Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Children & Family Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/076

Contact: Tan Lea, Strategic Safeguarding Partnerships Manager Tel: 07867 923287

Report by Deputy Director - Safeguarding (CA9).

This paper presents three annual reports: the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Annual (OSCB) Report; Performance, Audit and Quality Assurance Annual Report and the Case Review and Governance Annual Report.

Cabinet is asked to review and note the reports.

Cabinet had before them three annual reports: the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Annual (OSCB) Report; Performance, Audit and Quality Assurance Annual Report (PAQ) and the Case Review and Governance Annual Report.

Richard Simpson, Independent Chair of the OSCB attended for this item.

Councillor Brighouse, Chairman of Performance Scrutiny Committee thanked Mr Simpson and officers for attending the recent meeting of Performance Scrutiny Committee where the report had been considered. Councillor Brighouse stated that the Committee had asked for a matrix around adverse childhood experiences to see how that played out. The Committee was intending to consider further its concerns about the CAMHS contract. In general, the Committee had highlighted the need to ensure synergy about a whole range of issues.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services highlighted the main issues and challenges set out in the report. Neglect was cited as a factor in 70% of child protection plans although not picked up to the same extent in early help assessments. Councillor Sanders referred to figures on elective home education, and on fixed term and permanent exclusions and commented that children were safe in full time education. There was pressure on the CAMHS service with increased numbers leading to longer waiting times. She was assured that urgent cases were seen promptly but still it was an area where targets were being missed which was concerning and was an issue that must be resolved for the sake of the children. Appropriate action was need in respect of the insufficiency of placements for children with complex health needs.  Guidance on record keeping must be updated. She welcomed the work to provide a voice for young people, the work on help for troubled families and the joint working on housing. In conclusion she welcomed the three reports from OSCB.

Councillor Hudspeth responding stated that housing really was a key to providing good safe environments.

Mr Simpson, introduced the report which was retrospective, thanking officers for their work in producing an improved document. He commented that there was a strong partnership around children’s safeguarding that enjoyed good involvement at a senior level. The Board had a commitment to listening to the voice of the child and this would form the theme to the next annual conference. Mr Simpson noted that in the next year they would be working closely with the Adults Safeguarding Board. He outlined the accomplishments of the last year and challenges around children’s safeguarding. The Partnership was generally satisfactory but the demand on the statutory system was a concern. He applauded the ongoing work by the Director for Children’s Services looking to change the way of working with the Family Safeguarding Plus Model..

Tan Lea and Lara Patel introduced the contents of the three reports detailing in particular the work of the two sub-groups.

Mr Simpson responded to questions and comments from speakers and members of the Cabinet. He agreed that Education was an area of concern and that children were safest in schools. There was limited scrutiny for those being home educated and the power to intervene was limited. Asked about CAMHS waiting times he indicated that that suicidal children were seen the same day.

Cabinet welcomed the report and congratulated the team on producing a shorter but richer and more inviting report. The report told the story of the work undertaken.

RESOLVED:            to review and note the reports.