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4.07 Applying Child Protection Procedures

4.7.1 Child Protection Procedures are to be applied where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child/young person, under the age of 18 years, is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.

4.7.2 The decision to initiate child protection procedures is irrespective of where the child/young person is living. They could be at home, or in foster care, or residential care, or any institutional setting.

4.7.3 Child protection procedures generally apply where the suspected or alleged abuser is a member of the immediate or extended family, a friend or acquaintance or carer, a person known to the child or family, a professional working with the child or family or a foster carer.

4.7.4 Where a suspected or alleged abuser is a stranger, i.e. unknown to the child or family, it may not be necessary to apply child protection procedures. The decision should be based on whether adequate care was a factor. In this situation, the Police should always be involved.