Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Children’s Services.

13.1     The East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) annual report 2016/17 was introduced by Reg Hooke, the Independent Chair of the LSCB.  Mr Hooke provided the Committee with an overview of the key issues covered in the report.   This included highlighting, for example, a significant fall in the number of missing 12-18 Year Olds.   In 2015/16 the number of incidents of 12-18 Year Olds who were reported missing totalled 693, for 2016/17 the figured dropped to a total of 367 such reports.  

13.2     The LSCB are keen to continue with its focus on ensuring its work delivers clear benefits for young people and families in East Sussex.  The Board are therefore undertaking a review of its work over the past three years.    This review will include assessing the impact of its Serious Case Reviews and associated recommendations.  

13.3     The Committee welcomed the progress identified across a range of different areas and commended the clarity of the information provided within the report.        

13.4     RESOLVED – the Committee agreed to note the Local Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

14.1     Reg Hooke, Independent Chair of the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) introduced the annual report for 2015/16 by providing an overview of the key issues covered therein.   This included reference to Section 1 of the report which provides an overview of the most vulnerable groups in East Sussex.   Mr Hooke highlighted that this section includes data indicating positive trends relating to both reductions in the numbers of children on Protection Plans and in the numbers of Looked After Children.  

14.2     The Committee thanked the LSCB for the accessible nature of the report and the clear way in which key information was presented.   The Committee then discussed a range of issues and asked a number of questions, a summary of which is provided below:

·        Electively Home Educated Children.   The Committee noted the increase in the numbers of children being home educated.   Whilst the Committee recognised the right of parents to home educate and that this in itself is not a risk factor for abuse or neglect, some members noted that there is a risk these children can become invisible to local services.  In response, the Committee heard that the LSCB have scrutinized this subject area and that the Board were reassured by the effective approach being taken by the Local Authority to conduct appropriate risk assessments.  

·        Substance Misuse.  The Committee noted there has been a 10% increase in the number of young people presenting to treatment services.  This is in contrast to the 7% reduction in young people’s treatment presentations at the national level.    In response, the Committee were informed that the LSCB share the Committee’s concerns about this increase and that as a result, the Board will be considering this issue in more detail.  The Committee were also informed that the Children’s Services Department recognise the importance of reducing the rates of substance misuse amongst young people and that the Department will be working closely with colleagues in Public Health to improve outcomes.

·        Chelsea’s Choice.   The Committee asked whether the production would be rolled out more widely to schools across the county (Chelsea’s Choice is a 40 minute production performed to children aged 12 years and over by the AlterEgo Theatre Company and highlights issues relating to child sexual exploitation).   The Committee also asked whether members could view the production themselves.   In response Douglas Sinclair,  explained that the ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ is a production funded by Eastbourne Borough Council and that discussions are ongoing with other borough and district council’s to have the production shown at other schools in those areas.   As it is a production and not a video, the actors involved are able to take part in a question and answer session with the children viewing the production.  This helps the production have an effective impact on its audience.   Subject to the agreement of the institution acting as host, an undertaking was also given to notify members of the Committee when future performances of the production were taking place locally.  

14.3     RESOLVED to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

15.1     The East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) annual report 2014/15 and Business Plan 2015-2018 was introduced by Reg Hooke, the Independent Chair of the LSCB.   Mr Hooke provided the Committee with an overview of the key issues covered in the report.   This included reference to an independent safeguarding schools group which the LSCB have brought together with the independent sector and which has proved to be both popular and effective.   Mr Hooke also explained that together with the Director of Children’s Services, the schools audit programme has been pushed forward and that safeguarding in education will be a specific priority for the next three years.   The Committee were also informed that the number of child protection plans has dropped from over 600 to around 450 and that this has been achieved via a mixture of effective leadership from within the Children’s Services Department and improved supervision.   It was also noted this improvement has occurred in the context of the THRIVE programme and that early help and intervention work is ongoing.   Other positive trends in terms of the management of demand on services include reductions in both referrals and reductions in numbers of children in care.

15.2     The Committee were also informed about the process of setting the five new priorities for the next three years up to 2018.   In particular, Mr Hooke commented on how helpful the input of the Children in Care Council and the Youth Cabinet were in determining what mattered most in East Sussex..  The LSCB’s focus over the next three year period mean it will measure the impact it is having in making improvements for children in East Sussex, and particularly for those children within its priority areas.

15.3    The LSCB are very mindful of the ongoing issue of financial savings and the impact this might have on safeguarding.  Mr Hooke assured the Committee that the LSCB will be looking to ensure that where changes are being made, the risks to safeguarding children are being identified and efforts are being made to mitigate those risks as far as can be done. Mr Hooke concluded his remarks with his evaluation that the LSCB is in a strong position and that it is growing well.   A particular strength of the Board is its willingness to learn and the rigour with which learning reviews are conducted.   Mr Hooke also praised the work of his vice chair, Dr Tracey Ward and the eight sub-groups, all of whom he has now visited and all of whom are working in a very committed and effective manner.   Finally, Mr Hooke noted the LSCB’s training programme was highly rated by attendees with 97% of them considering the course to be either good or excellent.

15.4     The Committee thanked the Board for its work and made a number of comments which are summarized below, together responses from relevant officers:

• Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).   Clarification was sought about the number of UASC coming into the county who are taken on as Looked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15