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<p>Establishments must report to their local authority for investigation any suspected
cases of abuse or instances where a child is identified as having suffered, or is
at risk of, significant harm. If the allegation or concern involves a member of staff,
the establishment will report this to the designated officer, whose job it is to investigate
concerns involving adults working with children.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Arrangements
for the governance of child protection referrals are agreed between the establishment
and the local authority, through Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards. Data on the
referrals made through this process are collected locally and monitored in line with
the agreed protocols.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Child protection referrals can
cover a range of incidents, including complaints made by young people about any aspect
of their treatment in custody. It is not possible centrally to determine how many
of these referrals relate to particular concerns.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The
Youth Justice Board (YJB) requires each establishment to demonstrate how it fulfils
its statutory safeguarding duty and undertakes a monitoring function to assure itself
of performance against statutory responsibilities. Service specifications clearly
reinforce and reflect the requirement that establishments and their LSCB will reach
agreement on how they work together<em>.</em> This agreement will include how establishments
must report to their local authority for the investigation of any suspected cases
of abuse or instances where a child is identified as having suffered, or is at risk
of, significant harm.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This is supported by robust independent
inspections by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for all under 18 YOIs, which
take place annually, and by HMI Prisons, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
in Secure Training Centre’s (STCs), and by Ofsted in Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs).</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The inspectorates will speak to young people and staff, review
documents and observe practice. They will also engage with other partners, including
local authorities, in order to fully test partnership working and delivery of child
protection arrangements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The YJB’s established relationships
with these inspectorates ensures that they are made aware of any systemic issues or
concerns within a particular establishment, and are then able to subsequently take
appropriate action.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The YJB augments inspection findings
and the outcome of local authority audits with its own assurance monitoring to identify
any trends and concerns within the youth secure estate. In all cases the YJB interrogates
findings and any identified or emerging trends, and takes appropriate action where
necessary, including:</p><p> </p><p>· the YJB’s own referral to local authorities
for investigation;</p><p> </p><p>· requests to inspectorates to instigate urgent reviews
and</p><p> </p><p>· the requirement that establishments/providers instigate action
plans for service improvement.</p><p>The YJB continues to monitor the progress of
these actions, in order to ensure its statutory responsibilities for maintaining the
safety and well being of children in custody are fulfilled.</p>
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