Agenda item

To receive and consider a report detailing the work undertaken by the Wokingham Safeguarding Children’s Board.

The Committee considered the annual report of the Wokingham Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) which was set out on agenda pages 41-98.  The report provided an overview of the performance and effectiveness of local services with regards to safeguarding children in Wokingham.

Frances Gosling-Thomas, Independent Chair to WSCB presented the report highlighting the following points:

·           This was a statutory report that covered the period between April 2014 and March 2015.  Frances indicated that progress had been made since April 2015 which would be included in next year’s annual report;

·           There had been considerable improvement in the work undertaken by the Board with agencies working together with a clear vision and direction;

·           The Board had set five high priorities for 2014/15 which had been agreed at top level and which had been identified as a result of evidence. Progress in those five areas would be considered a major improvement to safeguarding children;

·           The Board was aware of the areas that needed improvement and there was a high level of commitment at leadership level to work together to make the necessary progress;

·           There was ongoing work outside of the WSCB to bring agencies together, Frances emphasised that there was a significant level of challenge and engagement by all parties involved in the Board.

In response to a question, Frances stated that there was good communication with agencies outside Wokingham Borough.  Frances cited as an example the attendance of Judith Ramsden, Director of Children’s Services at an event with Berkshire Police authorities to talk about reporting and sharing mechanisms.  Frances declared that she was also chair to two other Safeguarding Boards in other local authorities and was in a position to contribute to cross borough issues and to encourage collaboration.

The Chairman, Pauline Helliar-Symons went through the five priorities in the report and the concern blog listed in the report, inviting Members to ask questions.  The following points were made during the analysis of the report:

·           Members asked what was being done to encourage vulnerable children to attend youth centres, as it was believed they would benefit from using their services. Frances responded that the website was being updated in consultation with Youth Services and social media such as tweeting was being used in an effort to attract such children;

·           There was a survey in schools to find out areas where people didn’t feel safe and bullying had been identified as an ongoing problem which needed tackling;

·           Frances informed the Committee that Buckinghamshire had produced a commercial raising awareness of children safeguarding which was going to be displayed in various public places such as GP Suegeries, libraries, cinemas, etc.  Frances stated that it was possible that Wokingham could use that same commercial as long as credit was given to Buckinghamshire.  Members could view this commercial on the Buckinghamshire Children Safeguarding Board website;

·           There was an ongoing issue regarding the need to encourage multi-agency training and as a result training was now being tailored to make it more accessible to people;

·           Members emphasised the need to make sure GPs located outside the Wokingham border received adequate training as they could be treating Wokingham children;

·           E-learning had been improved and it now enabled staff to complete it in their own time;

·           Following a practice review it had been recognised that staff needed more training on culture and diversity;

·           Frances clarified that the statistics noted in the report by the Child Death Overview Panel included Wokingham children that had died outside of Wokingham;

·           Frances pointed out that Lay Members had made a significant contribution to the Board;

·           Although the budget was below the desired level, it was now more transparent and there had been a modest increase;

·           There was a clear view of how the strategy needed to be improved in the area of domestic abuse;

·           Although there had been some issues in the timing of the Children In Care health reviews, they had in all but two cases completed since the report had been produced. This was because two children had refused to undergo their health reviews;

·           There would be a meeting of Policy and Procedures Sub Group in December to oversee the refresh of all Pan Berkshire policies; this subgroup was hosted by Slough LSCB.  This would remain a concern until the Board was satisfied that all policies were fit for purpose;

·           There was full representation from schools at the Board and there were also safeguarding sub groups where teachers met.  Frances felt confident that schools in the borough were receiving adequate safeguarding.

The Chairman thanked Frances for presenting the work of the WCSB.  The Committee felt reassured that the WCSB had come a long way and that improvements had been made.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.