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'Need to know'

The need to know policy outlines the circumstances and/or events which require urgent reporting to the Director of Children's Services and other Directors and Senior Managers.

The Director of Children's Services needs to be briefed by the relevant Head of Service in the following circumstances.

Service Users

 

  • Death or serious injury to any service user - adult or child
  • Death on local authority premises, or where a local authority member of staff is present
  • Death in situations where the death is unusual or expected
  • Death or serious injury of child in care or subject to a Child Protection Plan, including circumstances where death or serious injury were narrowly avoided
  • Death or serious injury of any child who is an open case to Children's Services
  • Serious accidents or injuries which occur in unusual or unexpected circumstances.  Particularly, if these occur in the presence if a member of staff.  If death is the likely outcome in these circumstances the Director should also be informed
  • Involvement in violent incidents, whilst on local authority premises, in the company of local authority staff, or where there are serious implications for staff working with that person
  • Cases of serious communicable diseases in school or residential premises
  • Missing children: Missing for over 24 hours, where the child is Looked After, subject to a Child Protection Plan or otherwise vulnerable
  • Any media coverage relating to service users where that may impact on the Council
  • Allegations of gross misconduct
  • Unexpected death or serious injury
  • Significant accidents or injuries at work.  (This is in addition to the standard health and safety procedures that should be followed for all accidents)
  • Involvement in violent incidents
  • Allegations of arrests or convictions for criminal offences
  • Any media coverage relating to members of staff where that may impact on the Council
  • Serious of significant damage resulting from floods, accidental fire etc
  • Significant vandalism or burglary
  • Any incidence of arson
  • Matters of public debate or anxiety
  • Major complaints implicating the service
  • Matters likely to attract local or national interest
  • Any matter which has, or is likely, to attract the attention of the media, Members of the Council or Members of Parliament
  • Proceedings likely to attract public/or media interest.  This will include criminal trials resulting from child protection proceedings
  • With potentially high or policy implications
  • Inquests

 

Staff

 

  • Allegations of gross misconduct
  • Unexpected death or serious injury
  • Significant accidents or injuries at work.  (This is in addition to the standard health and safety procedures that should be followed for all accidents)
  • Involvement in violent incidents
  • Allegations of arrests or convictions for criminal offences
  • Any media coverage relating to members of staff where that may impact on the Council

 

Service Premises and Schools

 

  • Serious of significant damage resulting from floods, accidental fire etc
  • Significant vandalism or burglary
  • Any incidence of arson

 

Controversies

 

  • Matters of public debate or anxiety
  • Major complaints implicating the service
  • Matters likely to attract local or national interest
  • Any matter which has, or is likely, to attract the attention of the media, Members of the Council or Members of Parliament

 

Significant Legal Proceedings

 

  • Proceedings likely to attract public/or media interest.  This will include criminal trials resulting from child protection proceedings
  • With potentially high or policy implications
  • Inquests

If you are in any doubt about the need to brief the Director of Children's Services on a particular incident, consult your immediate line manager.