If an allegation or concern arises about a member of staff outside of their work with children and this may present a risk to the children for whom they are responsible, the general principles in these procedures still apply.
The strategy discussion should decide whether the concern justifies:
- Approaching the person’s employer for further information, in order to assess the level of risk; and/or
- Inviting the employer to further strategy discussion about dealing with the possible risk.
If the member of staff lives in a different authority area from that where they work, liaison should take place between the relevant agencies in both areas and a joint strategy discussion convened.
Risk by association: In some cases, an allegation of abuse against someone closely associated with a member of staff e.g a partner, close relative or other member of a household, may present a risk to children for whom the member of staff is responsible.
There may be concerns, e.g. that the member of staff may have colluded with the abuser or denied or diminished the seriousness of the situation. In these circumstances consideration should be given to carrying out a risk assessment on the individual who may pose a risk by association, or convening a strategy discussion to consider:
- the ability and willingness of the member of staff to adequately protect children,
- whether measures need to be put in place to ensure their protection,
- whether the role of the member of staff is compromised.
