Agenda item

The Committee requested to consider the annual report of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB)  which was submitted to Cabinet on 17 October.   The Head of Safeguarding and the OSCB Business Manager have been invited to attend to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Committee is recommended to consider the report and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make arising from its discussion.

Cllr John Howson, Cabinet member for Children, Education, and Young People’s Services, had sent apologies that he had another meeting at the same time which meant he was unable to attend to present the report.  The Interim Corporate Director for Children’s Services, Anne Coyle, attended to present the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board (OSCB) annual report 2022-23 accompanied by Laura Gadjus, OSCB Business Manager.

The Interim Corporate Director reminded the Committee that a great deal of work had been undertaken across the directorate.  The Committee was reminded of the multi-agency arrangements in place.  The partnership had three safeguarding issues which continued to be reviewed: neglect of children in the family home; minimising risks to children outside the home; children are often safer in school.

There was a system-wide view on safeguarding work with a subgroup looking at how partners were managing children’s safeguarding.  There were assessments and audits and views were sought from practitioners, families, and children.  Data was regularly reviewed against local targets.

An overview of safeguarding audits conducted during the year was provided, including on Domestic Abuse, on Education, Front line teams, and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).  Audits and assessments of Health services, Police, and Children’s Services had also been undertaken in a variety of core areas.  In addition, case review work had emphasised the importance of early help for families being needed as well as the need for the recognition and impact of neglect on children.  Awareness of the exploitation of children outside the home had also been highlighted as had the idea that a child in school was a safer child.

There had been a significant increase in the number of practitioners trained with 11.8k trained in 2022-23 compared to 8.8k in 2021-22.

The Business Manager explained to the Committee in summary that the intention moving forward was to consider where there might be opportunities to work closer with the adults safeguarding board.  Continual improvement of the quality assurance of the arrangements were key.  Recruitment was currently being undertaken to the independent chair.  A key focus for the Board was the learning and development framework and the impact of arrangements.

In discussion with the Committee, a number of areas were raised.

Members noted that there was no mention of training for parents.  It was explained that the statutory requirement for the annual report was reporting on local arrangements including training for practitioners.  Looking to the future, there was an aspiration to include training and support for parents in a multi-agency context.  It was anticipated that the report for the next year would also include a greater focus on the voice of the child.

Family Group Conferencing was being used to support a lowering in the numbers of Children We Care For.  There was a partnership-wide early help strategy.  The number of strengths and needs assessments had been increased which was positive.  The importance of working with health visitors and school staff was emphasised.

There was a distinction between those families who had consciously opted for Elective Home Education and those children who were missing from school, particularly those subject to Child Protection Planning.  Members suggested that distinction would have benefited from being made clearer in the report.

Members noted the absence of Family Safeguarding Plus in the report which had been an ambitious locality-based scheme and asked if it was still in place, albeit potentially under a different name.  The Committee was assured that it was.

Work with schools, including academies, to reduce the number of exclusions and to work to ensure children remain in school was ongoing.  Information about the Zero Exclusion ambition from Bristol which was referenced was requested by the Committee.  The importance of well-planned and well-supported placements after exclusion was raised and members highlighted that, whilst permanent exclusions were reducing, suspensions were increasing.  There was a wide-ranging discussion on the pressures on schools.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) was of great concern nationally.  Work in schools and in communities with young boys and with fathers would be key.  Positive representation would be very important.

The importance of a sense of belonging for children in schools was raised and it was recognised that safeguarding work took up considerable time within school but was also vital.

The Committee AGREED the following actions:
 

·       The Committee requested an update on Family Safeguarding Plus

·       The Committee requested information on Bristol City Council’s Zero Exclusions ambition