This protocol is for managers and practitioners setting out the key roles and responsibilities in supporting children who may be at risk of self-harm or who have engaged in acts of self-harm. This protocol has been developed in accordance with Working Together 2018, Keeping Children Safe In Education 2020, NICE Quality Standards and learning from Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. The aim of this protocol is to ensure the effective coordination of multi-agency responses to incidents of self-harm across Surrey.
This protocol is for anyone who works directly with children and young people in Surrey. This includes but is not limited to statutory and non-statutory services, universal services, targeted services and specialist services; maintained schools, including academies, free schools and alternative provision academies, further education providers of children aged 16-18 years of age, it also includes voluntary organisations and charities who provide services to children and young people.
Self-harm is a serious public health concern and is the reason behind many admissions to accident and emergency departments every year. The Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership identified a need for a detailed, multi-agency self-harm protocol which would provide guidance to frontline staff in the management of incidents of self-harm. Self-harm and suicidal threats by a child/young person, places them at risk of significant harm, and should always be taken seriously and responded to without delay.
To view the self harm protocol in full please click here.
