Indicators of Need Matrix [Levels 1 - 4] Development of the baby, child or young person This includes the health, family and social relationships, including primary attachment, and emotional and behavioural development. Some of the indicators will depend on the child’s age. These are guidelines to support practitioners in their decision-making. This is not intended to be a ‘tick box’ exercise and practitioners should use their professional judgement. Level 1 Children with no additional needs whose health and developmental needs can be met by universal services. Level 2 Children with additional needs that can be met through the provision of ‘early help’ - a referral to children’s social care is NOT required. Level 3 Children with complex multiple needs who need statutory and specialist services. A referral to children’s social care is required. Level 4 Children in acute need. Require immediate referral to children’s social care and/or the police. The child’s education and employment Developmental milestones met Some developmental milestones are not being met which will be supported by universal services. Some developmental milestones are not met which will require support of targeted/specialist services Developmental milestones are significantly delayed or impaired. The child possesses ability to understand and organise information and solve problems, and makes adequate academic progress. The child's ability to understand and organise information and solve problems is impaired and the child is under-achieving or is making no academic progress. The child's ability to understand and organise information and solve problems is very significantly impaired and the child is seriously under-achieving or is making no academic progress despite learning support strategies over a period of time. The child's inability to understand and organise information and solve problems is adversely impacting on all areas of his/her development creating risk of significant harm. The young person is in education, employment or training (EET) The young person is not in education, employment or training (NEET) or their The young person refuses to engage with educational or employment opportunities and are increasingly Indicators of Need Matrix [Levels 1 - 4] appropriate
other views or loses interest quickly. against people who disrespect their beliefs and values. with intent to join terrorist groups The child expresses a generalised non-specific intent to go themselves. The child from time to time displays a lack of self-control which would be unusual in other children of their age. The regularly displays a lack of self-control which would be unusual in other children of their age. The child displays little or no which seriously impacts on relationships with those around them putting themselves/others at risk. The child’s competencies in practical and independent living skills are at times impaired or delayed. The child does not possess, or neglects to use, self-care and independent living skills appropriate to their age. Severe lack of age appropriate behaviour and independent living skills likely to result in significant harm e.g. bullying and isolation The child is at risk of becoming involved in negative internet use, lacks control and is unsupervised in gaming and social media applications. The child is engaged in or victim of negative and harmful behaviours associated with internet and social media use, e.g. bullying, trolling, transmission of inappropriate images. Or is obsessively involved in gaming which interferes with social functioning. The child is showing signs of being secretive, deceptive and is actively concealing internet and social media activities, e.g. at risk of being groomed for child sexual exploitation or is showing signs of addiction (gaming, pornography).
The child has run away from home on one or two occasions or not returned at the normal time. The child persistently runs away and/or goes missing. The child persistently runs away and/or goes missing and does not recognise that he/she is putting him/herself at risk. The child has been missing from home on one or two occasions and there is concern about what happened to them whilst they were away. The child persistently goes missing. The child persistently goes missing and is engaging in risky behaviours whilst they are away. There is concern they might be being sexually exploited or being drawn into criminal behaviour. The has run away from home on one or two occasions or not returned at the normal time. There is concern that they might have been staying with friends or relatives who have extreme views. The child persistently runs away and/or goes missing. There are serious concerns that they are running away in order to spend time with friends or relatives with extreme views and that they being influenced by them The child persistently runs away and/or goes missing and does not recognise that s/he is putting him/herself at risk. For example, whilst missing the young person is spending time with people with extremist views and perceives these people as teaching her/him the correct way to live and those who don’t hold these views as deluded and/or as a threat The occasionally has caring responsibilities for members of The outcomes are being adversely impacted by their caring responsibilities. The outcomes are being adversely impacted by their unsupported caring
their family and this sometimes impacts on their opportunities. responsibilities which have been on-going for a lengthy period of time and are unlikely to end in the foreseeable future. The expresses intolerant views towards peers and this leads to their being socially isolated. The often interacts negatively or has limited interaction with those they perceive as holding different views from themselves. They demonstrate significant lack of respect for others, for example, becoming aggressive with those that do not share their intolerant or extreme views. Positive interaction with others is severely limited. The has isolated themselves from peers and/or family because of their extreme and intolerant views. They glorify acts of terrorism and/or believe in conspiracy theories and perceive mainstream society as hostile to themselves. They are frequently aggressive and intimidating towards others who do not share their views or have a lifestyle they approve of. Indicators of Need Matrix [Levels 1 - 4] Abuse & Neglect Level 1 Level 2 The child occasionally shows physical symptoms which could indicate neglect such as a poor hygiene or tooth decay. Level 3 The child consistently shows physical symptoms which clearly indicate neglect Level 4 The child shows physical signs of neglect such as a thin or swollen tummy, poor skin tone/sores/rashes, prominent joints and bones, poor hygiene or tooth decay
