Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) - Procedures ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Sunderland Safeguarding Children
Partnership (SSCP)
Date Agreed: 28th May 2019
Date Published: 24th June 2019
Date to be Reviewed: 30th September 2020
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Contents Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)
Plan 2019 – 2020
Summary Page 2
Introduction Page 3 Summary:
Arrangements for Transitional Year Page 4 Current safeguarding arrangements within Sunderland are
SSCP Priorities 2019- 2020 Page 4 improving. The basic arrangements that are being proposed
Safeguarding Partners and Relevant Agencies Page 5 were shared with the Department for Education following a full
Leadership Governance and Accountability Page 5 review of the SSCB in 2017 and were agreed to be compliant
SSCP Structure of Arrangements Page 7 with the anticipated legislation and statutory guidance.
Relevant Agencies Page 8
Early Year’s settings, schools, colleges and other Page 8 Since then, progress has been made in strengthening regional
education providers collaboration across Northumbria, through the ADCS1 and
Independent Scrutiny Page 8 LSCB2 Business Manager Networks and the support of DfE
Funding Arrangements Page 9 Early Adopter (EA) funding. This programme is exploring which
Geographical Area Page 9 key safeguarding functions can be more effectively undertaken
Information Sharing Page 9 across a wider footprint, and which functions need to retain a
Infrastructure Page 10 place-based focus at local authority level.
Dispute Resolution Page 11
Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews Page 11 The proposals for implementation in September 2019 represent
Scrutiny and Assurance Page 12 a transitional process. Some streamlining is proposed to the
Performance Management Page 12 current arrangements, with greater integration between the
Arrangements for Publishing an Annual Report Page 13 children and adult boards; however, much of the current
Voice and Engagement Page 13 structure will be retained over the next 12 months to enable a
Multi-Agency Guide to Our Thresholds of Need Page 14 smooth transition. During 2019-2020, further work will be
Signs of Safety Page 14 completed on integrating functions across the Northumbria
Review of Arrangements Page 14 Police Force footprint, and a wider structure review will be
Future opportunities Page 14 undertaken in the spring of 2020. It is envisaged that by
Signature Page Page 16 September 2020 new arrangements will be fully implemented.
Appendices Page 16
1 Association of Directors of Children’s Services 2 Local Safeguarding Children Board
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 2
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
It is proposed that Sunderland’s model will operate at the Introduction
following three levels;
The Government published new guidance in 2018 that set out
• Local Partnership: A practice-based approach will be how local areas should work to replace Local Safeguarding
taken to the overall work of the Partnership at a local level. Children Boards (LSCB) with new safeguarding children
We would like to develop a ‘learning hub’ model focussing partnership arrangements. This plan sets out the transitional
on thematic safeguarding priorities for the city that will be arrangements for Sunderland from September 2019.
able to evidence impact for front line practice. This will not
be a static model and could engage a wide range of partners Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 requires that as
at several different levels based on particular themes. The local safeguarding partners we set out arrangements to work
learning from the ‘Bexley model’ implemented in 2018 will together to safeguard and promote the welfare of local children
inform the development of our approach. including identifying and responding to their needs.
• Executive Function: The ‘business’ of the Partnership will A “Safeguarding Partner” in relation to our local authority area
be overseen by a small Executive Group made up of the is defined under the Children Act 2004 (as amended by the
Statutory Partners, the Independent Chair3 and the Strategic Children and Social Work Act, 2017) as:
Business Manager. This Group will have responsibility for
ensuring that there are effective safeguarding arrangements • City of Sunderland Council
in place for the city and that the Partnership is having the • NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group
impact required. It will also oversee the following business • Northumbria Police
functions: finance, workforce, governance and performance
for the Partnership. Our Safeguarding Plan sets out our intention to work together,
and with, wider partners to safeguard and promote positive
• Board Infrastructure: As part of the Early Adopter outcomes for children and young people.
