National Probation Service
WEST MERCIA PROBATION TRUST
All staff need to be familiar with chapter 8 of "Statutory Guidance on Making Arrangements to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children Under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004" which can be found in the document library of these procedures.
The Service has a Child Protection Policy. Staff will ensure that they are aware of that policy and implement it in their working environment. The following extract sets the scene for the policy:
"Section 10 of the Children Act 2004, places a duty on the National Probation Service as a ‘relevant partner’ to co-operate with the Local Authority to improve children’s well being in their area. Section 11 of the Act places a duty on key bodies to make arrangements to ensure that, in discharging their functions, they have regard to the need to ‘safeguard’ and promote the welfare of children.
'The support and protection of children cannot be achieved by a single agency…..Every Service has to play its part. All staff must have placed upon them the clear expectation that the primary responsibility is to the child and his and her family'. Lord Laming in the Victoria Climbie Inquiry Report, para 17.92 and 17.93.
The West Mercia Probation Area Board recognises it’s responsibility to ensure that staff are aware of the need for inter-agency co-operation to improve the well being of children and it’s duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people."
Offender Managers must be aware of the risks to children posed by a number of offenders. Section 9 of these procedures applies in such cases