Agenda item

To provide an update on the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership in Solihull.

The Independent Scrutineer presented the report, which updated on the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership in Solihull, since the last report received in March 2020.

The report updated Members on how the LSCP had had to revise its ways of working, due to the pandemic, with the use of virtual platforms to hold multi-agency meetings. The Board was also informed how, since June 2020 the LSCP had had to complete six Rapid Reviews, which concerned serious incidents where children had been seriously harmed or had died in Solihull.

Members were also updated on how the LSCP’s anticipated priorities for 2021/22 were Exploitation; supporting implementation of the All-Age Exploitation Reduction Strategy and Neglect; improving outcomes for children and young people.

The Chairman detailed how a member had submitted a number of detailed questions, upon the work of the LSCP, in advance of the meeting. It was explained how it had been agreed for these questions to be shared with the 3 Safeguarding Partners, inviting them to respond.

The Chairman noted it would be the last time the Independent Scrutineer joined a Scrutiny Board meeting, following 4 years in the role – he requested to put on record his thanks to the Independent Scrutineer for all the work he had undertaken on behalf of the Borough.

Members raised the following queries and observations:

·  Members highlighted the All-Age Exploitation Reduction Strategy, requesting clarification as to whom this included. They also asked for confirmation regarding the different types of exploitation this Strategy covered.

·  The Independent Scrutineer explained how the Strategy covered all types of exploitation – including child sexual exploitation (CSE), as well as criminal exploitation, such as county lines and modern day slavery. There was also a significant focus upon children making the transition into adult services and support. It was also explained how a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) had previously been commissioned, following the death of a 20 year old – the findings of this review had underpinned the development of the Strategy.

·  Members queried the introduction of the new Exploitation Reduction Procedures and Toolkit.

·  The Assistant Director for Children, Young People and Families detailed how the Exploitation and Missing Team was sited within the Family Support Service, and considered children, young people and families that might require multi-agency or social care support. It was explained how cases were considered by the Solihull Exploitation Panel, who reported to the Exploitation Reduction Board. It was explained how the Assistant Director, as well as the Director of Children’s Services and Skills were represented on this Board, to ensure clear oversight and governance arrangements. The Board had recently approved the new Exploitation Toolkit and this was being launched to coincide with the national child exploitation awareness day on 18^th March. This was being accompanied by the Exploitation Reduction Capability Framework, which was intended to help organisations to assess the training, learning and development needs of their staff.

·  Members queried the use of the Graded Care Profile tool, Solihull’s endorsed tool for assessment of neglect, by frontline services that worked directly with children and families.

·  The Assistant Director for Children, Young People and Families explained how this tool could be used by any agency working with children, where neglect may be a concern. As part of the development of the Neglect Strategy, officers from the Children’s Services Directorate and the Communities and Partnerships team were considering how use of the tool could be recorded and monitored. Work had also been undertaken by the LSCP to support the development of a multi-agency performance scorecard. It was noted this scorecard would include indicators for exploitation and neglect – it was anticipated the scorecard would be introduced by the start of the 2021/22 business cycle.

·  Members highlighted how the report stated that, since June 2020, there had been a number of serious incidents where children had been seriously harmed or had died in Solihull and requested further information on this.

·  The Assistant Director for Children, Young People and Families detailed how, sadly, 3 children had died during the pandemic, due to significant harm. It was explained how this had been formally reported to and reviewed by the LSCP. The Assistant Director also detailed how there had been 3 other serious incidents, where children had been seriously harmed – again, this had been formally reported to the LSCP. It was noted that reports, from bodies such as the Children’s Commissioner, detailed how, tragically, there had been a national increase in the number of children killed or seriously injured during the first sixth months of the pandemic. Members expressed their particular concern about mothers who had children during the pandemic and may not have had the usual levels of face-to-face contact with certain services and wider family members, due to lockdown restrictions.

·  A Member questioned the volume of children who had died during the pandemic, as a result of serious harm, explaining how they believed it to be different – it was agreed for these concerns to be investigated by officers as a matter of urgency.

·  Members queried the arrangements with the NHS and other agencies to flag up potential safeguarding risks. They also queried at what stage the support arrangements in place for parents were checked.

·  The Assistant Director for Children, Young People and Families explained how there were clear, established arrangements for the NHS and other partners to escalate cases to Children’s Social Care, where children had suffered serious injury or harm, or there were concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the child. Partner agencies had continued to work in close collaboration with Children’s Social Services, throughout the pandemic, for assessments, Child Protection Plans and Child in Need Plans. In addition, Schools had been supporting vulnerable children throughout the pandemic – this included safeguarding arrangements to track vulnerable children not attending school.

  RESOLVED

The Children’s Services, Education and Skills Scrutiny Board noted the update on the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership in Solihull, since the last report received in March 2020.