Programme, Business Managers from across the
Northumbria Police Area have been working on potential
new arrangements for work currently undertaken in LSCB
Groups. This work is tasked with identifying if this activity
should continue and if so is it more appropriate to be at local,
sub-regional or regional level. For example, CDOP is likely
to operate at a regional level but other functions will remain
at local level. Progress to date is outlined in this report.
3
Independent Scrutineer
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 3
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Arrangements for the Transitional Year September 2019 – • “Doing things once and doing it well” which aims to avoid
September 2020 duplication, maximise resources and focus on the
difference our work makes to children and young people
The current structure of the LSCB will transition into the new
multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and will be known as It is important to note that the changes to statutory
the Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP). arrangements are in relation to safeguarding children
arrangements only. The Sunderland Safeguarding Adult Board
The SSCP Plan will come into effect from September 2019. (SSAB) and the Safer Sunderland Partnership (SSP) both
This document sets out areas that will be a key part of the remain on a statutory footing.
transitional arrangements and those that will be subject to
review and assessment of impact in Spring 2020. The The Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership has a clear
Partnership is committed to improving how we work to mission and a set of values across our organisations which we
safeguard our children and young people and as such has a expect staff to demonstrate in all their work with children,
flexible approach to change and improvement over the families and each other:
transitional year.
Our Mission:
The new Sunderland Partnership Arrangements are predicated “High Support, High Challenge – Working together;
on a commitment to: making a difference; safeguarding children”
• Maximise the ‘Think Family’ approach by progressing
and developing our collaborative work with the The SSCP Values are set out in Appendix 1
Safeguarding Adults Board and other key partnerships
including the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Safer SSCP Priorities 2019-2020
Sunderland Partnership etc
• Clear governance arrangements that set out lead The current Strategic Outcomes and Service Priorities of the
partnership responsibility for safeguarding issues as Safeguarding Board were agreed in 2017 and continue to be
outlined in Appendix 7 relevant for the next 12 months. These are outlined in Appendix
• The aspirations and content set out in this Plan and we 2.
will engage widely to ensure it is a success
• Respond flexibly and creatively to new challenges as The focus on a “Think Family” approach and the move to a
they arise strengthened “City Safeguarding agenda” will provide the basis
• Utilise the opportunity to work more efficiently, for enhancing and strengthening the quality of frontline practice
effectively and with joint purpose to protect children and and improving outcomes for children, young people and their
young people at both a local and regional level families.
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 4
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Safeguarding Partners and Relevant Agencies The SSCP is made up of the three safeguarding partners and
other relevant agencies4:
Leadership, Governance & Accountability
• The City Council
All three safeguarding partners have equal and joint • Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group
responsibility for local safeguarding arrangements underpinned • Northumbria Police
by equitable and proportionate funding. Locally, the lead • Together for Children – Sunderland - The organisation
representatives are: to whom the local authority has delegated children’s
• Chief Executive – City of Sunderland Council social care functions
• Chief Officer - Sunderland Clinical Commissioning • South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Group (CCG) • Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
• Designated Chief Superintendent – Northumbria Police • Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
• Gentoo – One of the social housing groups for the City
These safeguarding partners have the responsibility and • The Independent Scrutineer – This is the Independent
authority for ensuring full participation with the children and Chair for the transitional year
young peoples’ multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. The • The Council Lead Member as a participating observer
Police have delegated their responsibility however the lead
• The 2 Programme Board Chairs as co-opted members
representative remains accountable for any actions or
decisions taken on behalf of their agency.
