Agenda item

To consider a verbal update on the progress made to date with the development of the regional safeguarding boards and their work to safeguard vulnerable children and adults in Denbighshire.

10.30 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.

The Corporate Director:  Communities in response to the Committee’s request following consideration of the regional Safeguarding Boards first Annual Report in mid-2016, gave a verbal progress report on a number of issues raised by the Committee at that time.  She advised that the first annual report, since adult safeguarding had been placed on the same statutory footing as the safeguarding of children, had been produced jointly by the North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board (NWSCB) and the North Wales Safeguarding Adults Board (NWSAB) and published as one report.  However, in future both boards would be required to publish separate reports.

During her presentation the Corporate Director informed the Committee that:

·         Denbighshire was now the host authority for the business functions of both Safeguarding Boards as well as all other regional social services collaborative projects.  All vacant posts had been subject to a recruitment campaign.  Nevertheless, there would always be vacant posts at some point in time due to staff moving on.  As Safeguarding posts were regional specialist posts, the majority of which required Welsh language skills in addition to other specialist skills, the pool of potential applicants was smaller.  Recruitment into one post could potentially lead to a vacancy elsewhere.  At present, following the departure of the Business Manager to a post elsewhere, a temporary Business Manager was in place pending the recruitment of a permanent post holder;

·         Finance for the Boards’ work for both the 2016/17 and 2017/18 had been agreed.  However, there was some uncertainty in relation to future funding due to the fact that the Board had built up some reserves with a view to cover potential shortfalls.  From 2018 onwards partner organisations’ financial contributions towards the Boards’ finances would be set as per a formula set out in Regulations;

·         All regional and sub-regional groups etc. established by the Safeguarding Boards had specified terms of reference.  Membership of those groups were subject to change based on the nature of the work they were tasked to undertake at any specific time;

·         The independent chair of the Child Practice Review Group had been a voluntary (3^rd) sector employee.  As that person had recently retired the chair’s role would be reviewed;

·         With respect to the standardisation of policies, protocols and procedures in relation to elected home education the Regional Safeguarding Children’s Board was of the view that the WG had not given adequate support to local authorities and Boards in this particular area of work.  The NWSCB did not have concerns about those children who were registered with local authorities as ‘elected home educated pupils’ their concerns lay with the ones who were not known to the authorities.  Citing a recent tragic case in Pembrokeshire members were requested, as part of their Corporate Safeguarding responsibilities role, to report to Social Services any cases they were uneasy about;

·         Denbighshire’s Chief Executive had been appointed as the Chair of the Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Executive Group;

·         The NWSAB did not have the powers to report on care home non-compliance matters to Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW)

·         Regular training on child and adult protection awareness was provided to all staff who had patient/client contact, be they care, health, Police or other staff.  Specialist training was provided to those who required specific skills in a particular area;

·         Board members were not remunerated for their roles on the Boards, they were salaried for their regular employment duties.  It was only the Boards’ Business Unit staff that were salaried.  Some Board Members served on both the NWSCB and the NWASB, the objective of this was to ensure that all areas of concern were covered and none were missed;

·         Board members’ attendance at meetings and their organisations’ commitment to the Boards’ work was closely monitored; and

·         Modern day slavery was a problem in North Wales as in other regions of the UK, albeit a hidden problem as a recent incident in Flintshire had highlighted.  Local knowledge and intelligence was crucial in identifying such incidents.

Responding to members’ questions the Corporate Director advised that:

·         The Council’s current policy with respect to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for county councillors was that they were a requirement for councillors who served as school governors and some other specified duties.  They were not mandatory for all county councillors;

·         Welsh language skills were regarded as advantageous skills for social care posts both in Denbighshire and regionally, for some posts they were an essential requirement;

·         All complaints relating to child or adult protection were dealt with by the Director of Social Services.  HR would refer any such cases reported via the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy for investigation through the appropriate child or adult protection procedure; and

·         It was unlikely that parents would elect to educate their child(ren) at home solely for the purpose of being able to take them on family holidays during ‘term’ time, and consequently not incur a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). There were usually valid reasons why parents elected to educate children at home.

Members thanked the Corporate Director for her update and for answering their questions.  It was:

Resolved: - to receive the report on the progress made to date with the development of the regional Safeguarding Boards and their work to safeguard vulnerable children and adults in Denbighshire.