Safeguarding children with Long-Term Chronic Health Needs who require “additional child safeguards”

This procedure is to set out ‘additional child safeguards’ for those children where longer term chronic health needs are being managed in the context of wider safeguarding concerns. It applies to the following children whose health needs require long-term clinical management and whose health may deteriorate if they are not supported to maintain therapeutic levels of medication, access to health consultations and/or specialist therapy and equipment.

This procedure is for:

Children with complex health needs, a chronic life-threatening health condition and, for example, may have an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP), who are living with abuse and neglect

And where a lack of parental compliance with the child’s health condition requires multi-agency oversight to reduce the risk of their health deteriorating and resulting in serious harm or death.

Professionals will consider the application of additional safeguards as part of routine safety planning for this cohort of children:

Procedure for safeguarding children with Long-Term Chronic Health Needs who require “additional child safeguards”

Best Practice Guidance for Health Staff: Sharing health information with Children’s Social Care and partner agencies 

Appendix 1: Multi-Agency Pathway

Appendix 2: Strategy Discussion Health Report

Appendix 3: Child Protection Conference Health Report

Appendix 4: Health needs checklist for Child Protection Conference and Core Groups