalisation, meetings should include suitably senior managers and continue to meet daily until the matter is resolved.

In September 2025, this policy was updated.

In September 2025, a Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added to the chapter.

In September 2025, this chapter was reviewed.

In September 2025, this chapter was reviewed.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and links were added to additional sources of information.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this procedure was revised and should be re-read. Timescales were added into Section 4, Strategy Discussion.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this chapter was updated to include a link to Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Further Information.

In March 2025, minor amendments were made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read.

In March 2025, this chapter was revised and a new Section 7, Best Practice for Children moving between local authorities was added.

This chapter was updated in March 2025 with guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children around purpose and function of Child Protection Conferences and the role of the Lead Practitioner.

In March 2025, this chapter was updated to reflect local practice and revision of Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In March 2025, this chapter was updated to include a link to Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 9.1, Substantiated Allegations.

In March 2025, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

In March 2025, amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In September 2024, information was added to Section 2, Legislation Relating to Dangerous Dogs on dogs that are currently banned/prohibited in the UK, by Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

This chapter has been added to the manual.

In September 2024 definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In September 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.

In September 2024 this chapter was refreshed and should be reread.

In September 2024, Section 7, NHS Data Sharing was refreshed and updated.

In September 2024, Information was added in Section 3, Protection and Action to be Taken on where there is a risk that a child (who is unable to return home and for whom there are no suitable placements available:) will:

• Have to attend the hospital Emergency Department; or
• If after receiving all required medical or mental health assessment/treatment remain in hospital.

In September 2024, this chapter was refreshed and should be reread.

In September 2024 this chapter was updated throughout and should be reread.

In September 2024 this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

In September 2024, this chapter was amended to include information on Identifying Suspected Perpetrators of Modern Slavery to Section 2.3, Indicators.

In September 2024, a link was added to Education Supply Chains – A Better Hiring Toolkit.

In September 2024, Section 3, Safe Sleeping was added. Additional information was added into Section 4, Working with Fathers, Non-resident Parent and Partners.