which are attributable to the care provided by their parents/carers. The child or their siblings sometimes come to nursery/ school in dirty clothing or they are unkempt or soiled. The child or their siblings consistently come to school in dirty clothing which is inappropriate for the weather and/ or they are unkempt or soiled The parents/carers are reluctant or unable to address these concerns. The child consistently wears dirty or inappropriate clothing and are suffering significant harm as a result [e.g. they are unable to fully participate at school, are being bullied and/ The child has occasional, less common injuries which are consistent with the parents’ account of accidental injury. The parents seek out or accept advice on how to avoid accidental injury. The child has injuries for example bruising, scalds, burns and scratches, which are accounted for but are more frequent than would be expected for a child of a similar age. The child has injuries, for example bruising, scalds, burns and scratches, which are not accounted for. The child makes disclosure and implicates parents The child’s experiences parenting characterised by a lack of emotional warmth and/ is overly critical and/or inconsistent. The child experiences a volatile and unstable family environment. and this is having a negative effect on the child who, due to the emotional neglect they have suffered is vulnerable to grooming and/or exploitative relationships with abusive adults or risky peer groups The has suffered long term neglect of the emotional needs and, as a result, is now at high risk of, or is already involved in sexual or other forms of exploitation either as a perpetrator or victim
The neighbourhood is a safe and positive environment encouraging good citizenship. The child is affected by low level behaviour in the locality The neighbourhood or locality is having a negative impact on the child – for example, the child is a victim of anti-social behaviour or crime, or is participating in anti-social behaviour or at risk or participating in criminal activity. The neighbourhood or locality is having a profoundly negative effect on the who is involved in frequent anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. The neighbourhood is a safe and positive environment encouraging good citizenship. The neighbourhood is known to have groups of children and/or adults who are engaged in threatening and intimidating behaviour and the child is intimidated and feels threatened in the area The neighbourhood or locality is having a negative impact on the child. The child has been a victim of anti-social behaviour or crime [including sexual or other forms of harassment] and is at risk of being further victimised The neighbourhood or locality is having a profoundly negative effect on the who has been a repeated victim of behaviour and/or crime and is now at high risk of sexual and other forms of exploitation – including being groomed to be a perpetrator. The neighbourhood is a safe and positive environment encouraging good citizenship. The neighbourhood or locality is having a negative impact on the child, for example, the child is known to be part of a group or associated with a group which is involved in anti-social behaviour – including sexual and other forms of harassment The neighbourhood or locality is having a negative impact on the child who is sometimes participating in anti-social behaviour [including sexual and other forms of harassment] or is present in a group when others do so. The neighbourhood or locality is having a profoundly negative effect on the child who is frequently involved in behaviour and criminal activity including, for example, sexual and other forms of harassment or assault
The family is legally entitled to live in the country indefinitely and has full rights to employment and public funds. The family’s legal entitlement to stay in the country is temporary and/or restricts access to public funds and/or the right to work placing the child and family under stress. The family’s legal status puts them at risk of involuntary removal from the country (e.g. asylum-seeking families or illegal workers) OR having limited financial resources/no recourse to public funds increases the vulnerability of the children to criminal activity (e.g. illegal employment, child labour, CSE). Family members are being detained and at risk of deportation or the child is an unaccompanied There is evidence that a child has been exposed or involved in criminal activity to generate income for the family (e.g. illegal employment, child labour, CSE). The is legally entitled to live in the country indefinitely and has full rights to education and public funds. The child’s legal entitlement to stay in the country is temporary and/or restricts access to public funds placing the child under stress. The child’s legal status as, for example, an asylum-seeker or an illegal migrant who may have been trafficked puts them at risk of involuntary removal from the country. Their immigration status means they have limited financial resources/no recourse to public funds and increases their vulnerability to criminal activity (e.g. illegal employment, child labour, CSE). There is evidence that a child has been exposed to or involved in criminal activity either as a result of being trafficked into the country or to support themselves (e.g. illegal employment, child labour, CSE). The child and their family have no links to proscribed organisations. See link below for list of terrorist groups or organisations banned under UK law The child and/or their parents/carers have strong links to proscribed organisations Family members, family friends or friends of the child have strong links with proscribed organisations. The child, their parents/carers or other close family members or friends are members of proscribed organisations.
