Children's care professionals processes

Child protection leads are the first point of contact in each agency to support appropriate action in regard to practitioner concerns about child protection through advice and support.

The role of the child protection leads within agencies

Child protection leads are responsible for advising practitioners that referrals are of the correct threshold, that there is sufficient information for social care to make a risk assessment, and that any other appropriate actions are undertaken.

Practitioners must take responsibility for ensuring that they use the child protection lead function in their agency. The child protection lead plays an important role and the practitioner must ensure that involvement of the child protection lead is a key part of the referral process.