The SSCP has the following advisers to the Partnership to
provide appropriate expertise and advice:
The lead representatives, or those they have delegated their
• Strategic Business Manager
authority to, are able to:
• Performance & Quality Assurance Programme Board
• Speak with authority for the safeguarding partner they
Officer
represent
• Learning & Workforce Development Programme Board
• Take decisions on behalf of their organisation or agency
Officer
and commit them on policy, resourcing and practice
matters • Legal Adviser (from Together for Children)
• Hold their own organisation or agency to account on how • Financial Adviser (from the Local Authority)
effectively they participate and implement the local • Designated Health Professionals
arrangements • Director of Public Health
• Media Adviser (from the Local Authority)
4
Relevant agencies are those organisations and agencies whose involvement the
safeguarding partners consider may be required to safeguard and promote the
welfare of children with regard to local need.
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 5
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
The 3 Safeguarding Partners sign up to this plan as a The City Safeguarding Model
Memorandum of Understanding that underpins the SSCP
constitution and terms of reference for the relevant SSCP Sunderland is moving towards developing an integrated
Groups. This clarity and understanding will ensure that the approach to safeguarding, bringing together the work of the 3
partners are aligning their work and resources and supporting key partnerships (the Safeguarding Children Partnership, the
each other by delivering on a ‘Think Family’ approach to secure Safeguarding Adults Board and the Safer Sunderland
better outcomes. Partnership). The Chairs and Business Managers of the 3
partnerships will meet quarterly within the new City
The Partnership: Safeguarding Group, with a remit of ensuring effective
coordination between the 3 Boards, agreement as to how to
• Is the decision-making body to oversee the agreed multi- oversee cross-cutting safeguarding issues (such as domestic
agency plan to protect our children and young people abuse, modern day slavery, serious violence etc), and
resolution of any escalated issues. By the end of the transitional
• Will review progress and assess strengths and areas for year it is intended that the work of the 3 Boards will also be
developments more integrated, perhaps through all the Boards meeting
quarterly on the same day and structured in such a way that
• Will keep the business of the Partnership on track and supports key shared safeguarding issues being discussed and
monitor the progress and impact measures against each addressed once rather than three separate times. This
priority arrangement will be supported by a local integrated
safeguarding hub approach across the relevant support staff.
• Will deliver against an agreed work plan related to
agreed strategic priorities and will report accordingly to Each Partnership will have its own relevant structure sitting
the other aligned partnerships e.g. Health and Wellbeing beneath their Board/Partnership as appropriate with key
Board, Safer Sunderland Partnership, CCG Governing checkpoints built in to evaluate how effectively this model is
Body, and the Police. working in achieving each arrangements’ statutory functions.
Reporting will be into the HWBB and its constituent
partnerships as appropriate. The work of the Group will be
complemented by the wider Partnership Officer Group which
will meet on a quarterly basis. See Appendix 6.
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 6High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
SSCP Structure of arrangements
HWBB – Health and Wellbeing Board LCDRP – Local Child Death Review Panel
SSCP – Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership DASPG – Domestic Abuse Strategic Project Group
SSAB – Sunderland Safeguarding Adults Board VASPG - Vulnerable Adolescent Strategic Project Group (to
CDOP – Child Death Overview Panel end March 2020)
P&QA PB – Performance and Quality Assurance Programme CSPR – Child Safeguarding Practice Review
Board MSET Ops – Missing, Sexually Exploited and Trafficked
L&WFD PB – Learning and Workforce Development Operational Group
Programme Board
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 7High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Relevant Agencies engage with early years providers to ensure they are fulfilling
their safeguarding responsibilities or if there safeguarding
The strength of local partnership working is predicated on the procedures require strengthening, for example through section
safeguarding statutory partners working collaboratively 157/175 safeguarding audits and statutory Ofsted Inspection
together with Relevant Agencies, whose involvement the reports. The effectiveness of these mechanisms will be
safeguarding partners consider is required to safeguard and reviewed during the transitional year.
