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The Mental Health Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18.12.25.

Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures

Amendments

2026

February 2026

Cumberland Understanding The Level of Need and Practice Response	This chapter was updated in February 2026.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Referrals	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Cumberland Multi-Agency Thresholds Guidance	This chapter was updated in February 2026.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Professional Curiosity Guidance for Practitioners	This chapter was updated in February 2026.
Cumberland Intervention Protocol Following a Suspected Child Suicide	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Joint Protocol for Homeless 16-17 Young People in Cumberland and Local Area Commitment	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Children with Disabilities/Complex Needs	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Guidance to Ensure The Voice of The Child is Gathered, Heard and Acted Upon	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Children who go Missing from Home or Care	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.
Parents with Learning Disabilities	In February 2026, this chapter has been refreshed on the basis of good practice guidance from recent legal judgements. Also, amendments were made as the Working Together With Parents Network, that supports professionals working with parents with learning disabilities and learning difficulties and their children is now run by Research in Practice, part of the NCB family.
Protocol for Improving Standards of Care and Safeguarding in Private Residential Provision in Cumberland	This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.

2025

August 2025

Child Exploitation (including Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation)	In August 2025 a new section was added to the chapter on Child Financial Exploitation.
Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment	This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.
Children with Disabilities/Complex Needs	This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour	This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.

February 2025

Online Safety	In February 2025, this chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023. Also information in relation to sexual coerced extortion was added.
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation	In February 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.
Guidance for Safe Recruitment, Selection and Retention for Staff and Volunteers	In February 2025, a link was added to Education Supply Chains – A Better Hiring Toolkit and to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 9, Further Information.
Cumberland Multi-Agency Thresholds Guidance	This document was updated in February 2025.
Information Sharing Protocol	In February 2025 this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.
Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (APVA)	This chapter was added to the manual in February 2025.
Cumberland Understanding The Level of Need and Practice Response	This document was updated in February 2025.
Bruising and other injuries in Babies and non-mobile Children and Young People	This chapter was added to the manual in February 2025.
Joint Protocol for Homeless 16-17 Young People in Cumberland and Local Area Commitment	This chapter was refreshed in February 2025.
Parents with Learning Disabilities	In February 2025 this chapter was refreshed.
Safeguarding Children with a Social Worker, Cared for Children and Previously Care Experienced Children and Young People at School	This chapter was added to the manual in February 2025.
Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers	This guidance was updated in February 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.
Transitional Safeguarding	This chapter was added to the manual in February 2025.
Domestic Abuse	This chapter was updated in February 2025 to include information on Stalking Protection Orders.
Radicalisation, Terrorist and Extremist Ideology	This chapter was refreshed in February 2025.
Multi-Agency Pre-Birth Protocol	This chapter was refreshed in February 2025.
Local Protocol for Assessments and Support - Cumberland	This chapter was updated in February 2025.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	In February 2025 amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

2024

August 2024

Female Genital Mutilation	In August 2024, a new section was added on Other Harmful Practices. The Health and Care Act 2022 has made it illegal to carry out, offer or aid and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty in any part of the UK. It is also illegal for UK nationals and residents to do these things outside the UK. Information has also been added on Breast Flattening, which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance. Section 7, NHS Data Sharing was refreshed and updated.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	In August 2024 definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Child Death Reviews	This chapter was updated in August 2024.
Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation	In August 2024 a link was added in Section 1.2.1, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance. It was amended to include information on Identifying Suspected Perpetrators of Modern Slavery to Section 2.3, Indicators.
Organisational Responsibilities	This chapter was updated in August 2024.
Child Protection Conferences	This chapter was updated in August 2024 with new guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children around purpose and function of Child Protection Conferences and the role of the Lead Practitioner.
Referrals	This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.
Dangerous Dogs and Safeguarding Children	This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.
Children who go Missing from Home or Care	This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.
Domestic Abuse	This chapter was updated in August 2024 a new Section 6, Non-Fatal Strangulation has been added. Definitions were also updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children which now uses the statutory definition of domestic abuse in Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Child Exploitation (including Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation)	In August 2024 minor amendments were made the definition in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.
So-called 'Honour' Based Abuse	This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.
Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews	This chapter was updated in August 2024.
Forced Marriage	This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.

February 2024

Self Harm and Suicidal Behaviour	This chapter was added to the manual in February 2024.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	This chapter was refreshed in February 2024.
Online Safety	This chapter was refreshed in February 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.
Domestic Abuse	This chapter was refreshed in February 2024.
Radicalisation, Terrorist and Extremist Ideology	In February 2024, information on the Channel Programme was added into Section 4, What to do if you have Concerns.
Multi-Agency Pre-Birth Protocol	Section 5, Safe Sleeping was added in February 2024.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour	This chapter was refreshed in February 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.
Child Exploitation (including Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation)	In February 2024, information was added into Section 13, Transitional Safeguarding.