Agenda item

To consider a report by the Business Manager, Safeguarding and Reviewing Team (copy enclosed) to monitor the LSCB’s achievement and performance in delivering its key priorities for 2013/14 and information on its key priorities for 2014/15

9.40 a.m. – 10.20 a.m.

The Head of Children & Family Services introduced the report (previously circulated) for Scrutiny Members to monitor the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board’s achievements and performance in delivering its key priorities for 2013/2014 and information on its key priorities for 2014/2015.

Leighton Rees, Head of Children & Family Services was in attendance as Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB).

The Business Manager stated that an LSCB report had previously been presented to Partnerships Scrutiny Committee in November 2013 and it had been requested at that meeting that an update on the key priorities for 2013/14 be presented to the Committee.

Committee members considered the report and progress made during 2013/14 with the delivery of the LSCB’s key priorities. 

Whilst it had been acknowledged that the delivery of some of the priorities had been somewhat impeded by work taking place to establish a Regional Safeguarding Children’s Board and to develop the interfaces between the Regional Board and sub-regional delivery groups, members did have a number of concerns.  These concerns related to:

·        The Safe Employment Task & Finish Group which had not met due to difficulties in finding a mutually convenient date and time to ensure maximum attendance or due to adverse weather conditions.  Members suggested that the use of video conference facilities could be the way of overcoming such problems and ensuring that the Group met to progress its work and deliver the guidance.  The Committee asked to be kept informed of the Task & Finish Group’s progress in delivering its objectives.

·        GPs’ interaction with child protection referrals, particularly their willingness to draw suspected child abuse cases to Children’s Services/ Health Board’s safeguarding officers’ attention.  Members asked that progress in developing GPs’ involvement with the referral process be reported to them in due course.

Discussion also took place on the LSCB and Children’s Services approach to emotional abuse and neglect and the way they worked with other organisations and agencies with respect to dealing with emotional abuse and neglect cases.  Officers advised that emotional abuse and neglect was a difficult area as there were significant issues about what exactly constituted emotional abuse and neglect with the various standards that people involved may hold. Members were keen to know whether there was a policy in operation in the County’s schools to help identify emotional and physical abuse or neglect.  They also requested to know whether siblings and friends of disabled children were being monitored to ensure that they were not being inadvertently excluded from normal school activities because they were acting as their carer whilst in school.

Following a detailed discussion, the Committee:

RESOLVED:

(a)  To accept the report and note the progress achieved in delivering the Conwy and Denbighshire Local Safeguarding Children’s Board Business Plan for 2013/14;

(b)  That every effort be made to facilitate the work of the Safe Employment Task & Finish Group and to deliver the Guidance;

(c)  That the Board should continue to work with GPs with a view to enhancing their interaction with the child protection referral process;

(d)  That information on the progress achieved with both (b) and (c) above be reported back to the Committee in due course;

(e)  That information on membership of the new North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Conwy and Denbighshire Safeguarding Delivery Group be circulated to members as soon as they become available;

(f)    That information be provided on the number of children educated at home across the County and on measures being taken in the County’s schools to support siblings and friends of disabled pupils to ensure that they are not inadvertently excluded from school and childhood activities or experiences due to their caring duties.