Agenda item

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 After Children (LAC).   The specific concern here being that East Sussex County Council are finding, for example, foster placements and school places for these children and then significant numbers are absconding.   The Committee wanted to know what could be done to reduce the numbers absconding.   In response the Director of Children’s Services explained that the number of UASC is small in East Sussex.  However there will always be potential for UASCs to enter the county.  For example, Newhaven has served recently as an entry point for UACSs.  It is clear responsibility for these children falls on East Sussex County Council - once it is established via an age assessment process that the individuals are indeed children.  With regard to the issue of absconding, this is a challenge for all local authorities as children cannot be detained unless there are legal grounds to place them in a secure unit.     
• Monitoring Training.  The Committee asked for clarification as to how the LSCB

monitor the safeguarding training provided in other agencies that have a key role in this area.  This question was prompted by the recent Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) finding that there has been inadequate safeguarding training within the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. In response Reg Hooke confirmed that the multi-agency training the LSCB provides is available to all professionals and that it is recognised by the Board that promoting the availability of this training is key.   Furthermore the Board has the goal of not only delivering training to a large number of individuals, but also establishing what percentage of people within each organisation or specialism are receiving appropriate training.  In summary the LSCB are seeking to ensure it has a clear understanding of training needs and the safeguarding shortfalls across all of the agencies.   Liz Rugg also confirmed that as part of the Section 11 audit which partner agencies complete on a regular basis for the LSCB, there is a question about whether sufficient safeguarding training is provided.   The audit requires agencies to rate themselves.   However, there is a challenge process which was implemented last year within East Sussex whereby Section 11 audits were presented to a sub-group of the LSCB for challenge.  Marion Rajan (Local Safeguarding Children Board Business Manager) also informed the Committee that consideration will be given to strengthening the training questions that go into the Section11 audit which is a pan-Sussex document.  The Committee were also informed that at the next meeting of the LSCB, a senior health manager will be presenting a report that considers the safeguarding implications of the recent CQC findings.

·        Online Safety.  The Committee asked for clarification aboutthe nature of the training provided regarding online safety. The Committee were informed that one of the reasons why online training has been established as a priority over the next three years is that whilst the quality of training is good, it is not delivered consistently.   The goal for the LSCB is to ensure that all children and professionals within schools get the appropriate level of training.    In response to a question about what would success look like in terms of online safety, the Committee were informed that success would include adults feeling more confident dealing with online safety issues and all children feeling able to come forward and talk about their concerns.

·        Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).  In response to a query about the extent of FGM in East Sussex, the Committee were informed that there have been no reported incidents in the county to date.    However, East Sussex County Council has a responsibility to both help raise awareness of this problem and to help foster confidence amongst the local community that if individuals were to report a concern regarding FGM, they would be provided with an appropriate response.   It is a subject therefore which will need ongoing monitoring.

·        Priorities for 2015/16.  The Committee expressed concerns about those schools which had not completed Section 175 and 157 audits.  In response the Committee were informed that Reg Hooke and Stuart Gallimore wrote a letter to those schools which hadn’t responded last year making it clear that it is their duty and an expectation that they complete the audit.   With regard to those schools which had responded, the Board are also following up on these to ensure it is satisfied with the responses given and that their assessments have been performed properly.  Mr Gallimore also added that he had written to Ofsted on this matter and suggested that when conducting a survey they ask schools for a copy of their 175 audit.   In response to a query regarding the mental health priority, Mr Hooke confirmed that this is an area the Board are just starting to develop.   A more detailed overview therefore was not possible in the meeting, although the Board are aware of the capacity issues within CAMHS and are planning a half day board meeting to consider the issues within this priority.

15.5        RESOLVED: - It was resolved to receive the Annual Report of the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board.   The Committee also commended the Board for its clear and well-presented report.