Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report detailing the recommendations of the Safeguarding Policy and Practice Advisory Committee. The Panel was formed as a consequence of the Joint Area Review report November 2008 and represents the process by which back bench members can have greater involvement in the Council’s work in safeguarding children.

The Committee received the Children’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Advisory Committee update introduced by Hilary Corrick (Independent Member of the Children’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Advisory Committee).

The Committee noted that, whilst there were mechanisms for children’s voices to be heard including child protection conferences, speaking to children in schools and evaluation forms, the responses were low.  The Advisory Committee would be considering how to ensure the voices of Looked After Children (LAC) and Children with Disabilities were heard and how they could be involved in issues that affected them, including formalising the Haringey Children in Care Council.

The Assistant Director of Adult Services, Lisa Redfern, informed the Committee that a workshop on the transition of children into the Adults Service had recently taken place and a Scrutiny Review would follow to consider how processes were working including the sharing of information between Children’s and Adult Services, cross-agency working, planning transitions at early stages and ways to improve.  The outcomes of the Transition Workshop would be circulated to Committee Members.

The Committee asked how young carers were recognised.  The Deputy Director – Children & Families explained that whilst Children’s Services were ultimately responsible for young carers there was difficulty in recognising children in this group. The Adults Service often identified young carers and the Action for Children charity worked with schools to assist in identifying young carers.  Officers recognised the importance of cross-agency working to improve the recognition of and support provided to young carers.

The Committee requested more detail of how the Children’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Advisory Committee would be looking at young people who were lost in the system or not picked-up by Children’s and Adults Services.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.