Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader, including Children, Education & Young People’s Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/110

Contact: Tan Lea, Strategic Partnerships Safeguarding Manager, tan.lea@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director for Children’s Services (CA15).

This paper highlights findings from the Board's annual report on the effectiveness of local arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in Oxfordshire.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the annual report of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board senior safeguarding partners and to consider the key messages.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet received the annual report on the effectiveness of local arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in Oxfordshire.

Derek Benson, Independent Chair of OSCB, introduced the report.  It showed the need to improve practice with respect to the themes of neglect, child exploitation and keeping children safe in education.  An emerging issue was the impact of the pandemic – especially on adolescents.

There was a major issue with insufficient availability of placements.  This was a national issue and they continued to apply pressure on central government to address the problem.  The emphasis continued to be on finding placements as close to home as possible but also ensuring the provision was suitable.

Derek Benson emphasised the need for more early help.  Child sexual exploitation continued to be a major issue along with the sharing of images online.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Young People’s services concurred that more early help was needed.  She stated that the work of the Board was invaluable in ensuring that partners had the information they needed to respond to issues.  She also described the lack of placements across the country as shameful.

The Chair thanked officers and asked the Independent Chair to pass on the thanks of Cabinet to all of the partners involved in the Board.

RESOLVED to:

note the annual report of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board senior safeguarding partners and to consider the key messages.