UPDATED! Regional Protocol – Children Moving Across LA Borders

We know as safeguarding practitioners how vulnerability and risk is increases for those children and young people who move across local authority borders. We know how important it is that we cooperate and share information when we are aware of concerns for a child that is moving across borders. But did you know that Local authorities, the Police, Health services, Education Services and Youth Justice Teams have a specific ‘duty to co-operate’ to ensure better outcomes and to improve the well-being of all children, including children who move frequently.

The responsibility for delivery of the universal services offered by Health and Children’s Services belongs to the area in which a child is living. However, arrangements for the delivery of targeted children’s services are more complex. This updated guidance sets out the arrangements for the delivery of Children’s Services where:

• They are also, Children in Need, children under Section 47 Investigation including those in need of protection and subject to Children Protection Plans, as defined by the Children Act 1989, or they are Cared for Children;
• Early Help support arrangements are in place;
• Children who have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP)

Frequent movers can find it difficult to access the safe, reliable and consistent delivery of services they need. For those already socially excluded, moving frequently can worsen the effects of their exclusion and increase the vulnerability of the children and have an impact of their health and well-being. The need to safeguard children in these circumstances is widely recognised as a priority.

Click here to get a ‘quick guide’ to the protocol and related processes

Click here to access the regional protocol for protecting children who move across local authority borders 

Credit to Saira Park at Northumberland SCP for sharing these resources