Agenda item

To receive and comment on the Annual Report of the Haringey Children’s Safeguarding Partnership for 2021-22.

David Archibald, the Independent Chair, gave a presentation to the Panel on the Children’s Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report for 2021-22.  The Chair thanked him for all of the work that the partnership undertook. 

In answer to a question regarding whether there were enough social workers in the borough, Ms Hendricks reported that the ratio of case need to social worker showed that there were currently sufficient numbers.  There was a policy not to carry social worker vacancies and a range of options available to ensure that there was a strong pipeline of staff.   Further work was being undertaken to increase the number, skills and confidence of social workers.  In respect of mental health support, there had recently been a joint meeting of the Panel with the Adults and Health Panel that had looked at activity levels, vision and ambition.  Further consideration of relevant issues needed to be arranged, together with partners.  There were currently challenges across NHS services.  There were also challenges that remained from Covid, which would need to be addressed by both the Council and NHS colleagues.

In answer to a question regarding areas of concern for the partnership, Mr Archibald stated that he would raise any immediate concerns with relevant officers in the first instance.  Child protection systems around the country were under a lot of pressure.  There had been particular challenges during the Covid pandemic but these had been handled well in Haringey.  The Panel requested an understanding of specifically where the pressures were and what were the issues that they should be looking at.  Mr Archibald reported that, on a national basis, there were a large number of qualified staff leaving children’s social work due to its challenging nature. 

In response to a question regarding relationship based social work practice, Mr Archibald stated that this was the model used in Haringey and there was a commitment to develop it further.  Ms Hendricks reported that the practice model used in Haringey was referred to as Signs of Safety.   It had been developed following a review of practice in Haringey that had recommended the adoption of a strength based approach.  This had been implemented and built on a relationship based practice approach.  There had been a conscious move away from a compliance model in order to build  pathways to protection based on the confidence and trust of parents and carers.  It aimed to promote empathy and understanding, without ignoring harm and risk.

In answer to a question regarding the role of schools, Mr Archibald stated that they and the safeguarding leads within them were crucial.  There were representatives of primary, secondary and special schools on the Partnership’s Leadership Group.  When the new arrangements for safeguarding children had been developed, there had been a debate regarding whether schools should also be included as statutory partners and discussion of this was continuing.  Whilst schools were clearly of great importance, local authorities could have a very large number within them and this presented practical challenges.  Schools were well integrated into arrangements within Haringey though, with Headteachers on the Leadership Group and effective work taking place with safeguarding leads in schools.  Ms Hendricks reported that a recently and highly respected retired Headteacher had been invited out of retirement by the partnership to liaise with and represent all schools in the borough on the HCSP partnership.    

The Panel stated that the issue of links with schools had been raised previously.  Unlike boroughs like Camden and Hammersmith and Fulham, there was no explicit reference to the relationship with schools in the Partnership’s Annual Report.  The Panel was of the view that the Annual Report should make explicit reference to links with schools in future.  Mr Archibald stated that schools were crucial and he agreed with the sentiments that had been expressed. Headteachers had been involved in the drafting of the current annual report but he would ensure that there was a stronger emphasis on the role of schools in it next time. 

The Chair asked Mr Archibald how confident he was that the partnership was working effectively to safeguard children.  In response, he stated that, as Independent Chair, he saw the three statutory partners working very closely together to make safeguarding as effective as possible and ensure close working between front line practitioners.  An example of this was the Practice Week that had recently taken place, as referred to in his presentation.

In answer to a question regarding links with schools, the Panel noted that the recently retired Headteacher previously referred to had been appointed to work with schools to provide an additional voice for them on the partnership.  He had only retired a very short time ago and was known and highly respected by schools in the borough.  The Panel welcomed this but were also of the view that a range of experience from Headteachers needed to be sought and incorporated.

The Panel thanked Mr Archibald and officers for the presentation and their work as part of the partnership.