imagery which the adults or young people have been viewing The and/or their parents/carers express strong support for a particular extremist organisation or movement but do not express any intention to be actively involved. The and/or their parents/carers express strong support for extremist views and a generalised, non-specific intention to travel to a conflict zone in support of those views. The child and/or their parents/carers are making plans to travel to a conflict zone and there is evidence to suggest that they are doing so to support or participate in extremist activities. Meeting the Practical needs of the child The parent/ carer makes appropriate provisions for food, drink, warmth and shelter. The parent/ carer occasionally makes inappropriate or inadequate provisions for food, drink, warmth and shelter. The parent/ carer regularly makes inappropriate or inadequate provisions for food, drink, warmth and shelter. The parent/carer has consistently failed to provide appropriate or adequate provisions for food, drink, warmth and shelter. The provides appropriate clean, clothing. The carer gives consideration to the provision of clean, age appropriate clothes to meet the needs of the child, but their own personal circumstances can get in the way of ensuring their child has these clothes. Carer(s) neglect their child physically through their indifference to the importance of providing clean, age appropriate clothes for the child. , This impacts on the child and prevents them meeting developmental milestones. The parent neglects their child physically and/or emotionally for example providing dirty or inappropriate clothing and this causes the child severe distress and/or prevents him/her meeting their developmental milestones. The parent/carer provides for all the child’s material needs The parent/carer is sometimes neglectful of the child’s material needs and this could make them vulnerable to peers or adults who offer them clothes, foods etc in return for favours. has been/is often neglectful of the child’s material needs and this is having a negative impact on the child who may, for example, be socially isolated because of their old or dirty clothing or may be involved in petty theft to get clothes etc. This puts them at risk of grooming for sexual exploitation or involvement in criminal activity. The has suffered long term neglect of the material needs and is now at risk of or is already involved in criminal activity to meet their material needs and/or they are being sexually exploited.
The parent/carer does not physically harm their child. The parent uses reasonable physical chastisement that is within limits – that is they do not leave the child with visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts. The parent/carer physically chastises their child within legal limits but there is concern that this is having a negative impact on the child’s emotional wellbeing (for example, the child appears fearful of the parent). There is concern that it may escalate in frequency and/or severity as the parent seems highly critical of their child and/or expresses the belief that only physical punishment will have the desired impact on the child’s behaviour. However, The parent is willing to access professional support to help them manage their child’s behaviour. The parent/carer physically chastises their child leaving the child with visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts – this may result from a loss of control. The parent is willing to access professional support to help them manage their child’s behaviour. The parent/ significantly physically harms child. There is no concern that the child may be subject to harmful traditional practices such as FGM, HBV, Forced marriage and Belief in Spirit possession. There is concern that the child is in a culture where harmful practices are known to have been performed however parents are opposed to the practices in respect of their children. There is concern that the child may be subject to harmful traditional practices. There is evidence that the child may be subject to harmful traditional practices. Criminal or anti-social behaviour There is no history of criminal offences within the family. is a history of criminal activity within the family. A criminal record relating to serious or violent crime is held by a member of the family which may impact on the children in the household. A criminal record relating to serious or violent crime is held by a member of the family which is impacting on the children in the household. The family members are not involved in gangs. There is suspicion, or some evidence that the family are involved in gangs. There is a known involvement in gang activity. There is a known involvement in gang activity which is impacting significantly on the child and family.