Threshold

How do I know if the Child needs a Child Protection plan, and what is the threshold for intervention?

The Sutton LSCP threshold guidance has advice about how to assess and identify a child's level of need and access the right level of support. 

If you are invited to a Child Protection Conference there has already been an investigation into to concerns regarding the Child, and there are concerns that the Child has been harmed.

The Children Act 1989 introduced the concept of Significant Harm as the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children. When judging what constitutes Significant Harm consideration should be given to the following:

• The severity of ill-treatment which may include the degree and extent of physical harm including, for example, impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another;

• The duration and frequency of abuse and neglect

• The extent of premeditation.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 sets out definitions and examples of the four broad categories of abuse which are used as a basis for determining that a child should be subject to a Child Protection Plan

• Neglect

• Physical abuse

• Sexual abuse and exploitation;

• Emotional abuse

These categories overlap and an abused child does frequently suffer more than one type of abuse.