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Approaches to Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a broad term used to describe approaches to promote the welfare and the safety of children. All services that work with or come into contact with children have a key role in safeguarding.

Safeguarding encompasses both the universal promotion of child welfare and development, the provision of specialist support when it is required and also intervening to protect children from significant harm.

Safeguarding is a crucial aspect of the work undertaken by universal services that help children thrive and develop, for example schools, nurseries or youth clubs. Sometimes services may identify an issue which needs to be addressed to support the welfare of a child. Intervening early when a problem emerges as known as Early Help, but sometimes children and families might need support from more specialist services including Children’s Social Care.

Categories of Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse is when a child or young person is forced, tricked or manipulated into sexual activities. They might not understand that what’s happening is abuse or that it’s wrong for the abuser to do this to them. They might be afraid to tell someone or behave as though this is normal for them to experience, both are valid for the child to be displaying. It can involve direct contact such as: sexual touching of any part of a child’s body, whether they’re clothed or not; using a body part or object to rape or penetrate a child; forcing a child to take part in sexual activities; making a child undress or touch someone else. It can also involve non-contact activities such as: exposing or flashing; showing pornography; exposing a child to sexual acts; making them masturbate; forcing a child to make, view or share child abuse images or videos; making, viewing or distributing child abuse images or videos; forcing a child to take part in sexual activities or conversations online or through a smartphone.

Emotional Abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. Sometimes people call it psychological abuse. It is often a part of other kinds of abuse, which means it can be difficult to spot the signs or tell the difference, though it can also happen on its own. It can involve deliberately trying to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore a child; humiliating or constantly criticising a child; threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names; making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child; blaming and scapegoating; making a child perform degrading acts; not recognising a child’s own individuality or trying to control their lives; pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations; exposing a child to upsetting events or situations, like domestic abuse or drug taking; failing to promote a child’s social development; not allowing them to have friends; persistently ignoring them; being absent; manipulating a child; never saying anything kind, expressing positive feelings or congratulating a child on successes; never showing any emotions in interactions with a child, also known as emotional neglect.

Neglect is the continuous failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It is the most common form of child abuse. Children who suffer neglect can experience increased risk and danger, as well as it having a long term impact on their physical and mental health. Physical neglect might involve not meeting a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, or not supervising them appropriately or keeping them safe. Educational neglect describes when a parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education. Emotional neglect is defined as when a child doesn’t get the nurture and stimulation they need. For example they are ignored, humiliated, intimidated or isolated. Medical neglect applies to situations when a child isn’t given proper health care, for example access to a dentist or doctor and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.

Physical Abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose. This can include: hitting with hands or objects; slapping and punching; kicking; shaking; throwing; poisoning; burning and scalding; biting and scratching; breaking bones; drowning.

Getting the right support at the right time

Early Help

Early Help is an approach to safeguarding which focuses on services offering the right support in a timely fashion. Sometimes this is something the service can provide itself. Sometimes it might require a referral to a more Specialist Service for example Speech and Language, Mental Health or a Paediatrician.

If you are unsure about which support is available in your area you can use the Newcastle Support Directory or use the Enquiry Form.

Sometimes a family might require a range of help from several services. For example, a child with more than one support need, or a family in which several members have support services working with them. Professionals should considers undertaking an Early Help Assessment and Plan, in which a single assessment and plan are developed with the family by all the professionals involved in supporting them. This ensures the support is coordinated and everyone understands each other’s roles.

When we are concerned that a child requires the provision of extra support or services to help them achieve or maintain ‘a reasonable standard of health or development’ they may be classed as a Child in Need and may therefore be eligible for support from Children’s Services. Children with a Disability may be classed as a Child in Need. You can make a referral here: Refer A Child

Safeguarding children also involves protecting them from Significant Harm. A child who is at risk of, or who has suffered significant harm requires an immediate referral to Children’s Services. You can make a referral here: Refer A Child Where they have sustained injuries medical treatment should also be sought as a priority. If the child is at immediate risk of Significant Harm the police should also be notified.

The Newcastle Threshold Document sets out the types of support that are available and can help professionals identify the right level of support. Professionals can contact Children’s Services for advice and guidance prior to making a referral.

