Agenda item

Practice Improvement - Neglect

Minutes:

13.1   The Committee considered a report by the Executive Director for Children, Young People and Learning (copy appended to the signed minutes) which was introduced by Cllr Russell, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People who told the Committee that Children’s social care had launched virtual neglect training and webinars for all staff to complete by the end of June.

 

13.2   Lesley Walker, Chairman of the West Sussex Children’s Safeguarding Board told the Committee: -

 

·       Children and young people were spoken to directly if they were involved with the Child Protection service in the preceding three months – information from this showed where improvements could be made

·       The Neglect Strategy had been reviewed with tools and individual action plans developed

·       There had been excellent sign-up from partner agencies, all of which had their own action plans in place

·       There was quarterly scrutiny and an impact framework measured the effectiveness of work that had been put in place  

 

13.3   Sally Allen, Deputy Director, Children’s Services told the Committee: -

 

·       In developing the toolkit, the Council consulted partners and looked at best practice in other authorities, especially Hampshire and East Sussex from which the following four components were taken: -

1.   Chronology – recognising the accumulative impact of neglect

2.   A day in the life of the child – to understand the child’s experience

3.   Parent/child observation – to see how they interact together

4.   Assessment check list – to prompt practitioners what to look for

·       Partners have agreed to complete the chronology and the day in the life of a child tool

·       Partners were also given an analysis tool to help identify the level of risk

·       24 neglect champions lead on training and support with staff and practitioners through webinars and e-learning

 

13.4   Summary of responses to committee members’ questions and comments: -

 

·       There was positive feedback from practitioners and staff that had used the toolkit

·       The toolkit and chronology were now being used frequently

·       It was hard to say whether an increase in identification of children needing help was good or bad, what was key was the amount of time they were classified as children in need or had protection plans

·       The numbers of those taking part in e-learning was recorded

·       Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) practitioners had taken part in training

·       The neglect champions were pivotal in embedding the neglect strategy and toolkit and received feedback on them from practitioners

·       The Council was keen to promote the neglect strategy with district/borough councils and the voluntary sector and would tweak training sessions to fit their needs if necessary

·       The Committee highlighted the importance of this area of work and its impact on reducing the numbers of children entering social care.  It was vital that there was demonstrable evidence that this work was making a difference to children and families.  On that basis, the Committee requested an update on the work at its next meeting to see how the work was bedding in

 

13.5   Resolved – that the Committee welcomes the work being undertaken and is satisfied with the direction of travel and would welcome an update at its next meeting to assess the difference the work is making to children and families.  

 

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