Toolkit launched to help safeguard children in the West Midlands

A new safeguarding toolkit has been launched to help support professionals working with children to spot the warning signs and take action.

The warning signs are described as injuries, marks and bruises.

The assessment toolkit has been developed in partnership between health, social care and police.

It's particularly aimed at anyone in Birmingham and Solihull who works with and has safeguarding responsibilities for children of any age.

Also, it included nursery and teaching staff, voluntary organisations, health and social care professionals and police officers.

It's a step-by-step guide with a simple screening tool graphic to help professionals quickly recognise bruising on the body.

The toolkit also provides guidance around what a child protection medical assessment is and explanations of language and medical terms that may be used in reports.

This follows on from plans announced yesterday to shake up the social care system after failings following the death of Arthur Labinjo Hughes in June 2020.

Lisa Stalley Green, Chief Nursing Officer and Chair of Solihull Safeguarding Children’s Partnership said: “The development of this toolkit is a really positive step in strengthening safeguarding processes in Birmingham and Solihull. We have listened to feedback and taken on board learning from sad cases in our area of practice and have an improved suite of resources that have been developed with and for professionals working with children, arming them with the guidance they need to better understand concerning bruises and empowering them to take action.”

Andy McHugh, Detective Chief Inspector for the Public Protection Unit at West Midlands Police, said: “We’ve worked with partners in children’s safeguarding to raise awareness of child neglect and bruising for those on the front line. We have responded to case reviews and have reflected on the processes around some of the most tragic cases that we have investigated.

“As a partnership we strive to learn and improve and have developed this new resource to better safeguard children. The toolkit and training not only raises awareness but provides a resource to use on a daily basis that educates on neglect and bruising and provides the necessary pathway to refer and react to child safeguarding concerns that arise.”

Pete Campbell, Director of Children’s Services in Solihull, said: “I very much welcome this toolkit which is informed by best practice and equips practitioners to respond to this challenging area of work with confidence. A consistent and clear approach, which keeps the child’s needs at the centre, is essential when different agencies are working together. We work together to achieve the best outcomes for children and their families, and this new toolkit will greatly help us towards this goal.”

To access the toolkit, click here.

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