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<p>It is hugely important that all cases where a child might be suffering and/or is
at risk of harm are looked into, so that children get the help they need to prevent
issues escalating. There is a very clear framework in place for all professionals
who work with children to report concerns. The statutory guidance <em>Working Together
to Safeguard Children (2015)</em> emphasises that safeguarding is the responsibility
of all professionals who work with children.</p><p>The Department does receive correspondence
and information from professionals and members of the public, alerting staff that
they believe a child may be at risk of harm. Procedures are in place to ensure that
in such circumstances if the Department’s staff and its Agencies, including the Education
Funding Agency (EFA), believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, steps are taken
to notify the Director of Children’s Services in the relevant local authority within
24 hours. Local Authorities have duties under the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and
promote the welfare of children. It is for the local authority to undertake any assessment
and provide services to keep children safe.</p><p>In response to the failures we saw
in Rotherham and elsewhere, the Government issued a revised version of the statutory
guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ in 2015, setting out an unambiguous
statement of accountability about the overarching responsibilities of local authorities
to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area. It also made clear
the vital role of other professionals including police, schools, social workers and
health in keeping children safe. ‘Working Together’ provides a clear framework for
monitoring the effectiveness of local services and how they work together in fulfilling
their duties.</p><p>In discharging our role on safeguarding, the Department and EFA
may also involve Ofsted. Where Ofsted considers a local authority to be failing in
its responsibility to safeguard children then we will consider if we need to take
decisive action and intervene directly to secure improvements.</p><p>The Secretary
of State for Education issued a direction in October 2014 appointing a Children’s
Social Care Commissioner in Rotherham, with the task of investigating and addressing
the council’s failings and recommending immediate next steps. Joint Directions with
the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government were published in February
2015, enabling a team of Commissioners to exercise the functions of the council and
oversee a programme of improvement.</p><p>In March 2015, a number of Secretaries of
State wrote to all chief constables; leaders and lead members of councils; chief executives
of local authorities; health system leaders; and directors of children’s services
to reinforce the need for leaders to take responsibility for addressing the failures
shown by the Jay report and other inspections in their area. To ensure effective delivery
we have worked with Ofsted, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Probation and the Care Quality Commission to deliver a new system
of joint targeted area inspections to better assess how local agencies are working
in a co-ordinated manner to identify and respond to children at risk of abuse and
neglect. The first round of inspections is underway with a specific focus on child
sexual exploitation and a thematic report, setting out findings from the inspections
and highlighting good practice, will be published in September.</p>
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