What is scaling?
Scaling is used to make a judgement about the impact of a situation on a child/ young person. The scale goes from 0-10.
When scaling, make sure you define what 0 and 10 mean, and always present 10 (what we are working towards) first. The scale would usually be based on the worry/danger statement.
The Child Protection Chair must make explicit to all members of conference that a scaling of 1 or below indicates that there are concerns about the immediate safety of the child/children in their current care arrangements as such the plan must address these concerns as a priority.
The scale starts at 0 which is when the child is at significant and immediate risk, and goes up to 10 where everyone is confident child/young person is safe and well.
What the scaling means
0 – 1 There is evidence the child is experiencing significant and imminent harm requiring immediate action to safeguard them including the need to ensure safe care arrangements immediately – this can include seeking immediate legal advice and securing safe alternative care. (Chair must escalate immediately – point 6)
2 There is evidence the child has and continues to experience significant harm requiring urgent action to ensure their safety, again alternative care arrangements may be required. (Chair must escalate immediately – point 6)
3 Child is at risk of significant harm but there is no imminent or immediate risk requiring urgent action. However, unless there is timely progress the impact on the child will significantly and detrimentally impede their safety and development as such without progress the safety scaling may become lower.
4 Child is at risk of significant harm and there is some evidence that the care they are receiving is impairing their safety and development. However, there are also identified strengths which mitigate against the level of risk.
5 Child is at risk of significant harm but the frequency and impact of the risk is low and the risk can be effectively and swiftly managed.
6 The child has identified needs and the care they are receiving is impeding their development without meaningful intervention the care they are receiving could significantly impair their safety and / or development.
7 No evidence of ‘significant risk’. However, the child has identified needs, which can be met via and coordinated targeted support under a Child in Need Plan.
8 Some identified needs that could be met through provision of Early Help or Universal Services
9- 10 No issues – confident child/young person that the child/ young person is safe and well
How is it used?
Each individual says where they are on the scale, and why. If you are in a multi-agency meeting this will go around the room, and each person’s scale and reason should be recorded.
Questions about where people have scaled can be used to recognise the good things that are happening (‘what makes it a 3 and not 0’), explore ideas for what should happen next (‘what would you need to see happen to make it one point higher’) and explore what we need to see to be sure the problems are sorted out (‘what would a 10 look like?’).
What is it for?
Scaling is used to help everyone understand each person’s viewpoint. It helps to make professionals’ thinking clear to the family (and to the other professionals), and it helps professionals understand where different members of the family are at.
It provides a measurement process that everyone can understand, so everybody involved – including family members, support people and professionals – can keep assessing the situation and how much progress is being made.
How do I scale?
Based on the concerns, and the strengths and safety within the family, you pick where you are on the scale of 0-10, considering the impact on the child/young person.
There is no right and wrong answer, but you will need to say why you have chosen that number, and what you would need to see to increase the scale by one point.
Safety Scaling below ‘1’
If any professional identifies that safety for a child is at 1 or below, the Child Protection Chair is responsible for ensuring the immediate safeguarding of the child is explicitly clear as part of the child protection plan.
The chair will also inform those present at the conference that the safety plan for the child will be shared with the relevant senior managers to ensure the Local Authority is taking appropriate measures for the immediate safety of the child/children.