Approaches to Safeguarding in Newcastle

Restorative and Relational Practice

The Newcastle Safeguarding Children’s Partnership promotes a restorative and relational approach to working with babies, children and their families. We have produced a guide which has been written for everyone that works with children and families in Newcastle, including our partners in schools and education, health, the police, the council, local business and the third sector. This approach is not about stopping current effective ways of working, rather it is about how this is done – with a focus on relationships, and working ‘with’ people, not doing ‘to’ or ‘for them. Placing the emphasis on connecting with people first, in order that the processes or polices that have to be followed, can be achieved most effectively, with children, young people and families feeling empowered and in control of positive change.

For training related to Relational and Restorative Practice and to book a place, please view the training events page on our website. If you would be interested in some bespoke training for your setting/team, or have any queries please contact kate.williams@newcastle.gov.uk

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Rethink Formulations

Please click here for Fair Process: Engagement, Explanation and Expectation

Please click here for One Page Reflection: Family Names

Please click here for One Page Reflection: Drugs and Alcohol

Please click here for One Page Reflection: Restorative Language

Please click here for Child Focused Restorative Questions

Please Click here for Rethink Formulation: Overview

Please Click Here for Rethink Formulation: Guide

Please click here for Rethink Formulation Pro-Forma

Please click here for Rethink Formulation – Child Friendly Pro-Forma

Please click here for Rethink Formulation: Tips

Please Click here for Rethink Formulation Prompt Questions

Please click here for Rethink Formulation: Parents Guide

Please click here for Relational and Restorative Approaches: Anti-Racism Guide

Please click here for Relational and Restorative Approaches: Circles

Please click here for Relational and Restorative Approaches: High Support and High Challenge

Please click here for Relational and Restorative Approaches: Language Handbook

The Newcastle Safeguarding Children Partnership has produced a multi-agency screening tool to be used by local partners and agencies in identifying neglect. This aims to provide a shared basis for initial discussions regarding neglect. There is a guidance document to support professionals think about how they use this screening tool:

The NSCP have produced a Multi-Agency Neglect Screening Tool

The NSCP have produced Guidance for the Neglect Screening Tool

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: An Introduction to Neglect

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Babies, Pre-teens and Neglect

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Teenagers and Neglect

Both the NSCP and Childline have lots of useful, up to date information on neglect.

The Newcastle Safeguarding Childrens Partnership has brought together a range of local and national resources to support practitioners in understanding their roles in safeguarding and protecting children and young people who face harm in their communities.

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Introduction to ROTH

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Local Learning and ROTH

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Language and ROTH

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Assessment and ROTH

The NSCP have produced a Pocket Guide: Interventions and ROTH

For more information please view the Contextual Safeguarding Network Website

The North and South of Tyne Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) continues to see infants who have sadly died where modifiable factors (those which can be changed through national or local interventions) were present. In July 2020, the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published a Thematic Report into SUDI. This report identified that these tragic deaths occur more frequently in families that are particularly vulnerable, with many of the risk factors associated with SIDS overlapping with those for child abuse and neglect. In response, Newcastle and Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnerships have agreed to adopt a SIDS ‘Prevent and Protect Model’. A key aspect of this model is the introduction of this multi-agency guidance.

Please click here for the Multi-Agency Guide

Please click here for the Sleepy Time Rhyme

Please click here for the Out of Routine Review

Working Together (2023) recognises that schools, colleges and other educational providers have a pivotal role to play in safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. Co-operation and buy-in to the new arrangements are vital for success. Once designated as a relevant agency, schools and colleges, and other educational providers, in the same way as other relevant agencies, are under a statutory duty to co-operate with the published arrangements

Newcastle Education Safeguarding Partnership (NESP) provides the mechanism for the Safeguarding Partners to fulfil the requirements of Working Together (2023) and enables representatives from all schools, colleges and other education providers in Newcastle, to engage with the work of the Safeguarding Partners by:

  • Helping to shape procedure and guidance
  • Feeding back to the Safeguarding Partners on implications of decisions and practice relating to safeguarding in schools
  • Feeding back on areas of safeguarding activity identified and undertaken by the partnership
  • Identifying strengths and gaps
  • Reviewing impact of policy and practice
  • Providing an opportunity for schools to identify and share best safeguarding practice
  • Contribute to inspections on issues related to education as and when required
  • Ensure that all schools are represented within the wider partnership Improving practice across all Newcastle schools
  • Consider issues raised by the Safeguarding Partners