Policies, procedures and pathways

Policies and procedures

Guidance for professionals to know when advice, help and urgent response is needed

For professionals working with children, young people and families. You can find this on our
document page.

Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual

Safeguarding Children in Stockport have adopted the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual.

Safeguarding children under one year old

Members of the Stockport Safeguarding Children Partnership have created a guide for practitioners working with families with young children. The guide includes information about safer sleep, safer bathing and the ICON programme aimed at supporting parents to manage infant crying.

Keeping babies safe, a guide for families is a practical, evidence-based guide that you can share with parents and carers of babies under one..

Safer Sleep Week: 10 to 16 March 2025

As part of safer sleep week 2025, there was a range of activity. Communication went out on 10 March with resources attached and links to Lullaby Trust, shared across partners.

The themes for 2025, which you can read more about on the Lullaby Trust's website, were:

• exploring baby sleep patterns. How long can babies sleep for their age?
• busting baby sleep myths. Are any myths backed by evidence, and what about products that promise to help your baby sleep for longer?
• supporting you through your own lack of sleep. We’ll help with sleep deprivation and make it easier for you to follow safer sleep with your baby, even when exhausted

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) completed a floor walk on the 3rd floor at Stopford House, talking to the various teams (social workers and early help) about safer sleep, safer handling and spaces. They then went into the MASSH and Aspire teams and left resources and leaflets for practitioners. You can find out about Family Nurse Partnerships by:

• contacting your local Family Hub
• reading the Family Nurse Partnership guidance on GOV.UK

You can visit the Lullaby Trust's website to find:

• information on Safer Sleep Week
• information for professionals

For advice on infant crying, visit the ICON website.

Resolving professional disagreements/escalation

Visit the Greater Manchester Safeguarding website to find the Resolving Professional Disagreements/Escalation Policy for Greater Manchester.

Harmful sexual behaviour

The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Guide is intended as a point of reference and a guide for anyone working with children so that they may identify when a behaviour is a cause for concern. You can download a copy below.

Child deaths

NHS England has published a document setting out the steps that follow the death of a child: When a baby or young child dies suddenly and unexpectedly (PDF 1.62Mb).

The collation and sharing of the learning from reviews is managed by the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) through the use of standardised forms.

All child death notifications must be reported electronically via the Greater Manchester eCDOP system.

It’s a statutory requirement to notify the CDOP of all child deaths, aged 0 to 17 years of age. If there are a number of agencies involved, you should liaise with them to agree which agency will submit the notification. You must provide as much information as possible to the CDOP.

Recognising and responding to bruising in children, guidance for practitioners

We've produced a leaflet to support professionals and others to identify the difference between accidental and non-accidental bruising in children under 5 years of age.

Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre

Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated forensic, counselling and aftercare service to men, women and children living in the Greater Manchester area who have experienced rape or sexual assault, whether this has happened recently or in the past.

SARC also offers immediate crisis support and a forensic service to Cheshire.

You can use their services without making a report to the police, or they can support you if and when you want to speak to the police.

If you want to make a referral, you can:

• follow the step-by-step guide
• call 0161 276 6515