Agenda item

The Local Safeguarding Children’s Board Chairman will update the Sub-Committee on the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Board including the Wood report on the future of Safeguarding Boards (Government response to Wood report attached).

The Chairman of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board presented a report reviewing the role and functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards to the Sub-Committee.

In December 2015, Alan Wood CBE was commissioned to undertake a fundamental review of the role and functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) within the context of local strategic multi-agency working.  This included consideration of the child death review process, and how the intended centralisation of serious case review (SCRs) would work effectively at local level.  This had led to the Children and Social Work Bill going through the House of Lords, there would be major implications for the work of looked after children, care leavers, school mentors for looked after children, social work training and other provisions.

A link to the Bill would be circulated to all members of the Sub-Committee.

The Wood Review found agreements that the current system needed to change in favour of a new model that would ensure collective accountability across the system.  It was agreed that the following would be put in place:

·         Ensure engagement of the key partners in a better coordinated, more consistent framework for protecting children;

·         Ensure that arrangement are multi-agency in approach;

·         Existing statutory frameworks around multi-agency working would be strengthened and simplified.

·         Local Areas would have robust arrangements in place for how the key sectors would work together;

Where cases locally did not work effectively the Secretary of State had the power to intervene.

The Sub-Committee noted that the three key partners of the Board were the local authority, the police and the health service (CCG).  It was noted that the restructuring of the Metropolitan Police could have an impact on safeguarding.

The Serious Case Review was part of a national review to look at a change in culture.  Serious Care Reviews were of national importance in regard to safeguarding.  Whilst the Local Authority would still have to undertake the reviews, through the current LSCB, it would be decided centrally how this would be funded.

It was discussed that in the future the Child Death Overview Panels may be situated within Health (CCG) which would aid the working with neighbouring borough through the hospital.  It was not essential to go through the LSCB but the review would have to be undertaken and this was very successful in Havering.

Officers agreed that the board was very effective in Havering and investigations would have to be carried out to look at health devolution and the ties with neighbouring boroughs.

Members asked if the bill would propose better training for social workers.  Officers explained that the standards of higher education would be assessed in practice with a central set of standards.  An accreditation approach would be put in place and this was already being piloted by 31 boroughs.  Over the next five years nominations would be sought for staff to be accredited.

The Sub-Committee noted that currently Adults and Children’s social work was not linked.  It was agreed that DoLs were important to both when working with Adults with disabilities, and that the transition was in place.

It was agreed that the link to the Bill be circulated to members and that the Chairman of the Local Safeguarding Board be invited back to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee to present the annual report.