promote the welfare of children. The local approach also
enables joint identification of, and response to existing and Safeguarding partners also acknowledge the pivotal role that
emerging needs, and to agreeing priorities to improve schools, colleges and other educational providers play in
outcomes for children and young people. safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, as detailed
in the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education
The CCG will continue to represent North East Ambulance 2018. Strengthening the role and engagement of the SSCP
Service (NEAS) and NHS England as part of their formal role, with schools and colleges is a key aim of the SSCP during the
through a Memorandum of Understanding. transitional year. This will be achieved through a variety of
methods such as engagement with the Education Safeguarding
Other organisations and agencies not identified in the relevant Group, Headteacher Forums and specific engagement forums
agency regulations will be included in the local safeguarding with schools etc
arrangements. Examples of these include the voluntary and
faith sector. Where a relevant agency has a national remit such Independent Scrutiny
as the British Transport Police and CAFCASS5 the
safeguarding partners will collaborate and take account of that The independent scrutiny function as set out in Working
agency’s individual responsibilities and potential contributions Together 2018 will provide the critical challenge and appraisal
towards several local safeguarding children arrangements. of Sunderland’s Safeguarding Partnership Arrangements in
This will include for example one Section 11 Audit per agency relation to children and young people. The role of independent
for all MASA. scrutiny will form part of these arrangements and do the
following:
Early Year’s Settings, Schools, Colleges and other
Education Providers • Be objective and act as a constructive critical friend
• Provide assurance in judging the effectiveness of
Early Year’s providers play a crucial role in safeguarding and services to protect children and young people
promoting the welfare of children, as defined by their duties • Assist when there is disagreement between the leaders
under Section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006. There are responsible for protecting children in the agencies
arrangements in place at a strategic and operational level to involved in multi-agency arrangements
5
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 8High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
• Support a culture and environment conducive to robust In February 2019 members of the Forum agreed on a hybrid
scrutiny, constructive challenge and promote reflection model as the preferred option for future safeguarding
to drive continuous improvement developments. This reflected a wider framework with a local
focus but one that creates the opportunity to adopt a wider
The long-term independent scrutiny function of the Sunderland regional footprint in partnership with other safeguarding
Partnership is yet to be determined, therefore, it is proposed to partnership arrangements. However, work will continue with the
maintain the role of the Independent Chair during the regional collaboration via the Business Managers Network and
transitional period. The future model will be agreed by the the North and South of Tyne Strategic Safeguarding Forum as
statutory partners for implementation from Spring 2020 outlined.
considering emerging best practice and following consultation.
Information Sharing
Funding Arrangements
Safeguarding partners may require any person, organisation or
Safeguarding partners are required to provide equitable and agency to provide them, any relevant agency, reviewer or
proportionate funding to the SSCP. The budget for 2019-2020 another person or organisation or agency, with specified
will remain the same as previous year except for a £30,000 information. This must be information which enables and
reduction from Sunderland City Council which currently assists the Safeguarding Partners to perform their functions to
contributes most of the budget during the transitional period. safeguard and promote the welfare of children in Sunderland,
Future funding will be reviewed in January 2020. It is including local and national child safeguarding practice
recognised that the proposed model is unlikely to make any reviews.
financial efficiencies in the short term.
The person or organisation to whom a request is made must
Geographical Area comply with the request and if they do not do so, the
Safeguarding Partners may take legal action against them.
The boundaries for the SSCP is the Sunderland City Council
which is set out in Appendix 3. Over the last two years As public authorities, Safeguarding Partners must be aware of
safeguarding partners have been strengthening the levels of their own responsibilities under the relevant information law
joint working across the Northumbria Police Force area via a and have regard to guidance provided by the Information
Safeguarding Forum supported by Early Adopter Funding from Commissioner’s Office when issuing and responding to
the Department for Education and the LSCB Business Manager requests for information.
