86.1 Following changes introduced by the
Children and Social Care Act (2017), the East Sussex Safeguarding
Children Board (LSCB) was replaced in October 2019 by the East
Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (ESSCP). Reg Hooke, Independent Chair of the ESSCP, therefore
highlighted to the Committee that the Annual Report covers a period
of transition. Mr Hooke then
provided an overview of some of the key learning and achievements
that have occurred as part of the transition process. For example, the embedding of arrangements
relating to a new national panel that oversees case reviews and the
movement of the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) to a new
Pan-Sussex CDOP led by Public Health and local NHS Clinical
Commissioning Groups.
86.2 Mr
Hooke also highlighted to the Committee the East Sussex Joint Targeted Area Inspection which took
place in February 2020 (on the theme of children’s
mental health). The subsequent Inspection Letter noted the
well-established and effective partnership arrangements in East
Sussex.
86.3
Another key area of activity for the ESSCP has been the development
of the following priorities for the next three-year period:
education safeguarding, child exploitation, embedding a learning
culture, and safeguarding the under 5s. With regard to safeguarding under 5s,
Members heard that this priority was developed partly in response
to an increase during the pandemic in the number of reports of
injuries and neglect to children in this age group.
86.4 Mr
Hooke also set out some of the challenges the pandemic has
presented to the ESSCP. For example,
the difficulties associated with having face-to-face meetings with
children. In conclusion, Mr Hooke is satisfied that the
closer alignment of the agencies under the new arrangements has
helped deliver an effective response to the challenges presented by
the pandemic, with the agencies working together
effectively.
86. 5
The Committee welcomed the detailed report
before it and discussed a range of issues, with the key items set
out below:
-
The Committee noted that the Joint Targeted Area
Inspection (JTAI) referred to above identified multi-agency
information sharing as an area which could be further strengthened
and asked for more detail about this issue. In response, Mr Hooke informed the Committee that
each JTAI results in an Action Plan which is overseen the
ESSCP. The Plan is broken down into
three elements relating to Police, Health and Social
Care. With regard to the issue of
multi-agency information sharing, Members were assured that the
response to the finding is being actioned. Although Mr Hooke also clarified that any
subsequent adjustments should be seen as ‘fine
tuning’.
-
Mr Hooke also commented that issues relating to
communication will always need to be kept under review.
For example, the ESSCP is
exploring whether communications between agencies could be improved
with regard to electively home-educated children, a cohort which
includes potentially vulnerable children.
-
With regard to enhancing communication between
agencies and professionals, the Director of Children’s
Services, Stuart Gallimore, also
confirmed that the Council’s Single Point of Advice
(SPoA) page on the Council’s
website has recently incorporated CAMHS (Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services). This means
that the SPoA site has now become the
contact point for such referrals, along with other safeguarding
referrals. This will help deliver
further improvements with regard to supporting communications
between agencies.
-
Members discussed the reported rise in safeguarding
incidents involving children under the age of 5 and sought
clarification as to what had caused the increase. In response the Director of Children’s
Services commented that the rise in reports was an issue nationally
and related to the impact of lockdowns and restrictions on services
caused by the pandemic. For example,
health visitors during the first wave were re-deployed to
hospitals. In response to the
national restrictions the Council developed an effective virtual
response which has provided vital support to many
families. However, whilst the
virtual offer has been well-supported, it is the case that home
visits being stopped or significantly reduced, together with new
parents being unable to turn to their normal social support systems
of families and friends has unfortunately contributed to the
national rise in reports. Whilst the rise is a concern both locally and
nationally, East Sussex has not suffered a high rate of
incidents. A number of local
initiatives may have helped in this respect. This includes, for example, the introduction of
virtual home visits and other creative solutions developed by the
Department and schools to help deliver support in different ways to
those who most need it.
-
Members discussed the negative impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic on children and young people’s mental
health. The Committee asked whether the ESSCP believed CAMHS would
be able to manage an increased demand for its services. In response, Mr Hooke confirmed to
Members that for the last two years mental health has been a
priority area for ESSCP and that the partnership has undertaken a
number of audits. These audits have shown a positive trend in terms
of waiting lists for CAMHS services, but Mr Hooke agreed with
Members that more work is required. In particular in support of
individuals who have developed mental health issues due to the
impacts of Covid-19. Stuart
Gallimore also informed the Committee
of the Sussex-wide review of Emotional Health and Wellbeing Support
report. The report, called
‘Foundations For Our Future’ is set to be considered by
the Council in summer 2021 and will have a focus on mental health
support for children and young people.
-
In response to a query
about support with ‘lower level’ mental health issues,
Mr Gallimore commented that the best
way to address these issues was for children to be back in
school. Individuals would then have
access not only the support of their friends, but also the
professional support that schools can call on. Whilst initial reports indicate that the full
return to school has gone well, Mr Gallimore is aware that some children will be
anxious. It is also a factor which
schools are aware of and have worked hard to prepare for ahead of
the full reopening of schools. Mr
Gallimore also encouraged all parties
to not unintentionally put pressure on children and young people by
focusing on the ‘loss of learning’ issue. Whilst there is a significant issue, schools
are again prepared for the challenge and will work hard to assess
the learning needs of individual children in the coming months and
identify the best ways to support them.
-
Members sought assurance that the structure of the
ESSCP was manageable, given its complexity. Mr Hooke informed the
Committee that despite appearing complex from the outside the
Partnership works smoothly. For
example, and so as to ensure proper oversight, the ESSCP sub-groups
report to the Panel’s steering group on a quarterly
basis.
-
Members discussed the impact that Covid-19
restrictions has had on new parents accessing support, such as
post-natal services and parent and baby classes. In response Mr Hooke confirmed that whilst many
services have successfully moved online, the lack of in-person
interaction may be a factor that impacts negatively on the mental
health of new parents. As these
services are vital for both parents and for infant development, the
ESSCP have identified this an issue it will consider
further.
86.6 The Committee
RESOLVED to note the report.