Agenda item

11:20

Local NHS organisations will present a report on their response to the Serious Case Review of Children A-F into Child Sexual Exploitation in Oxfordshire.

Representatives from NHS England South Central, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Oxford University Hospitals and Oxford Health will attend to present details of how they have responded to the findings of the report and what policies and procedures have changed as a result.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the NHS’s response to the findings of the Serious Case Review into Children A-F, published in March 2015; and the further actions in progress.

12:20 BREAK

The Committee were given a presentation on the Health response to the findings of the Serious Case Review of Children A-F and further action being taken in response to child sexual exploitation in Oxfordshire.

The attendees were as follows:

-       Sula Wiltshire and Alison Chapman – Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

-       Ros Alstead, Lucia Bell and Alison Chapman – Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

-       Catherine Stoddart and Claire Roberts – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

-       Julie Kerry – NHS England

-       Sarah Breton, Dr Jonathan McWilliam and Ruth Locke –  Oxfordshire County Council

Members were appreciative of the form of the presentation which allowed for case studies to be given by those presenting to highlight the response of Health staff when dealing with children in their care. Questions were taken from the Committee about each case.

Questions asked by the Committee were in relation to the following issues:

A committee member asked about the approaches made by the Teams to build a relationship with any child thought to be in danger of exploitation, in order to support their health and social care needs. Sula Wiltshire and Dr McWilliam explained that there were a number of approaches. Each agency lead officer took responsibility for this area. Information sharing was a very challenging and complex area, but the multi-agency MASH teams had been established to meet this need. Key workers had been assigned and everybody was now aware of who to contact. Focus on the child safeguarding agenda was growing.

A member asked what provisions were in place for the Banbury area, particularly around the schools. Attendees responded that service provision covered all of Oxfordshire. Some active work was being undertaken in Banbury, but all market towns were being treated equally. Colleagues representing the Health and Social Care side were completely joined including support from paediatricians from the Horton Hospital.

A member of the Committee asked if patients’ records were shared by all the agencies. Sula Wiltshire responded that information on aspects of care was shared if it needed to be shared to help inform a situation. An illustration of how well this could work was given in the form of a case study by Ruth Locke, a school nurse working in Oxfordshire. They stressed the importance of good practice and it being sustained and the need for an evidential basis. Furthermore, it was important to get the services right for a child, whether these be from CAMHS, Oxford Health, Public Health, OUHT, Social Services etc.

The Panel were asked about the safeguarding health needs of children with a learning disability in special schools. Ros Alstead responded that the aim was to provide an integrated service. Within Oxfordshire there was a general and a specialised service and children’s care was coordinated and managed within the teams, often with CAMHS and with the clinicians closely linked in with the special schools. In all special schools there was a specialist nursing service for children with severe problems who were more at risk of sexual exploitation. The Safeguarding Board had produced a proactive training module for these very vulnerable children. Dr McWilliam explained that OCC produced 35 double school nurses who are trained to work in secondary schools and colleges and some primary schools. At the time of planning they were concerned to attain a general population coverage and it was felt that the balance was right.

A Committee member asked what was meant by horizon scanning. Sula Wiltshire explained that it was the responsibility of all agencies involved in safeguarding to feed into, and be aware of, the preventative agenda. She added that all agencies met regularly to take part in this.

Members of the Committee thanked all who attended and for the very informative presentation.