Issue - meetings

Issue - meetings

Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) annual report 2017/18

Meeting: 22/01/2019 - CHILDREN'S SERVICES OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (Item 70)

70 Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) annual report 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 77 KB

 

Members are asked to comment on and note the information within the LSCB

annual report 2017/18.

 

Due to the length of the report paper copies will not be made available, instead

the following link provides access to the report:-

 

https://www.centralbedfordshirelscb.org.uk/assets/1/combined_annual_report.pdf

 

Minutes:

 

The Chairman of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) highlighted key areas of focus for the board during the period 2017-18, including the performance and effectiveness of those agencies responsible for delivery. The safeguarding of children continued to be challenging and complex but with the LSCB recently judged by Ofsted to be ‘Good’ with clear governance arrangements and effective scrutiny in place, Members were assured that children in Central Bedfordshire were effectively supported. The report focussed on four key themes which were domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation (CSE), neglect and mental health, working closely to prevent escalation and ensure that as few children as possible entered statutory services. Monitoring private fostering arrangements was vital in order that vulnerable children were not hidden from professionals and the LSCB’s ongoing work ensured that learning continued to be applied from serious case reviews.

 

In light of the report Members discussed the following in summary:-

·         The need for a preventative approach in relation to CSE.

·         That despite resource pressures the police were facing, the protection of vulnerable children was a priority for the force and they were fully engaged in partnership working with the LSCB.

·         The need to ensure statutory duties were met in relation to families moving in or out of the region, acknowledging some families struggled with little or no support network and no family ties to the area.

·         That Gypsy and Traveller families were supported to the same levels as the settled community, with staff ensuring the most appropriate approach in order to meet a family’s needs.

·         Given the imminent changes to safeguarding arrangements for children, that future reports continue to be delivered to the Committee with the same level of detail as previous iterations.

 

NOTED the report and the positive outcome of a recent Ofsted inspection, acknowledging the excellent work of the LSCB.