5.02 Immediate Protection
5.2.1 At all times consideration must be given to the protection of the child against any further harm.
5.2.2 Where there is a risk to the life of a child, or a likelihood of serious immediate harm, Social Care and the Police will act quickly to secure the immediate safety of the child. In extreme cases, professional staff from other agencies may need to use their judgement to take protective action themselves, e.g to seek urgent medical treatment or to refuse to return a child to a parent until the Police or Social Care arrive. Consideration should also be given to safeguarding any other children in the household.
5.2.3 Planned emergency action, including medical assessment, will normally take place following an immediate Strategy Discussion between the Police, Social Care and other agencies as appropriate. If this is not possible, the Strategy Discussion must take place as soon as possible to consider matters referred to below. It is the responsibility of the local authority in whose area the child is found to take such action.
5.2.4 If the child is looked after by, or on the child protection register of another local authority that explicitly agrees to accept responsibility for taking emergency action, then the first authority is relieved of that responsibility. Such acceptance must be confirmed in writing.
