SET Procedures
This section of the website provides access to a downloadable version of the multi-agency child protection procedures for Southend, Essex and Thurrock – the SET Procedures.
This information is applicable to organisations based in the local authority area of Essex County Council. If your organisation is based in the unitary authority areas for Southend or Thurrock you should contact the Safeguarding Boards in those areas for guidance applicable to you:
Southend Safeguarding Children Board: www.southend.gov.uk/lscb
Thurrock Safeguarding Children Board: www.thurrock.gov.uk
Additional protocols to those in the SET Procedures can be found in the local protocols and practice guidance section of the website.
Amendments to the SET Procedures
Please click here to access information on any additions / amendments that have been agreed for the SET Procedures following their publication.
Frequently asked questions
- Q. What are the SET Procedures?
- Q. Who should use the SET Procedures?
- Q. What is the Blue Book?
- Q. What should I do with my Blue Book?
- Q. How do I obtain a copy of the SET Procedures?
- Q. Is there any training available on the SET Procedures?
- Q. What is the procedure for amendments and updates?
If you would like further information or advice please do not hesitate to contact us.
Q. What are the SET Procedures?
The SET Procedures are the multi-agency child protection guidelines for Southend, Essex and Thurrock. The Procedures provide information on:
Roles and responsibilities
Information sharing and confidentiality
Recognising and responding to abuse and neglect
Recognising and responding to increased vulnerability
Referral and assessment
Child Protection enquiries and conferences
Allegations against people who work with children
Risk management of known offenders
The SET Procedures reflect all relevant law, regulation, statutory and non statutory Government guidance and best practice as at 1st April 2006; including the key government document ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.
The Procedures were produced by a multi-agency working group from Southend, Essex and Thurrock Safeguarding Boards. Members from this group are continuing to meet to undertaken updates and amendments to the Procedures.
Q. Who should use the SET Procedures?
The Procedures have been adopted by the Safeguarding Boards for Southend, Essex and Thurrock and all member agencies of these Boards must work to these guidelines and make changes in their organisations to implement them. They are also applicable to all those who work with children and young people in these three areas whether in a paid or unpaid capacity – including schools and governors, voluntary and community organisations, religious and faith organisations, playgroups and child minders.
The Blue Book was the previous version of the multi-agency child protection procedures for Essex, which was in use until the 2nd October 2006. The Blue Book has now been replaced by the SET Procedures.
Q. What should I do with my Blue Book?
If you are in possession of a Blue Book and currently using this you should cease to do so and replace it with the SET Procedures. Copies do not need to be returned to the ESCB and can be destroyed.
Q. How do I obtain a copy of the SET Procedures?
The SET Procedures are a lengthy document containing a wide range of reference and contextual information. Most people will not need to read all the information included and consequently full versions of the SET Procedures have only been provided in hard copy to those in certain designated and strategic roles. They can however be accessed electronically via this website by anyone.
Pocket book versions of the Procedures have been produced which cover the information practitioners and carers are likely to need on a day to day basis. These have been made widely available in hard copy.
Individual organisations have been responsible for distributing copies of SET to their workforce. If you do not have a copy please contact the ESCB office who will either send you a copy or point you towards the right contact depending on where you work. Child minders should contact the Early Years Service direct on 01245 513204.
In some cases a charge will be made for provision of hard copies of the Procedures. Electronic versions of both the full Procedures and the handbook are available free of charge and can be made available in a pdf file by email or on a disc. Please contact the office to obtain an electronic version.
Q. Is there any training available on the SET Procedures?
The training briefings to accompany the introduction of the SET Procedures have now concluded.
If you would like information about what was covered in the briefings you should contact your ESCB representative, the person responsible for safeguarding / child protection training within your organisation or someone else from your organisation who attended them. Alternatively you can be provided with a copy of the training powerpoint presentation which is fully annotated. Please contact the ESCB office to obtain a copy of this or if you are having problems locating someone in your agency who can help.
Q. What is the procedure for amendments and updates?
If you find anything in the SET Procedures that requires amendment or if you would like to highlight the need for additions you should notify the ESCB of this by email to escb@essexcc.gov.uk.
If changes need to be made to the Procedures these will be publicised on this website and through the normal ESCB communications channels. For Board partners it will be the responsibility of nominated people to inform all those in receipt of the original Procedures of the changes that are required.