Network. The Forum covers the 6 local authority areas of
Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, Partnership members will keep confidential any information
South Tyneside and Sunderland and includes 5 CCGs, obtained because of inter-agency co-operation save to the
Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle & Gateshead, extent that disclosure of the information is necessary to
South Tyneside, and Sunderland; and 1 Police force. discharge the functions of the Safeguarding Partners as set out
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 9High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and the local related to the delivery of the Board’s functions in relation
safeguarding arrangements. to ensuring the safeguarding system is effective through
a children’s workforce which places children and young
Infrastructure people at the centre of their work and who are highly
skilled, able to use their professional judgement, and
The infrastructure of the Sunderland Partnership (SSCP) is who are informed by best practice, research and a
delivered through its Groups and Programme Boards which robust procedural framework. The multi-agency training
include: programme for 2019-2020 is limited and further work is
required to strengthen the local offer.
• Executive Group – A multi-agency Strategic Group that
monitors the work of the Programme Boards and Groups • Missing, Sexually Exploited and Trafficked
in delivering the business plan, preparing the draft SSCP Operational Group (MSET) – The local MSET Group
Annual Report, identifies and resolves any cross-cutting will continue in the transitional year and strengthen the
issues between the work of the Programme Boards, link with adults at risk of exploitation to give the same
leads on the planning of the Annual Development Day level of scrutiny to adult cases. This in turn will help to
and reviews issues for consideration by the Partnership. develop a local exploitation profile that can be fed into
Membership consists of a representative from the 3 the regional work around exploitation. An agreed
statutory safeguarding partners, the Director of regional approach to the widening of the current
Children’s Services, Programme Board Chairs, and arrangements into Missing, Slavery, Criminal and
Business Manager Sexual Exploitation and Trafficked (MSET) Groups, has
been developed and will be implemented in Sunderland
• Performance and Quality Assurance Programme during the transitional year. This allows for the
Board – A multi-agency Strategic Programme Group possibility of developing one regional strategic MSET
that leads, oversees and progresses the programme of Group to have oversight on the trends, hotspots and
activity related to the delivery of the Board’s functions in data analysis across the region from which agreed
relation to monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness collaborative actions could be implemented and
of multi-agency practice in respect of safeguarding monitored.
children in Sunderland on behalf of the SSCB. This
includes single and multi-agency practice undertaken to • Local Child Death Review Panel – The Local Child
safeguard and promote the welfare of children and Death Review Panel is responsible for reviewing all
young people in Sunderland deaths of children aged 0-18 years to identify patterns
and trends and consider how such deaths might be
• Learning and Workforce Development Programme prevented in the future. This Panel is also responsible
Board – A multi-agency strategic programme group that for ensuring the South of Tyne procedures are
leads, oversees and progresses the programme activity implemented following the death of a child for whom
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 10High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Sunderland was the normal place of residence. This they should seek to meet and find a satisfactory
arrangement feeds into the South of Tyne Child Death resolution
Overview Panel (CDOP) and these arrangements will • Where the disagreement cannot be resolved, or
continue to be linked to the new arrangements during involves a more complex set of partner agencies, then
further review in 2019-2010. The proposal is for the it will be for the full Children’s Safeguarding Executive
CDOP to join with the North of Tyne CDOP to satisfy the Partnership to seek a resolution
statutory requirements and work has started on this • Where necessary, the 3 statutory safeguarding
transition. Governance arrangements will also be partners have primacy in determining the resolution to a
reviewed and changed as required as part of this work. disagreement
• Where there is disagreement between the statutory
Task and Finish Groups may be established to focus on key
safeguarding partners, then the Independent Chair of the
safeguarding issues and/or frontline practice. They will:
Executive Partnership should be asked to mediate and
• Be kept to a minimum
negotiate a satisfactory solution
• Be time specific
• Where necessary, the statutory safeguarding partners
• Have clear start and end dates
may escalate to the Leader of the Council, the Chair of
• Have clear terms of reference
the CCG and the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police.
