Summary
1. The lead social worker and/or other agencies must be informed immediately. 2. The receiving Local authority must be notified immediately and the notification confirmed in writing within 2 working days. 3. The receiving authority must record the child’s name on their database and arrange a for a child protection conference to take place within 15 working days. 4. The two authorities should agree in writing who will be responsible for the case – or for specific aspects of work (e.g. visiting the family) – pending the child protection conference. |
When any individual becomes aware that a child who is subject to a Child Protection Plan has moved or plans to move, they must notify immediately the lead social worker.
If the lead social worker becomes aware that a child subject to a Child Protection Plan has moved or plans to move, they will inform the members of the Core Group of the details of the move.
When it is known that a child who is the subject of a Child Protection Plan is to move, or has moved, to another local authority – whether on a temporary or permanent basis – the home authority lead social worker must notify the receiving authority by telephone immediately. At the same time, the Safeguarding Unit in the home authority must notify their equivalent officers in the receiving authority. Both telephone calls must be followed up in writing within 2 working days and copies of all case conference reports must be sent to the receiving authority by the home Safeguarding Unit.
The receiving authority will immediately record on their database that the child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan, and their Safeguarding Unit will notify relevant local agencies of the child’s move. Where the home authority will be seeking to transfer responsibility for the case, the receiving authority must arrange a for a child protection conference to take place within 15 working days. The allocated social worker in the receiving authority must initiate the arrangements for the child protection conference following the procedures outlined in these Safeguarding Procedures. The lead social worker in the home authority should attend this ‘transfer’ conference.
The two authorities should agree in writing who will be responsible for the case – or for specific aspects of work (e.g. visiting the family) – pending the child protection conference.
Regardless of any disagreement, the local authority where the child is living – whether permanently or temporarily – is responsible for taking any necessary action where there is a risk of significant harm.
