The role of the

Local safeguarding children board.

At the end of this session participants should be able to;

Outline the functions of the local safeguarding children board.

Recall the board partners.

Describe the purpose of serious case reviews.

Learning objectives

The Children Act (2004) demands that each local authority creates a local Safeguarding Children Board.

Local Safeguarding Children Board

The Safeguarding children board must include a representative from the local authority and each of the remaining board partners including;

District council. Chief police officer. Local probation trust. Youth offending team.

The board partners that make up the local safeguarding children board

NHS commissioning board.NHS trusts.Cafcass.Governor /director of a secure training centre.The governor /director of any prison in the area that detains children.Two lay members.The governing body of a maintained school.The owner of a non-maintained special school.The leader of a city technology college or an academy.The governing body of a further education institution.

The board partners that make up the local safeguarding children board.

“To coordinate what is done by each person or body

represented on the board for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the area; and

To ensure the effectiveness of what is done by each such person or body for those purposes”

(HM.Government , 2013:58 )

Statutory objectives of the LSCBs(Children Act ,2004)

Creating policies to promote the safety and wellbeing

of children. Appropriate responses to be taken when there are

concerns about a child. Training. Recruitment and supervision of staff who work with

children. Investigation of allegations against staff who work

with children.

Functions of the local safeguarding children board

Promote the safety and wellbeing of children

who are privately fostered. To work cooperatively with neighbouring

children’s services, authorities and their board partners.

Raise awareness of how relevant organisations and individuals can safeguard children.

Functions of the safeguarding children board cont.

Monitoring the effectiveness of safeguarding

practice within their area. Contribute to the planning of children's

services within their area. Complete serious case reviews and

communicate the lessons to be learnt.

Functions of the safeguarding children board cont.

“ The prime purpose of a serious case review is for

agencies and individuals to learn lessons to improve the way they work both individually and collectively to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.” ( HM, Government,2010: 233)

Serious case reviews

As well as evaluating how relevant organisations

worked together to safeguard children serious case reviews should clearly state areas for improvement offering time scales for enhancements.

“Serious case reviews are not inquiries into how a child died or was seriously harmed. These are matters for coroners and criminal courts”( HMGovernment, 2010:234).

Serious case reviews

The experience of the child on a day to day basis and insights into his or her welfare, needs and feelings should influence the serious case review.

Serious case reviews

Any professional can refer a case to the local safeguarding children’s

board Local safeguarding boards are required by law to undertake serious

case reviews. The criteria for a serious case review is; Abuse or neglect is known and suspected and either the child had

died (in these cases a serious case review should always be performed).

A serious case review should be considered when a child has been seriously harmed (serious harm includes life threatening injury and permanent impairment of physical/ mental health) and there is concern about how relevant agencies have worked together.

Serious case reviews

This reports should include; Introduction The facts Analysis, conclusion and recommendations An executive summary should be produced reflecting

the main issues within the report; The executive summary should be made public.

Serious case review overview report

“The Children Act 2004” cited in H.M.Government,2013. Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. London: DfE.

H.M.Government ,2010. Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Nottingham: DCSF Publications.

H.M.Government ,2013. Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. London: DfE.

References