Independent investigation: Paige Shatlock Jones (PS/J), Hucknall, Notts (2003)

Standardised referral letters (in part) should give an assessment of risk for child(ren) more explicitly and provide key issues/risks to a secondary provider. They should also give enough information to identify where other family members have issues pertinent to child safety.

There needs to be clarity on what training staff should attend irrespective of discipline or geographical boundaries. Safeguarding children training needs to be formalised and structured across the organisation(s).

The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need [DH 2000] is a key tool for use by all professionals attempting to safeguard children’s welfare. This or any subsequent common assessment tool should be utilised by everyone working with children and their families.

A risk assessment should review both parents’ or carers’ backgrounds so that any pertinent information is included.

It is important that children’s views and feelings should form part of any risk assessment.

Assessing risk to safeguard children’s welfare should be standard and training provided for all practitioners who come into contact with families where there are children in the household.

IT systems should alert primary care practitioners when a child is within the household of an adult with mental health issues and should highlight key patient issues.

Letters received by primary care should be date-stamped on the day of arrival.

There should be induction for all staff on organisational (NHS) Complaints Procedure.

Staff working with families where safeguarding children may be an issue need time to undertake qualitative assessments, appropriate child-centred training and child-focused supervision.

Risk assessments concerning child protection issues must be detailed and fully recorded in patient records, in addition to any pro-forma that is completed.

Professionals working with families with children in primary care mental health services, should access GP records prior to the commencement of work with the client/family, so that as much information as possible is known to a practitioner from the outset.