Channel referral process
Referrals to Channel come from a wide range of partners including education, health, youth offending teams and social services. They can also come from members of the public.
When referrals are received, they are screened for suitability through a preliminary assessment by the police Channel Coordinator and the Local Authority. If a referral is considered suitable, it will be discussed at the Channel Panel meeting.
Each Channel Panel is chaired by a Local Authority and brings together a range of multi-agency partners to collectively assess the risks in relation to an individual and decide whether a support package is needed.
The panel may include statutory and non-statutory partners, as well as lead safeguarding professionals.
If the panel feels that an individual who has been referred would benefit from support, a bespoke package of support will be tailored for that individual, based on their particular needs and circumstances.
Participation in Channel is entirely voluntary, and a person will always be informed first if it is felt that they would benefit from Channel support.
For children, parental consent is required before Channel support can be put in place. The process of obtaining consent is managed carefully by the Channel Panel.