Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board looking at whether the Board’s Annual Report provides a rigorous and transparent assessment of the performance and effectiveness of local safeguarding services.

Following discussions with Keith Makin, Independent Chair of the LSCB, Chief Superintendent Richard John, Head of Public Protection, Hampshire Constabulary, Dr Hilary Smith, Designated Doctor and Phil Bullingham, Service Lead, Southampton City Council, it was noted that safeguarding in Southampton continued to be a challenge and that there were children and young people in the City that faced significant challenges and risks in their lives. 

Despite the continuing problems improvements had been made regarding safeguarding children in Southampton.  Of note were improvements to the referrals process, the integrity of data and school absenteeism.

The Panel were made aware of two areas that were emerging as current priorities:

1.  Neglect – following the work of a task and finish group a new policy had been established providing a revised toolkit for agencies to work with in identifying neglect.

2.  E-Safety – reflecting the increase in the misuse of social media leading to potential self-harm concerns. 

The Panel questioned the effects of transformation on safeguarding service specifically the rapid move to digitalisation and proposed reductions in front line staff.  They were reassured that the right challenges continue to be made by the Board who had confidence in the systems in place. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the draft 2016/17 LSCB Annual Report be discussed at the 27 July meeting of the Children and Families Scrutiny Panel;

(ii)  That the Panel are provided with an update at the July meeting of the progress made implementing recommendations made following serious case reviews;

(iii)  That the 2017/18 LSCB Annual Report provides additional context to the child death figures within the report without enabling individuals to be identified. 

(iv)  The Panel encouraged the LSCB to consider the issue of mental health support to post 16 students in 2017/18.