Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements: overcoming the challenges of Covid-19 measures
Journal of Children's Services
ISSN: 1746-6660
Article publication date: 2 November 2020
Issue publication date: 15 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Information sharing and joint working between agencies undertaking direct work with children have long been recognised as fundamental to robust and effective safeguarding and child protection arrangements. The public health response to Covid-19 disrupted those arrangements abruptly. This study aims to identify some of the innovative practices that have been implemented and how responses might inform planning for multi-agency working in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents reflections on preliminary fieldwork from a study of how agencies in London are responding to the challenges for multi-agency safeguarding arrangements created by the Covid-19 measures. It draws on the experience of expert practitioners in the research team as well as interviews with 17 senior professionals from local authorities, safeguarding partnerships and health.
Findings
The study participants endorsed known concerns around increased risks to children and raised new concerns about particular groups of children that under normal circumstances would not have been at risk. They identified some unexpected benefits derived from new arrangements, especially in relation to engagement with remote working.
Originality/value
Early insights are offered into promising initiatives to preserve strong multi-agency arrangements in crises and strengthen the resilience of the child protection system.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study is being conducted by a collaboration of researchers and expert partners. The study authors are grateful for the contribution of all members: Her Honour Judge Carol Atkinson, designated family judge for East London, DS Steve Clancey, the Metropolitan Police Continuous Policing Improvement Centre (Safeguarding Strand), Professor Andrew Danese, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, Professor Gillian Douglas, Professor of Law, King’s College London, Annie Hudson, former Strategic Director, Lambeth Children’s Services Professor Jenny Pearce, Professor of Young People and Public Policy.The study is funded by the King’s Together grant from King’s College London and has been approved by the King’s College London Research Ethics process (LRS-19/20–19420).
Citation
Driscoll, J., Lorek, A., Kinnear, E. and Hutchinson, A. (2020), "Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements: overcoming the challenges of Covid-19 measures", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 267-274. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-07-2020-0035
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited