Introduction to keeping the child safe in case management
Evidence summary
What inspections tell us about keeping the child safe
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Evidence summary
Our evidence of effective work to keep children on YOT caseloads safe overlaps with our findings relating to engagement and desistance. Where there were concerns regarding the child’s safety and wellbeing, the following were found to be particularly important:
- Trusting relationships: Children with safeguarding needs require practitioners to be friendly, flexible, reliable and non‐judgemental. They need stability, continuity and persistence. Frequent changes in practitioners can be unsettling. Children have said that they want: someone to notice that something is wrong; to be asked direct questions; for issues to be investigated sensitively but thoroughly; and to be kept informed about what is happening. They want to be heard and believed, and for their wishes to be taken into consideration. Clear communication and the establishment of trust can be the basis for disclosures that are essential for safeguarding, especially where the child is being criminally exploited and fears retribution.
- Wider social support: The importance of social support and supportive relationships that provide emotional, informational or instrumental aid is well established. It is critical to understand the child’s context, relationships, any social capital and need for trusted relationships from agencies and friends and family. The ‘team around the relationship’ recognises that one partner may lead in building a trusting relationship, but it needs to be supported by others. Effective communication and timely and comprehensive information-sharing between agencies are critical.
- Extra-familial contexts: A contextual approach to safeguarding recognises that different forms of extra-familial harm present various welfare risks, and that plans to address these harms must take account of the context and associated environmental factors. Multi-pronged intervention plans work with children, parents and the extra-familial contexts.
- Trauma-informed approaches: There is a growing body of evidence on the prevalence and impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences, and the need to adapt practice accordingly. Trauma-informed interventions have been found to be successful in treating traumatic stress, as they recognise the effects of traumatic experiences on children’s psychological development and attachment and aim to support recovery rather than exacerbate vulnerabilities. They are based on creating safety and trust, promoting control, building resilience and empowerment, and prioritising self-empathy and self-care. The aim is to provide children with a sense of control and hope, and they should ideally involve all those working with the child, including parents/carers and wider family.
- Key moments: There are key moments in children’s lives, such as exclusion, running away or moving between placements, when they may be particularly at risk. Anything that disrupts potentially supportive networks can be seen as a moment of extra risk. Practitioners need to be aware of these key moments and be proactive when required. A timely response can prevent a situation quickly deteriorating.
What inspections tell us about keeping the child safe in case management
When we inspect a case, we assess the quality of work delivered in relation to desistance, keeping children safe and keeping other people safe. In doing this, we do not focus on the quality of specific documents, work products or tools. Instead, we look at practice holistically.
Key strengths in keeping the child safe in practice
- YOT staff take time to get to know the child and their family and identify their individual needs.
- The views of the child and their parents or carers are considered when assessing a child’s safety and wellbeing.
- Good multi-agency working, and appropriate information-sharing enable practitioners to monitor the child’s safety and wellbeing effectively.
Common practice failings and remaining challenges to achieving good practice
- Insufficient integrated planning for safety and wellbeing with relevant agencies can lead to gaps and/or confusion in roles.
- Insufficient reviews to address a child’s safety and wellbeing results in a limited range of, and/or changes to, approaches.
- Some practitioners do not escalate concerns, and some YOTs have poor or insufficiently responsive escalation processes.
