Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 May 2022 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission, held on 3 May 2022 be approved as a correct record of proceedings.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

The Chair advised that there were no items of business on the agenda that would require the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or press.

To receive communications from the Chair in respect of matters within the Commission’s remit and work programme.

The Improving Lives Select Commission offered their thanks for the support provided by Martin Elliott, Governance Advisor, who had now left the authority.

The Chair explained that the Corporate Parenting Panel had not yet met.  An update would be provided when available.

The Chair offered her thanks to Laura Gough, Head of Service Safeguarding Quality and Learning, for providing such a well written report. 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services introduced the report explaining that it had been requested to understand the trends and performance regarding Child Exploitation and the mitigations in place.  She introduced Laura Gough, Head of Service Safeguarding Quality and Learning, Simon Blakemore, South Yorkshire Police, Sam Barstow, Acting Assistant Director for Community Safety and Street Scene, and Rebecca Wall, Interim Assistant Director for Children’s Social Care.

The report provided a summary of the key activity that had taken place including performance information and trends, awareness raising and safeguarding for the year 2021/22.

The presentation received provided information on the national strategy, Rotherham’s local strategy, how they respond to child exploitation, how they worked together as partners along with the specialist services provided and post abuse support.  The report recommended that the activity undertaken was noted.

The Head of Service Safeguarding Quality and Learning and colleagues made a presentation to the meeting that included information on:

·         The National Strategy – Tackling Child Sexual Abuse, listing its three key objectives.

·         Rotherham’s Child Exploitation Strategy 2019/22.

·         Highlighting the response to Child Exploitation, including referrals to Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), the specialist multi-agency team EVOLVE and the direct work with Children and Young People.

·         Several multi-agency intelligence meetings were held with different areas of focus.  One was the Child Exploitation Tactical Group (CETG), another was the Multi Agency Child Exploitation (MACE) and the multi-agency operational Missing.  It was clarified that multiple partners were involved in all these meetings ensuring that the right personnel were attending the right meeting.

·         The intelligence meetings ensured that intervention could be managed and planned more effectively.

·         Three service providers had been commissioned to provide post abuse services to victims and survivors to reduce waiting times.

·         A large number of awareness raising, and training sessions had been held with good attendance.

·         The ‘Spot the Signs’ campaign was highlighted.  Promotion for this would continue.

·         Operation Keepsake was a multi-agency initiative which had engaged with over 1600 children within the community between April 2021 and March 2022.

·         The training and support provided by EVOLVE was highlighted.

·         The aims of the victim/survivor engagement project was to better understand how they felt in order to provide better assistance.

·         Overall, there were a lot of good initiatives being undertaken within Rotherham that was leading to an effective and robust provision.  There was always room for improvement and a need to react to an ever-changing landscape however a solid foundation had been created to be built upon.

Members felt that the report was very informative.  Regarding the multi-agency missing group clarification was sought if all schools had the contact details for that service.  It was confirmed that all schools had a dedicated safeguarding leads and deputies.  A lot of work had been carried out with schools regarding the importance of raising instances of children missing education. 

The report mentioned that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider and approve the Commission’s Work Programme.

The Chair explained that the Work Programme was still in development and would be drafted and circulated for consideration.

For the Chair/project group leads to provide an update on the activity regarding sub and project groups of the he Improving Lives Select Commission.

The Chair provided a progress report on sub and project group activity.  Specifically detailing the Early Help Review, for which information had been sourced but had not yet been collated.  She explained that 10 different authorities had been contacted for information.

The Chair also explained a review would be conducted to consider Exploitation.  A small sub-group would be created to scope its requirements and discuss how the outcomes can feedback into the Improving Lives Select Commission.  This review would commence upon the conclusion of the Early Help Review.

Resolved: - That the update be noted.

To consider any item(s) the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.

The next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on Tuesday 26 July 2022 commencing at 10am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on Tuesday 26 July 2022 at 10am at Rotherham Town Hall.