GSCP Policies, procedures and guidance
- Safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance - multi-agency
- Thresholds document - multi-agency
- Safeguarding and child protection policy checklist
- Information sharing
- Contact us
Safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance - multi agency
Always refer to the North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual (opens new window) for the current versions of our safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance.
See North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual: Local Resources (opens new window) for GSCP protocols, briefings and other resources.
If you need to print anything from North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual (opens new window), for example to take to a meeting, please only print the relevant section. If you do print a section out please be aware that this is only valid for 72 hours. The procedures are regularly updated and you may be using out-of-date guidance if you refer back to previous versions. Always refer to the website for the most current version.
If you have any queries about the procedures or there is anything you feel needs to be added or changed then please contact annaharrisoncwl@gateshead.gov.uk
Thresholds document - multi-agency
The following documents are to help practitioners to identify if a child is experiencing difficulties or has additional needs.
- Threshold document (PDF, 720 KB)(opens new window) has been produced as a guide to help determine at what level or by what agency any additional needs can be met.
Safeguarding and child protection policy checklist
- This safeguarding and child protection policy checklist (PDF, 670 KB) has been developed for organisations whose work brings them into contact with children, young people, and families
- it can help to draft and/or review their safeguarding and child protection policy
- it also provides a framework of the key effective arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, which all agencies need to take account of
Allegations against people who work with children (LADO)
The role of the LADO is set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) (opens new window). The GSCP has procedures for managing allegations (opens new window) against people who work with children.
The LADO works within Children's Services and should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:
- behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk to children/be unsuitable to work with children
What is a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)? (Word doc, 98 KB)(opens new window)
Make a LADO referral - LADO referral form (Word doc, 180 KB)
For further information please see allegations against staff or volunteers who work with children (opens new window).
Information sharing
The Government has updated its guidance on information sharing for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers (opens new window)
Information sharing is essential for effective safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a key factor identified in many case reviews where poor information sharing has resulted in missed opportunities to take action that keeps children and young people safe. Sharing of information between practitioners and organisations is essential for effective identification, assessment, risk management and service provision. Fears about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people at risk of abuse or neglect. The GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 do not prevent, or limit, the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children and young people safe. |
It is essential that collaborative working and good information sharing is established throughout agencies, at all levels, which is then embedded through effective safeguarding practice.
The GSCP's Information Sharing Protocol (ISP) (opens new window) has been developed (with SAB) to address information sharing both at strategic level and operational level within the arenas of Safeguarding Children and Adult Safeguarding. It is intended that agencies with the potential to be involved in safeguarding investigations will sign up to the use of this protocol.
This protocol is agreed with the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Human Rights Act 1998.
The seven golden rules to sharing information
Sharing of information between practitioners and organisations is essential for effective identification, assessment, risk management and service provision. Early sharing of information is the key to providing effective early help where there are emerging problems.
The GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 do not prevent, or limit, the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children and young people safe. Fears about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the need to promote the welfare and protect the safety of children and adults.
1 | Remember that the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018 and human rights law are not barriers to justified information sharing, but provide a framework to ensure that personal information about living individuals is shared appropriately. |
2 | Be open and honest with the individual (and/or their family where appropriate) from the outset about why, what, how and with whom information will, or could be shared, and seek their agreement, unless it is unsafe or inappropriate to do so. |
3 | Seek advice from other practitioners, or your information governance lead, if you are in any doubt about sharing the information concerned, without disclosing the identity of the individual where possible. |
4 | Where possible, share information with consent, and where possible, respect the wishes of those who do not consent to having their information shared. Under the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 you may share information without consent if, in your judgement, there is a lawful basis to do so, such as where safety may be at risk. You will need to base your judgement on the facts of the case. When you are sharing or requesting personal information from someone, be clear of the basis upon which you are doing so. Where you do not have consent, be mindful that an individual might not expect information to be shared. |
5 | Consider safety and well-being: base your information sharing decisions on considerations of the safety and well-being of the individual and others who may be affected by their actions. |
6 | Necessary, proportionate, relevant, adequate, accurate, timely and secure: ensure that the information you share is necessary for the purpose for which you are sharing it, is shared only with those individuals who need to have it, is accurate and up-to-date, is shared in a timely fashion, and is shared securely (see principles). |
7 | Keep a record of your decision and the reasons for it - whether it is to share information or not. If you decide to share, then record what you have shared, with whom and for what purpose. |
See Information sharing flowchart (Word doc, 113 KB)(opens new window) to help you decide if, and when, to share. If the decision is taken to share, you should consider how best to effectively share the information.
Download 7 Golden Rules to Information Sharing (Word doc, 195 KB)(opens new window)
Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership 07395 361 053Contact us
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