Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet endorse the Neglect Strategy 2024-2026.

2.    That Cabinet approve the Local Authority involvement in the development and implementation of the Partnership Strategy Delivery Plan and the oversight of progress by; the Neglect Delivery Group, Rotherham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (RSCP) and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) Improving Lives Select Commission (ILSC).

Consideration was given to the report which introduced the Neglect Strategy 2024-2026 which was attached as Appendix 1. This was a partnership strategy and was governed by the Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership (RSCP.) It was owned by the Neglect Delivery Group which reported directly to the RSCP Executive Partnership Group.

Neglect was defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children as "the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical, emotional and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.” Neglect accounted for 40% (151 children) of Rotherham’s Child Protection Plans, second to emotional abuse at 51% (as of 31st October 2023). These statistics were also reflected in the Children in Need cohorts, and Early Help. By tackling neglect at the earliest opportunity, the aim was to prevent the situation deteriorating to requiring statutory intervention. Whilst neglect could be a one-off incident (home alone for example) it rarely was. It was an ongoing situation that could be subtly getting progressively worse, but often making it difficult to identify.

The Neglect Strategy 2024 – 2026 had been developed in line with legislation and guidance. The NSPCC research and assessment tool, Graded Care Profile 2, had also been considered. Derived from academic, sector and local research around neglect, the Strategy had three priorities:

·        Recognise

·        Respond

·        Make a Difference

The aim was to use research alongside current data and local case studies and examples to drive the Strategy action plan. The Strategy provided clarity on neglect type and signs, roles, and responsibilities of key partner agencies, how they would work together to deliver the key priorities and how success was measured.

A review of the partnership arrangements and delivery groups was undertaken in 2023. This was following the recruitment of an independent scrutineer to the Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Executive group. Darren Downs joined the Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership in spring 2023. This role was similar to the previous Chair role, however, added a greater emphasis on scrutineer of the partnership arrangements and safeguarding arrangements. The previous arrangements were set out in paragraph 2.4.4 of the report and the new arrangements at 2.4.5

During the meeting, the Leader, Cabinet Member and Darren Downs agreed that neglect was one of the most common, serious forms of child abuse but sometimes went under the radar. The sheer volume of the problem meant it required the attention of the Council and its partners. It was noted by officers that the COVID-19 Pandemic had led to a generation of “hidden children.” Some had not started or returned to school since the lifting of restrictions, and many were not registered with doctors or other health care professionals. In the most extreme of circumstances, neglect could kill, and it was therefore vital that the Strategy was implemented. 

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet endorse the Neglect Strategy 2024-2026.

2.     That Cabinet approve the Local Authority involvement in the development and implementation of the Partnership Strategy Delivery Plan and the oversight of progress by; the Neglect Delivery Group, Rotherham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (RSCP) and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) Improving Lives Select Commission (ILSC).