Agenda item

To consider the outcome of the recent JTAI and the development of a joint response.

Margaret Dennison, the Interim Director of Children’s Services, reported on the outcome of the recent Joint Targeted Area Inspection.  The inspection involved a range of inspectors looking at a particular issue with the intention of reaching a combined view on the work of partners.  The inspection had focussed on abuse and neglect, which were very broad topics. 

The approach used was strengths based and the outcomes would feed into the next inspection, which was likely to be later this year.  The Director of Children’s services would be developing an action plan in response to the issues raised.  As part of the inspection process, it had been necessary to undertake a joint partnership audit of seven specific cases.  Although this had been a time consuming process, it had proven to be helpful.

Ms Dennison reported that the feedback from inspectors had highlighted areas of strength as well as areas where improvements were felt necessary.  A significant number of strengths had been identified and these had been well spread across areas of partnership activity. They included the fact that the borough had a multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH). 

The inspection had also highlighted where it was felt that performance could be improved further.   Amongst other areas, joint partnership decision making in the MASH, understanding and application of thresholds and the consideration of the historical context of families were raised.  There were also a number of comments made regarding the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) including that it lacked sufficient strategic leadership.  It was also felt that there was an over reliance of children’s social care services and that Early Help was currently under developed. 

Ms Dennison felt that critical comments in respect of Children’s Services had been comparatively small and that there had been greater focus on the role of NHS bodies and the Police.  An action plan to address the issues raised had been developed.  There was an opportunity to address many of the issues raised through the new arrangements for safeguarding that would be implemented when LSCBs were abolished.  The areas that had been prioritised as part of the new arrangements had now been endorsed by the Council’s Cabinet.

In answer to a question, Sarah Alexander (Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Social Care) reported that LCSB training had been successful although it had not covered as many staff as was wished.  The training had focused on parental behaviour as well as symptoms of neglect.  She felt that there needed to be appropriate thresholds across the whole of the partnership.  Ms Dennison commented that the new arrangements for safeguarding would provide an opportunity to look at thresholds again and make them clearer. 

Councillor Weston, the Cabinet Member for Children, reported that a lot of work had been undertaken by the Council’s Early Help service with schools to improve links with them.  However, links needed to be developed further across all safeguarding partners. 

In answer to a question, Ms Alexander reported that the new arrangements meant that statutory responsibility for safeguarding would no longer be solely the responsibility of the Council. Ms Dennison stated that relationships between partners needed constant attention.  There also needed to be a willingness to challenge.  She felt that the new arrangements provided a sounder basis for partnership work. 

In answer to another question, Ms Alexander stated that each school was required to have a designated safeguarding lead.  There was a safeguarding leads forum that brought all of them together and who also had a role in providing training.  She stated that there was a lot of data on how young people ended up in the care system and this was subject to regular analysis.