• Focus on key issues such as specific areas of frontline
The Independent Chair should escalate to the relevant
practice e.g. Vulnerable Adolescents
Secretary of State only as a final resort
• Be cross-board/partnership, sub-regional or regional
• Whistleblowing Procedures provide an additional
wherever possible
important route for staff to raise concerns in a safe
Dispute Resolution process that protects their position, if this is a concern.
The Partnership members will each adhere to their own
All agencies working with children and young people in whistleblowing procedures
Sunderland remain subject to the sub regional Safeguarding
Procedures and the Escalation Policy Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews
This sets out the general principles of resolution as well as The Learning and Workforce Development Programme Board
the specific processes to be followed. will have responsibility for the local process for identifying and
When a disagreement arises between members of the making decisions on whether to undertake reviews, how
Partnership, then the general principles of resolution will lessons are learnt and embedded in the online safeguarding
still apply, in particular: policies and procedures. Regional work is in progress on
developing an agreed shared procedure and there is already a
• When the disagreement is between two agencies, then joint commissioning platform for securing independent chairs
and authors where required. A shared regional approach to
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 11High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
the approval and learning from reviews is to be explored during • Sunderland City Council Children’s Scrutiny Committee
the coming year. • Lead Member for Children
• Multi-agency inspection of safeguarding arrangements
The National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (the e.g. Ofsted, CQC6
Panel) is responsible for identifying and overseeing the review • SSCP Complaints
of serious child safeguarding cases which, in its view, raise • External regulatory functions
issues that are complex or of national importance. The Panel • Staff Engagement Forums and surveys
will also maintain oversight of the system of national and • Annual Report
local reviews and how effectively it is operating.
There is an ongoing drive and commitment to ensure
Scrutiny and Assurance continuous improvement leading to better outcomes and
experiences for our children, young people and families. The
The new safeguarding arrangements will continue to reflect the working model for the Partnership will be to demonstrate impact
current commitment and healthy culture of challenge and and improvements in all activity using the Outcome Based
scrutiny already evident within the current local safeguarding Accountability model (OBA).7 The Early Adopter programme
arrangements. The current Board has evolved into an has provided opportunities to further test and develop
environment that is conducive to robust scrutiny and innovative approaches to scrutiny and assurance.
constructive challenge supported by a local Risk Register.
Performance Management
Locally, there is a culture of challenge and holding partners to
account. There are systems and processes for professional We will measure safeguarding performance and the quality of
challenge and there is evidence of scrutiny and assurance frontline practice under the following 3 Strategic Outcomes for
arrangements in place at all levels across our safeguarding children and young people:
partner organisations.
1. Supported as early as possible
The Safeguarding Partners have agreed that the independent
2. Healthy, happy, socially confident and prepared for
scrutiny in the transitional year will come from:
adulthood
• Children and young people 3. Safe and protected from harm
• Independent Chair – working independently of the 3
Safeguarding Partners and in liaison with the SSCP These three Strategic Outcomes support our City-wide
Business Unit approach to early help, early intervention and to identify and
6 7
Ofsted, (2018), Inspecting Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements. OBA is a way of thinking and taking action that can improve outcomes for
populations, organisations and communities. OBA starts with the desired
outcome and works backwards.
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 12High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
reduce the level and potential impact of Adverse Childhood an analysis of the difference it has made for children and
Experiences8 (ACEs). This strengthens our “Think Family” families from early help to looked-after children and care
approach across the City. leavers
• Progress on agreed priorities
ACEs can have a significant negative impact on future health, • A record of decisions and actions taken by the partners
welfare and life chances through a higher risk of experiencing in the report’s period (or planned to be taken) to
certain problems in later life such as poor mental well-being, implement the recommendations of any local and
worklessness etc. Working collectively in Sunderland we will national child safeguarding practice reviews, including
focus on reducing the impact of ACEs in order to create the any resulting improvements
conditions and support for our children to be resilient individuals • Ways in which the partners have sought and utilised
who become part of safe, stable and nurturing families, feedback from children and families to inform their work
communities and neighbourhoods. and influence service provision
Regional work is being progressed by the Business Manager Voice and Engagement
Network to improve the quality of the narrative and analysis and
explore what elements of the performance dataset could be The ambition within the new safeguarding arrangements is to
undertaken regionally and within what areas. This will include continue to engage with the ‘experts by experience’, all those
the development of the role of the local quality assurance children and young people who experience services,
processes to align with the potential of a regional thematic particularly the harder to engage.
approach to areas of data / performance.
