Issue - meetings

28.1     The Board considered a report on the East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (ESSCP) Annual Report for 2023-2024. The report was introduced by Carolyn Fair, Director of Children’s Services. The report provides an overview of the safeguarding activity undertaken over the last year which has included a review of partnership arrangements as set out in the publication of the Working Together guidance. The report also provides information on the Partnership’s priorities for 2023-2026. Safeguarding children in East Sussex continues to be robust and effective.

28.2     Stephen Lightfoot commented that the ESSCP Annual Report was a strong report which gives assurance that safeguarding is taking place in an effective way. He asked how East Sussex compares with other areas. Carolyn Fair responded that there are a number of assurance arrangements in place and there had been a number of external inspections that had taken place over the last year which had given assurance that the safeguarding practice in East Sussex is robust. There is also a direct link with the national panel which gives feedback on the safeguarding work that we undertake and has given assurance around robustness.

28.3     The Board RESOLVED to note and consider the East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report for 2023-2024.

24.1     The ESCCP Chair introduced the report which outlined the work undertaken by the Partnership in 2023/24. The Chair also noted the publication of Working Together 2023 which sets out the arrangements for cooperation between organisations to improve the wellbeing of children and includes revised ESSCP multi agency safeguarding arrangements that came into effect in September 2024.

24.2     The Chair outlined key findings from the report and highlighted the continuing key priorities for 2023-26 of safeguarding children in schools; safeguarding adolescents; and embedding learning.

24.3     The Committee thanked the Chair for a thorough report and noted the achievements within the report, including the positive responses to training. The Committee asked questions and made comments on the following areas:

• Format of the report – the Committee welcomed the information contained in the report and asked if the use of acronyms could be reduced. The Chair welcomed the feedback and noted the priority to communicate the report effectively. 
• Looked after Children – A question was asked about the number of sexual offences that related to looked after children. The Chair responded he did not have this data to hand but that it could be obtained and brought to a future partnership meeting and reported back to the Committee. The Director of Children’s Services assured the Committee that there were processes in place to respond to these children.
• Safeguarding persistently absent children – The Committee asked how the Partnership was working with schools to safeguard children who were persistently absent. The Chair noted new guidance, introduced in 2023, which included education as a safeguarding partner; work was underway to develop this role and ensure there was effective educational representation in the Partnership. The Director of Children’s Services Department (CSD) noted that attendance was a priority for the Department and processes were in place to monitor attendance and identify children who were vulnerable. The Assistant Director, Early Help and Social Care added that wrap around support was provided to families where attendance was a concern.
• Safeguarding electively home educated children – The Committee asked how safeguarding concerns were identified for children who were electively home educated and the number of concerns for this cohort. The Director of CSD noted the priority for all children to be in school, but that work was targeted to support vulnerable children to attend school. The Assistant Director commented that additional scrutiny was in place with families choosing to electively home educate where children are known to social care, including children with a Child in Need Plan or Child Protection Plan to ensure a robust safeguarding system.

24.4     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.