Website clarifies legal duties of practitioners

Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) has launched a website aimed at clarifying the legal obligations of frontline practitioners with regard to child protection and safeguarding.

Why has CCLC decided to launch this website?
It is part of CCLC’s Child Protection Project, a free information sharing service for professionals, funded by a grant from the Department for Education’s Improving Outcomes for Children, Young People and Families Fund. The service consists of a telephone advice line (0207 636 1245), an interactive website, and online and bespoke training courses.

Who is the CPP website for?
The website and the other services provided by the project are designed for professionals, volunteers and staff who have a duty to safeguard the welfare of the child, including those working in education; health; social, family and community support; early years and childcare; youth, sport and culture; justice and crime prevention; managers and leaders; and adult services. It is an invaluable resource for practitioners who have questions of a legal nature regarding a child protection-related issue, but who do not meet the threshold for contacting their internal legal department, or who do not have access to one.

What does the website include?
It provides in-depth legal information on all aspects of child protection and safeguarding. It includes a comprehensive overview of the system in the form of a visual aid as well as text explaining the system in further detail, from how a child may enter the system, their journey through it and the roles of various professionals.

It provides specialist legal information on a range of issues such as forced marriage; female genital mutilation; risk factors for child abuse such as domestic violence, parental mental health issues, and parental substance abuse and much more. It includes regular legislative and policy updates, and commentary and analysis of current issues in child protection. A web-chat facility will be added, through which users can communicate directly with a solicitor.

How accessible is the site for frontline practitioners?
We are very keen to ensure that the website is useful and accessible for practitioners. The project’s high level advisory group, made up ?of chief executives of government agencies ?and children’s charities, and our focus group ?of 70 frontline practitioners have played a key role in the development of the site.
Register today for free by visiting ?www.protectingchildren.org.uk.