The Partnership intends to hold two Safeguarding Conferences
Arrangements for Publishing an Annual Report per year to consult with our Children and Young People and to
support them to learn about how to keep themselves safe,
To bring transparency for children, families and all practitioners access help etc. The learning from these events will shape the
about the activity undertaken, the SSCP will publish an annual Partnership’s work in the future.
report. The report will include what the Partnership has done as
a result of the arrangements, including on child safeguarding Partners therefore remain committed to continue and improve
practice reviews, and how effective these arrangements have engaging with children, young people and families at an
been in practice. In addition, the report will also include: individual, service and strategic level. We will make use of the
• Evidence of the work undertaken by the safeguarding various systems, groups and forums in place to gather the
partners and relevant agencies, including training, and views of children, young people and families. We will work with
8
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur
before the age of 18 and are remembered throughout adulthood, such as living
with domestic abuse.
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 13High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
established groups and forums to encourage children and The Signs of Safety Model provides a clear set of skills, values
young people to have their say, share their views and and principles for practitioners and partners to use in their
experiences, challenge and support local decision makers and practice with families to achieve this. Training to staff in
shape and influence strategic planning, commissioning and Children’s Services began in 2019 and will continue across the
service provision. Children’s Workforce until it is embedded into practice.
Multi-Agency Guide to Our Thresholds of Need Review of the arrangements
The Guide to Our Thresholds of Need was re-launched in The Sunderland Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements will
November 2018 following a full review and update. This Guide be reviewed in accordance with the Safeguarding Partners’
outlines Sunderland’s processes involved in decision-making business plan cycle. Any proposed amendment to the
when determining the level of support a child and family may arrangements will be agreed by the Safeguarding Partners in
require. consultation with relevant partners.
This document has the potential to evolve as part of the Future Opportunities during the Transitional Period
transitional arrangements in terms of the way partners work
collectively to support families. The Business Managers will be Local Opportunities
working to explore the development of a regional joint multi-
agency threshold / effective help document and referral form to It is anticipated that the key focus of the revised safeguarding
support a regional approach for families and staff who move arrangements will be based on a dual “Think Family” basis
across boundaries. The current windscreen is set out in where there will be a stronger connection between strategic
Appendix 4. and operational safeguarding functions that better aligns with
safeguarding practice within the Partnership, demonstrating
Signs of Safety compliance, overview and evidencing impact for children and
families.
Sunderland is implementing Signs of Safety as its overarching
practice model for all its work with children and families. The Further collaborative working will be progressed with the Adult
overall aim is to transform our approach to how we deliver Safeguarding Board and other relevant partnerships in
services and support to children and families and that we Sunderland. The more we progress towards a joint
implement the model across all our services. Sunderland collaborative model the more we can add more substance and
believes that the model will provide a clear theoretical evidence to the ‘Think Family’ approach. In addition, we will be
framework and methodology to drive practice standards, evidencing maximising the use of partner’s time, commitment
service delivery and workforce development in line with and wider understanding of safeguarding across the life course.
Sunderland’s improvement plan and vision for the children and
families we are working with.
