Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Children, Education & Families

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/181

Contact: Hannah Farncombe, Safeguarding Manager Tel: (01865) 815273

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA10).

Cabinet received a report on Actions In Response to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in November 2012, following the successful prosecutions under Operation Bullfinch. That report set out key information about the nature of child sexual exploitation and progress in tackling the issue.

Work on CSE is led on a multi-agency partnership basis through the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child and the Sexual Exploitation Sub-Group which provides leadership and challenge to ensure the CSE Strategy and Action Plan is being delivered.

The CSE Sub-group has produced an annual report for the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board which is attached and which sets out progress on the key areas of the action plan.

In October 2014 The Jay Report was published into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham and has implications for all Councils to consider.

The Cabinet is asked to consider the report and to:

(a)          consider whether they are satisfied with the work that has been undertaken in relation to combatting CSE; and

(b)         support the recommendation for briefings to be provided for elected members to enable them to better recognise and respond to concerns about grooming and exploitation.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet received a report on Actions in Response to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in November 2012, following the successful prosecutions under Operation Bullfinch. That report set out key information about the nature of child sexual exploitation and progress in tackling the issue.

Work on CSE is led on a multi-agency partnership basis through the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Child and the Sexual Exploitation Sub-Group which provides leadership and challenge to ensure the CSE Strategy and Action Plan is being delivered.

Cabinet had before them a report to update members on progress on tackling CSE and to provide assurance on how we are responding to this issue. Also attached was the annual report of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board which sets out progress on the key areas of the action plan.

Councillor Brighouse, Chairman of the Performance Scrutiny Committee  commented that she read the report with interest and had also read the jay Report. It brought home to her quite powerfully the role of Scrutiny in picking up issues of CSE. Referring to missing children she had a concern as to how to disaggregate those of real concern from the numbers of teenagers who go missing as part of the normal pattern of teenage rebellion. The focus had to be on SMART indicators picking up quickly where there was a need to drill down. As Chairman of the Performance Scrutiny Committee she emphasised that they were working on it and would welcome any ideas on good indicators.

The Leader responding to the comments made stated that the issues raised were everyone’s concern, not just the Council but communities.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families welcomed the report, drawing out the increased activity and the increase in social workers employed by the Council. She also highlighted the partnership working. She was concerned that if the Council did not get additional funding then the increased costs could have a severe impact on the Council’s finances.

Councillor Tilley stated that in relation to missing children all returning children had a return interview. The whole system had changed as a result of lessons learnt.

Jim Leivers, Director for Children’s Services introduced the contents of the report.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            note and express satisfaction with the work that has been undertaken in relation to combatting CSE; and

(b)            support the recommendation for briefings to be provided for elected members to enable them to better recognise and respond to concerns about grooming and exploitation.