Agenda item

People and Communities Directorate would like to set out for the Panel the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) during 2018-19 and the work of the Local Safeguarding Adult Board (LSAB) in 2018-19 along with new priorities to be actioned in the Strategic Plan for 2018-21.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance and the Director of Public Health (former Chair of the LSCB) introduced these reports to the Panel.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance acknowledged the depth of content within both reports and said that executive summaries were available for both. She explained next year would see a report that consisted of six months of activity from both Boards and six months of the new Community Safety & Safeguarding Partnership. She added that the plan will be to produce a more focussed report in future years.

The Director of Public Health said that it had been a privilege to hold the role of LSCB Chairman and to work within an environment that works incredibly hard for such an important cohort within B&NES. He commended the work of the Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance and the Safeguarding Children & Adults Boards Business Support Manager.

The Chairman asked if the figures in section 3.1.2 of the report represented the same children with multiple support needs.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance replied that these were explicit categories.

The Corporate Director said that it was possible to give snapshots of the numbers of Children in Care / Children in Need at any one time.

Councillor Paul May commented that given the Council’s lesser role in the day to day running of schools how can it be assured that if a safeguarding issue is raised through an Ofsted inspection that it goes through the proper process.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance replied that the Council tries its best to triangulate local data that it receives and if appropriate it will take steps to go into the identified setting. She added that schools also complete a Section 175 Safeguarding Self-Assessment and that the Council receives a 100% return on these. She stated that two Child Protection Forums are held a year and schools are encouraged to contact the Council if issues arise.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked who are assurances being sought from about the increase in children excluded and those home schooled that they are achieving good outcomes and that they are not at risk of harm and are the six monthly progress reports coming to this Panel now.

The Corporate Director replied that this referred to the LSCB challenging the Health & Wellbeing Board on these issues.

Councillor Hardman asked if the reports could be shared with the Panel.

The Corporate Director replied that they could.

Councillor Hardman asked if more resources were needed in relation to Early Help.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance replied that it is a real challenge and not just a problem that this Council were facing. She added that capacity levels would be reviewed as part of the arrangements for the new Community Safety & Safeguarding Partnership.

Councillor Hardman asked in relation to County Lines if we have an update on our Problem Profile to highlight particular hot-spots.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance replied that the Problem Profile has not been provided to the Council yet and that she would need to check if it would be able to be shared with Councillors.

Councillor Hardman asked why the Joint LSCB and LSAB County Lines Task and Finish Group were not meeting more often. 

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance replied that Council officers attend monthly meetings with the Police on this matter and that within the Community Safety & Safeguarding Partnership the Exploitation Group will take the lead role. She added that Youth @ Risk Strategy had just been launched and that it will be underpinned by six individual protocols addressing in greater detail the following broad areas of exploitation:

·  Child Sexual Exploitation

·  Radicalisation

·  Child Criminal Exploitation, including involvement in county lines, gangs, human trafficking, modern slavery and labour exploitation

·  Serious Youth Violence

·  (Going) Missing from Home, Care or School

·  Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Councillor Andrew Wait asked if the Serious Case Review (SCR) Action Plan was robust.

The Director for Safeguarding & Quality Assurance replied that a really robust plan is in place. She said that the incident reported was historical, but that it was right for the review to be carried out. She added that the individual agencies concerned also have their own action plans.

Kevin Burnett commented on the importance of communications with the CEOs of the local Multi-Academy Trusts with regard to training, especially Child Protection courses. He stated that he felt a message should to be sent to Government that more training days are required for academies / schools.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the Annual Report 2018/19 and Executive Summary for both the LSCB and LSAB.