Early Help
Staff need to look out for signs of abuse and concern in all of the children in their school. However, some children may have a greater need for early help and intervention, including a child who:
- Has special educational needs (whether or not they have a statutory Education, Health and Care plan)
- Has a mental health need
- Is showing signs of being drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour, including gang involvement and association with organised crime groups or county lines
- Is frequently missing/goes missing from education, home or care
- Is at risk of being radicalised or exploited
- Has a parent or carer in custody, or is affected by parental offending
- Is misusing alcohol and other drugs themselves
- Is at risk of so-called 'honour'-based abuse such as Female Genital Mutilation or Forced Marriage
- Is a privately fostered child
- Is disabled or has certain health conditions and has specific additional needs
- Is a young carer
- Has experienced multiple suspensions, is at risk of being permanently excluded from schools, colleges and in Alternative Provision or a Pupil Referral Unit
- Is at risk of modern slavery, trafficking, sexual and/or criminal exploitation
- Is in a family circumstance presenting challenges for the child, such as drug and alcohol misuse, adult mental health issues and domestic abuse
Remember: Children going missing, particularly repeatedly, can act as a vital warning sign of a range of safeguarding possibilities. This may include abuse and neglect, and can also be a sign of child criminal exploitation including involvement in county lines. Early intervention is necessary to identify the existence of any underlying safeguarding risk and to help prevent the risks of a child going missing in future.