Report attached.

Contact: Ivan Powell/Sam Anderson

Ivan Powell, Independent Chair of the SSCB, introduced and amplified the Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2017/18 (copy attached to signed minutes) and gave a brief presentation, which covered the following areas:

·           The 3 Board Priorities;

·           Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP);

·           Training and Multi Agency Audits;

·           Section 11 Audits;

·           Ofsted Inspection;

·           Working Together 2018;

·           Serious Case Reviews (SCRs);

·           Areas of focus moving forward

The Independent Chair reported that the Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board had received a ‘good’ from Ofsted with one action around the narrative and collection of multi-agency data, which was, in part, due to the introduction of a new IT system which had reduced the quality and timeliness of the data.

Turning to the Board’s 3 priorities, the Independent Chair informed the Board that this year 340 children had been exposed to domestic abuse, whilst 85 referrals had been considered by the CSE Panel, 15 of which were considered high risk and most were females.  He reported that the Regional Organised Crime Unit along with the Children’s Society had delivered a workshop to professionals across the West Mercia area to improve knowledge.

The Independent Chair explained that Compass looked at all missing incidents, some of which may include victims of CSE.  There had been a significant reduction in the number of missing episodes this year (630).  It was confirmed that two staff now conducted return home interviews for those missing children from Shropshire.

It was reported that by year end 2017 there had been a 6% reduction to 53% in children subject to a Child Protection Plan under the category of neglect however the current year workload has returned to 59%.  The Independent Chair explained that a focus was being kept on this area and that the Neglect Strategy was being revised.

The Independent Chair informed the Board that the Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report was very robust, detailed, and provided reassurance of how agencies worked together.  National oversight of the COPD was moving from the Department of Education to the Department of Health with CCGs leading the work locally.

In relation to Serious Case Reviews, the Independent Chair confirmed that the SCR for Child C had been finalised and published whilst that for Child E had been completed and would be reported in next years’ Annual Report.

In response to a query, it was confirmed that all agencies were fully sighted in relation to CSE.  Concern was raised in relation to training for the teaching profession when dealing with safeguarding issues.  In response, the Independent Chair confirmed that anyone in contact with children had a responsibility for safeguarding and he referred to the threshold / level of need document which contained details of the referral process.  There was also a podcast and supporting information available on the website.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.