Agency Roles

HSCT

For the purposes of this guidance, Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) includes all Trust and services involved in safeguarding children and young people, including social care and health services such as primary care Practice Nurses (e.g. GP practices), School Nurses, and Health Visitors

Key Focus: Child safeguarding and protection, family support, case management, service coordination, health assessment, information sharing, and safeguarding escalation.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Assess and respond to the needs of children and young people at risk of CCE, abuse, injury, or neglect
  • Make child protection referrals to the HSCT where concerns about CCE or other abuse are identified
  • Provide frontline healthcare and assess physical/mental health concerns that may indicate CCE
  • Develop and implement safeguarding and child protection plans for CCE victims/potential victims
  • Provide ongoing support and case management for affected children and young people and families
  • Coordinate with other agencies to ensure comprehensive support
  • Conduct statutory assessments under the Children’s (NI Order) 1995
  • Provide alternative accommodation when necessary to protect children and young people, such as entering care
  • Provide ongoing healthcare support to children, young people, and families affected by exploitation
  • Provide family support services to address underlying vulnerabilities and meet the needs of a ‘child in need’
  • Participate in strategy discussions, child in care or child protection conferences
  • Monitor and review the progress of children and young people on safeguarding plans
  • Provide expert advice to other professionals on safeguarding issues related to CCE
  • Use the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to classify and support victims within the criminal justice system (CJS).

Lead or primary role

Safeguarding Structures and Thresholds
  • Designated Responsible Person from social work, social care, and primary care investigate the circumstances of any child who lives, or is found, in the authority’s area who is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, and to take all necessary steps to address that harm. They evaluate current safeguarding structures to determine where CCE fits within them. They ensure that clear guidelines, policies (e.g. Threat to Life), and procedures are in place for intervention, reflecting the broad spectrum of CCE. They must adhere to the joint protocol procedures established between HSCTs and PSNI when responding to risk, ensuring timely information sharing, coordinated risk assessment, and appropriate safeguarding actions in line with statutory responsibilities.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
  • Designated Responsible Person from social work and/or social care, and primary care for example, Social Workers in partnership with PSNI lead the collaboration with other agencies to ensure that all relevant information is shared and responses are well-coordinated. This multi-agency approach ensures comprehensive support for the child or young person and their family. They develop comprehensive child in need, family support and protection plans. These plans address the specific needs of the child or young person and their family, providing tailored support to prevent exploitation. Designated Responsible Person from social work and/or social care, arrange for direct support to children and young people and their families where appropriate as part of these plans.

Significant input or role

Early Preventative Work

Designated Responsible Person from social work, social care, and primary care alongside other agencies engage in early preventative work with children, young people and their families. They collaborate with the CVS to support children, young people and their families under pressure, preventing issues from escalating to the point where statutory intervention is required. They have clear pathways for making referrals and delivering appropriate interventions to reduce risk and address need.

Early Identification and Assessment

Designated Responsible Person from social work, social care, and primary care play a crucial role in the early identification and assessment of children and young people at risk of child exploitation. They recognise the signs of exploitation early and conduct thorough assessments to understand the risks and needs of the child or young person.

Disruption of Exploitation
  • Designated Responsible Person from social work and/or social care, work with the PSNI and other agencies to hold perpetrators to account alongside disrupting and deterring those exploiting children and young people.
Coordination of Information and Response
  • Designated Responsible Person from social work and/or social care, play a key role in working with police to collect, collate, and analyse information related to CCE. They ensure effective coordination of information and have a lead role in co- ordinating the multiagency response to address the needs of all children and young people involved.