Agenda item

Report by the Independent Chair of the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Board.

The Committee is asked to consider the report, and to comment on whether any further scrutiny is required.

68.1   The Committee considered a report by the Independent Chair of the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Board. The report was introduced by Lesley Walker, Independent Chair, who highlighted the following:

·       The report spanned the period April 2018 to June 2019 as the last as a Board, and the first full year with Lesley Walker as the Chair. A new Partnership arrangement was established following this period and this replaced the Board.

·       A key achievement of this reporting period included neglect work following the Ofsted report of February 2019. A neglect working group was established chaired by Lesley Walker involving different agencies which developed a robust action plan. This included listening to children with protection plans, a measured impact framework and deep dive conversations with practitioners and children.

·       A further achievement included the development of the new statutory local safeguarding children partnership arrangements which comprised three lead partners: Sussex Police, Health (Clinical Commissioning Groups) and the Local Authority.

68.2   The Chairman welcomed questions from the Committee. A summary of the main discussion points were as follows:

·       Members requested clarity on the tangible differences between the board and newly established partnership. The Independent Chair advised she now took on the role of scrutineer for the partnership, there was a new structure and the focus now aligned with local need. The previous board was more prescriptive however now there was the opportunity to think about and respond to local need.

·       The Leader of WSCC advised the previous board was too larger group to give valuable direction. Now with three statutory partners, it was an equal partnership with shared responsibility.

·       Members asked if the partnership included work with the community, including voluntary groups and BAME communities. The Independent Chair advised the partnership was aware of new and emerging threats of abuse and that issues were filtered through district and borough councils. The independent Chair agreed communities were the best eyes and ears, that partners were working with an exploitation sub-group which had community and voluntary sector representation. District and boroughs, agencies and organisations were also asked what action they were taking and where evidence was weak, were questioned and asked to provide action plans. There is greater clarity now for what local authorities need to report and what the impact was.

·       The Committee considered the role of schools and identified them as a key engager with children and asked how the partnership ensured they could do this work? The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People advised the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) had felt unsupported and that this had been raised with the service. The Early Help offer would strengthen work with schools with more link workers, and there was a dedicated phoneline from schools to the MASH. The Independent Chair advised she was visiting the DSL school network to measure engagement. There was still work to do to embed both the roles of education providers and local authorities.

·       The Committee asked how the public were informed of the partnership and its work. The Independent Chair advised there was a website, but there was work to do in West Sussex to raise awareness.

·       Members asked how the voice of the child was being heard and acted upon. The Independent Chair advised this was vital and at the centre of the partnership. A shadow board of young people had been established which was shared with the Improvement Board. The shadow board were reflective and articulate.

68.3   Resolved – that the Committee recommend a session for all members on the Safeguarding partnership, with a focus on neglect work.