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 14High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
It is important to consider the current and/or future both a local and regional comparison and analysis of
arrangements within the organisations of the three statutory findings. The regional themes can then support the
partners which may influence any local plans and /or development of future regional priorities
arrangements. The interface between the SSCP, SSAB and • Multi-Agency Training – As safeguarding training is
SSP is set out at Appendix 5. It is proposed to establish a common to all Safeguarding Partnerships there is a real
Partnership Officer Group as set out in Appendix 6. This will opportunity to take a regional approach. This could be a
support the development of streamlined plans across the city ‘hub and spoke’ model whereby one area co-ordinates
and reduce silo working and duplication. The Lead Partnership the training offer with the potential for the other local
responsible for Safeguarding issues is set out at Appendix 7. areas, the spokes, delivering bespoke local training
dependent upon local needs
Regional Opportunities
The LSCB Business Managers across the region have made
considerable progress on securing robust integrated and
collaborative arrangements. These include:
• Pan Safeguarding Policies and Procedures – Agreed
shared regional set of safeguarding policies and
procedures to ensure improved consistency across the
region in terms or practice and provide some level of
efficiency in relation to costs, maintenance and review
• Performance dataset and score card – This provides
strengthened opportunities for comparative analysis,
trends, themes, gaps and strengths in provision from
which a regional approach can be taken to address
• Learning from Serious Case Reviews and Learning
Reviews – The production of a regional electronic
learning resource based on the theme of vulnerabilities
in babies sharing access to all materials produced
across the region on this theme. This reduces cost and
time in terms of increasing the level of shared learning
across all areas
• Section 11 Safeguarding Audit – a shared S11 audit
tool will reduce duplication for partners who cover more
than one area and having one audit tool will allow for
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 15High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Signature Page Appendices
Appendix 1 SSCP Values
Appendix 2 Strategic Priorities,
Outcomes and Service
Scott Hall Priorities 2019 - 2020
Appendix 3 Map of Sunderland
Chief Superintendent, Appendix 4 Multi-Agency Guide to our
Northumbria Police Thresholds of Need
Windscreen
Appendix 5 Interface between SSCP,
SSAB and SSP to protect
vulnerable people
Appendix 6 Partnership Officer Group
Patrick Melia Appendix 7 Lead Partnerships
Chief Executive,
Sunderland City Council
Dave Gallagher
Chief Officer,
Sunderland Clinical
Commissioning Group
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 16High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 1- SSCP Values
Theme 1 – Listen and Learn
•Curious
•Focussing on children and young people
Theme 2 – Work in Partnerships
•Collaborative
•Learning Together
•Improving Together
•Critical Friends
Theme 3 – Trust and Respect
•Honest
•Work with Integrity
Theme 4 – Never Give Up
•Resilient
•Brave
•Persevering
•Solving problems and overcoming barriers
Theme 5 – Continuous Improvement
•Aiming High
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 17High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 2 - SSCP Strategic Priorities, Outcomes and Service Priorities for 2019-2020
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 18High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 3 - City of Sunderland
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 19High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 4 – SSCP Multi-Agency Guide to Our Thresholds of Need
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 20High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 5 - Interface between the SSCP, HWBB, SSAB and SSP
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 21High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 6 – Partnership Officer Group
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 22High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
Appendix 7
Leadership and Governance Arrangements in relation to Safeguarding Issues
Lead
Safeguarding Issues Working with… Work Programme
Partnership
Domestic Abuse Inc. Honour Based
Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership
Violence, Forced Marriage, Stalking & SSCP SSAB and SSP
Group (DASPG)
Harassment, FGM
Missing, Slavery, Exploited and SSP Vulnerable Adolescent Strategic
SSCP
Trafficked (MSET) Partnership Group (VASPG)
Vulnerable Adolescent Strategic
Vulnerable Adolescents SSCP SSP
Partnership Group (VASPG)
Prevent SSP SSCP and SSAB To be confirmed
To be confirmed
Cyber/online crime SSP SSCP
To be confirmed
Homelessness SSAB SSCP
Substance Misuse HWBB SSCP and SSAB To be confirmed
High support, high challenge – Working together, making a difference, safeguarding children;
V1 FINAL 12.06.2019 23You can also read
