Child Protection Procedures

The Protection of children is the proper concern of everyone in a position to help. Primary responsibility for the care and protection of children rests with parents, but a range of services is available to help them in this task. Many referrals to agencies are made by parents seeking help for themselves. Relatives, friends and neighbours may also help directly or encourage families to seek help or alert statutory authorities to children about whom they are concerned. All agencies with staff who are in direct contact with children and families must be involved. It is the task of both the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Child Protection Committees to ensure that the work of all relevant agencies is co-ordinated and reviewed.

Status of the Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC)

ACPCs are accountable for their work to their constituent agencies, whose agreement is required for all work, which has implications for policy, planning and the allocation of resources. Programmes of work should be agreed and endorsed at a senior level within each of the main member agencies, within the framework of the Children's Services Plan. The planned programme of work, and a report on progress the previous year should be set out in an annual business plan.

The ACPC has recently revised the Child Protection Procedures for Telford and Wrekin and a copy of the revised procedures has been sent to all schools.

If you have any queries regarding the guidelines you should contact David Goss on 01952 246810.

If you have specific queries regarding a particular child in your school you should follow the procedures laid down in the guidance. There is training available on Child Protection and for further information you should contact David Simpkins 01952 522620 or Frances Phelps.