Agenda item

Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board

Christine Cassell, Chair of the Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board, presented the Board's annual report 2017-18 outlining the role of the Board, its relationship to the Health and Wellbeing Board and the context for the 2017-18 annual report which was:-

·           Governance and accountability arrangements

·           Effectiveness  of arrangements to keep Rotherham children safe

·           Learning and Improvement Framework

·           Safer Workforce

·           Strategic Priorities for 2016-18

Christine drew attention to the following issues:-

-          There had been a number of external inspections which were a very important part of the checking of the safeguarding system in Rotherham.  The outcomes reflected the significant improvement particularly in Children’s Services over a very short period of time

-          The improvements in other agencies were to be celebrated across the safeguarding system and the staff involved should be congratulated

-          There were still further improvements to be made, as highlighted in the inspection reports, and the work of the Board itself highlighted areas where there was a need for further safeguarding improvement

-          It was a particularly important time in the improvement journey that Rotherham and its partners were working to ensure that safeguarding really was at the heart of the work that took place across the partnership as well as the good practice and further improving practice was embedded into day-to-day work

-          Demand was challenging whilst budgets were reducing.  This was a national issue

-          The problem in Rotherham was exasperated by the effective multi-agency working on complex cases and by the impact of the investigations that were ongoing through Operation Stovewood.  Once the perpetrators were detected through the investigations and prosecutions commenced, it had implications for any children of those families.  Whilst the exact number of perpetrators’ children could not be predicted, there would be large numbers of children where consideration had to be given to their safety within the family context

-          The effect of management of demand would be something that the Board would continue to monitor whilst supporting and continuing to challenge

-          The specific areas that the Board would be driving for improvement immediately included neglect and potential links between neglect and poverty, effective Early Help Services, continued focus on CSE but to widen the scope to look at other forms of exploitation of young people and their vulnerabilities

-          Continued development of the work established through the protocol across the Local Safeguarding Children and Adults Boards and focus on safeguarding in Rotherham

-          The need to collectively improve the understanding of communities and target support services appropriately and aim to increase the resilience of local communities

As a consequence of the Children and Social Work Act and subsequent Statutory Guidance, LSCBs would cease to exist in their current form; there would be a different arrangement for the safeguarding of children and the 3 key partners – Health through the CCG, Police and the Local Authority – who would be required to design new multi-agency safeguarding arrangements which would have more flexibility than currently prescribed for LSCBs.  A working group had been established and currently working up proposals  for the way the new arrangements would work.  The commitment from the 3 partners with the new arrangements would build on the strength of the current partnership and make further improvements in the work of protecting children across Rotherham.

A discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·           Although the survey that had shown a decline in the number of young people who felt safe was a perception survey and not always accurate, it needed to be taken seriously and explore with the young people why they had those views.  Sometimes young people gave messages that were not very comfortable but work was needed to look into what had led them to make those comments

·           Work would take place with statutory groups with regard to their attendance at and commitment to the Board.  Consideration would be given to the structure and attendees as part of the new arrangements

Rotherham Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2017/18

Anne-Marie Lubanski, Strategic Director, Adult Care, Housing and Public Health, presented the Rotherham Safeguarding Adults Board 2017/18 Annual Report.

During 2017/18 the Board had continued to work to promote and protect vulnerable adults in Rotherham and had met bi-monthly to ensure the hard work of the previous year was built upon and that all partnership working was developed and strengthened in the sub-groups.

Anne-Marie highlighted:-

-          The shared work area in terms of ensuring Adults and Children’s safeguarding

-          The Local Safeguarding Adults Board was still in its infancy and was  working on making sure the foundations were correct and the partnership working

-          The Board had responsibility for those who worked in a significant provider area and had to ensure it had the challenge and processes as well as the appropriate representation on the Board

-          The Board would continue to create policies and procedures and the South Yorkshire footprint.  Work was already taking place to ensure that the policy and procedures within the statutory organisation were tied into that of the Board

-          Work still ongoing on an agreement with regard to the setting of thresholds for vulnerable adults

-          Work was taking place on modern slavery and human trafficking which crossed over particularly with the Children’s Board and the Safer Rotherham Partnership and would be a continued priority for 2018/19

-          The case studies included within the report gave a clear indication of what the organisations were undertaking as well as the journeys but also the good work and the areas that needed to be developed further

-          2 Safeguarding Adult Reviews had taken place and action plans developed.  There had been positive learning about how to work together

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·           The increase in the number of Section 42 enquiries would be a mixture of more cases coming through and improvement in recognising them.  Following any awareness raising there tended to be a rise in the number of referrals

·           The Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards sat outside safeguarding but it was important that Safeguarding Boards had linkage to it.  There had been a decrease in the number of authorisations granted and not granted to that of 2015/16.  It was an area that was monitored

·           The Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were very technical.  A provider with a 60 bed facility may submit 60 DOLS potentially unnecessarily because they had a statutory duty to request a standard variation order to cover that.  Some homes would include everyone and then sift through as to who actually required one.  It was a challenge to all local authorities and the health environment

Christine and Anne-Marie were thanked for their reports.

It was noted that Sandi Keene, Independent Chair, would be stepping down from the position in 2019.

Resolved:-  That the Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board and the Rotherham Local Safeguarding Adults Boards’ annual reports 2017-18 be noted.