Local Safeguarding Children Policies, Procedures and Guidance

The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Procedures are used at all times when there are concerns that a child is at risk of harm.

Our procedures are web based so that practitioners can access up-to-date procedures in a user-friendly format. Practitioners can also register for alerts that will keep them informed of any updates.  

Key local guidance documents

To support agencies and practitioners to safeguard and protect children the Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership have published the following documents:

• Thresholds Document - to support identification of children's needs and the appropriate level of intervention.
• Escalation Policy and Process- sets out clear routes to escalate concerns when there is a difference of professional opinion about the seriousness of a situation or the proposed action.
• Derby Child Protection Conference Professional Dissent Process and Derbyshire child protection professional dissent process - for occasions where an agency representative has concerns about the outcome of a Derby or Derbyshire Child Protection Conference.
• Information Sharing Guidance for Practitioners - gives clear guidance on how to share information if there are concerns about a child.
• Derby Assessment Protocol sets out arrangements for how cases will be managed once a child is referred to Derby City Council Children's Services.
• Derbyshire Assessment Protocol sets out the arrangements for how cases will be mamanged once a child is referred to Derbyshire County Council Children's Services.
• DSCBs' Home Visits Multi Agency Guidance  - outlines key safeguarding issues that practitioner's should consider when carrying out home visits.  
• Guidance for Working with Interpreters - this is useful Derby guidance for both interpreters and agencies working when an interpreter is needed during safeguarding visits and meetings. 

Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership have also produced a number of additional guidance documents, assessment tools and leaflets - these can be found on our Information and Resources page.  

National Guidance

• What to do if you're worried a child is being abused‌: advice for practitioners
• Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers ‌
• Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children ‌
• Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance for all schools and colleges