The findings of the Thirlwall Inquiry have brought safeguarding back into the spotlight, particularly the importance of recognising concerns and acting on them. The Inquiry looked at the deaths and attempted murders of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Amongst its findings were significant failures in management, governance and safeguarding.
The circumstances of the Inquiry are highly unusual, but there are wider safeguarding lessons which apply to children more generally. So, what does safeguarding actually mean?
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding children is about protecting children from harm and promoting their welfare.
It is not limited to situations where there is clear evidence of abuse. Concerns can arise in many different circumstances, including neglect, physical or emotional abuse, domestic abuse, exploitation and online harm.
A safeguarding concern may simply be something which makes someone question whether a child is safe or whether they need additional support.
You do not need proof to raise a concern
One of the important points arising from the Thirlwall Inquiry is that safeguarding concerns should not be left unaddressed simply because there is not enough evidence to prove what has happened. The Inquiry found that safeguarding action should have been taken at earlier stages when concerns arose about the babies on the neonatal unit.
This is an important principle when considering safeguarding more generally.
If someone is worried about a child, they do not need to investigate the situation themselves or prove that abuse or neglect has taken place. The appropriate safeguarding professionals can assess the information and decide what action, if any, is needed.
Raising a concern is not the same as making an accusation. It is about making sure that the concerns are considered.
What might a safeguarding concern look like?
Safeguarding concerns are not always obvious.
A child may become unusually withdrawn or anxious, appear frightened of someone, have unexplained injuries, regularly miss school or medical appointments, or show a significant change in their behaviour.
A child may also say something which causes an adult to question whether they feel safe.
None of these things automatically mean that a child is being abused or neglected. There may be a completely different explanation. The point is that something has caused concern and may need to be investigated.
Why is professional curiosity important?
The Thirlwall Inquiry highlighted concerns about a lack of professional curiosity, including occasions where warning signs were not sufficiently questioned or connected. Professional curiosity is a term often used in safeguarding and put simply, means being willing to ask questions when something does not seem quite right.
It does not mean assuming the worst. It means looking beyond the obvious explanation and considering whether there is anything else that needs to be understood about a child’s circumstances.
What happens when a concern is raised?
What happens next will depend on the circumstances and the level of concern.
Information may be shared with children’s social care, the police, health professionals, schools or other relevant agencies. This may result in further enquiries or an assessment of the child’s circumstances. In some cases, no further action may be necessary.
The person raising the concern does not need to decide what should happen. Their role may simply be to make sure the concern is passed to the right people.
What can we take from the Thirlwall Inquiry?
The Thirlwall Inquiry identified a number of missed opportunities to take safeguarding action. It found that earlier action could have prevented further attacks and deaths. The circumstances of the case are exceptional, but the wider message is relevant to safeguarding children generally.
If you have concerns about a child’s safety or welfare, you can contact your local authority’s children’s social care team. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, you should contact the police or emergency services.
Safeguarding is ultimately about making sure that children are safe and able to grow up free from abuse and neglect.
The findings of the Thirlwall Inquiry are a reminder that waiting for certainty can sometimes mean missing an opportunity to protect a child.
We at Johnson Astills know involvement with social services can be frightening. If you are involved with social services, please get in touch with Johnson Astills to see how we can assist. Please call us at our office in Leicester on 0116 255 4855 or our office in Loughborough on 01509 610 312 and ask to speak to a member of the Care Team. Alternatively, you may prefer to email us at legal@johnsonastills.com or fill in our enquiry form.
