Agenda item

To consider the Local Safeguarding Childrens Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and Business Plan 2016–2017.

Ian Rush, Independent Chair of the Cheshire East Safeguarding Board, together with Gill Betton, Head of Service, Children’s Development and Partnerships, presented the Local Safeguarding Childrens Board(LSCB) Annual Report 2015-2016 and Business Plan 2016 – 2017. This included comprehensive information about the work undertaken for the year 2015-16, which had been broken down into each of the key strategic objectives set at the beginning of the year and included comment on the progress made against each of the objectives. The report also identified the key challenges to be faced in the forthcoming year and beyond.

(It was noted that Mr Rush would be standing down as Independent Chair of the LSCB and that Gill Frame would be taking over this role in the following week. The Chairman thanked Mr Rush, on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board, for all that he had achieved for the LSCB in the past years).

Whilst the LSCB was an independent board, due to revised governance arrangements, it was important to have the support and confirmation of the Health and Wellbeing Board and any comments and proposed changes would be raised with the LSCB and incorporated into the report.

Child Sexual Exploitation (and sexual assault of all kinds to children and young people) and neglect remained the overarching twin priorities of the LSCB and early help was a third priority.

The three overarching strategic priorities for  2016-18, as set out in the report were:- 

·         Frontline practice is consistently good, effective and outcome focused

·         Listening to and acting on the voice of children and young people

·         The partnership effectively protects and ensures good outcomes for all children and young people in Cheshire East.

The LSCB had been rated as “requires improvement” by Ofsted and members of the LSCB had felt that overall Ofsted’s judgement was accurate and in line with its own self-assessment. The board had received formal acknowledgement about its efforts to make progress and improve, but was still not yet rated as "good" and further work would be required.

There had been improved links with other bodies, such as the Adult Safeguarding Board and the Community Safety Partnership and the Local Authority would play a major part in forming future partnership working.

Reference was made to the forecasting of a large deficit for the current year and it was queried what the plans were for 2017/18 to address this and whether it would be through extra income or by cutting costs. It was noted that it was likely to be through both. Part of what the LSCB would need to do immediately would come from the  requirements from the Wood review.  Discussions were ongoing with the other three LSCBs in respect of smarter working and savings were already been made and it was considered that there could be some streamlining across the four boards.

Reference was also made to the Quality Assurance Framework and it was considered that it would be important for all partners to work together to drive continual improvement.

A question was asked as to whether there had been any consideration as to how the LSCB would deal with the rehousing of asylum seeker families. It was reported that  a great deal of work was taking place sub-regionally and it had been agreed that this matter should be dealt with on a case by case basis, in order to respond to needs and put the right services in place. This also included unaccompanied children and work was also ongoing with regard to dispersing families to local authorities.

Reference was made to the lack of any overt statement regarding the link to the Adult Safeguarding Board and it was felt that work needed to be done in order to develop this. It was noted that the two Board Chairs had met and discussed this issue and it was agreed that this should be highlighted in the report.

RESOLVED

That the Local Safeguarding Childrens Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and Business Plan 2016 – 2017 be welcomed and noted.