Agenda item

(To receive a report and presentation from Chris Cook, Chair of Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) and Stacey Waller, LSCP Manager, which provides the Committee with an introduction to the work and function of the LSCP)

The Committee received a report and presentation from Chris Cook (Independent Chair - Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership) and Stacey Waller (LSCP Business Manager), which introduced them to the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP). Specific topics covered in the presentation included:-

-          The Statutory Framework which the partnership works within, including the Children’s Act 2004 (amended by Children and Social Work Act 2017) and an overview of the multi-agency arrangements to safeguard children;

-          An overview of the partners included under the umbrella of the LSCP;

-          The vision of the LSCP being that 'Children and young people in Lincolnshire are effectively safeguarded, properly supported and their lives improved by all agencies working together';

-          Its strategic priorities for 2021/22;

-          The various groups and sub-groups within the partnership such as, the Voluntary Sector Conference, Junior Online Safety Officers and School engagement on campaigns;

-          An explanation of the role of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee in relation to the LCSP, that being to scrutinise the effectiveness of its agency relationships, business plan and annual report including any updates on progress with the implementation of the priorities in the business plan. In addition, the Committee would be expected to review and scrutinise the outcomes of any external inspection or peer review of the LCSP.

-          Detail of the methods of assurance the partnership benefits from;

-          That a wealth of training was offered to a wide range of people including a two day safeguarding course, free to staff.

(Councillor C Matthews gave his apologies and left the meeting during the presentation)

The Executive Councillor for Children's Services, Community Safety and Procurement advised the Committee that, while such vast information could be a lot to take in, officers were accommodating to all levels of questions.

The Committee shared their understanding that children and young people had been observed cycling through the streets late at night, with suspected involvement in the sale of drugs. While there was an obvious criminal element of this situation, the Committee suggested there was a significant social care element too. The Assistant Director - Early Help identified the 'Future 4 Me' service that supported young people who may be at risk of being in the criminal justice system and acknowledged that Covid-19 restrictions have brought additional challenges in this area.

What the Committee didn't feel was obvious in the presentation, was what to the credit the LSCP with in terms of campaign work. Chris Cook advised that agencies typically worked independently on their own campaigns. He felt that each individual agency should be taking the lead, with the LSCP focused on coordinating their efforts. He added that the voluntary sector conference was very important, and intentions were to develop that next year. He added that members of this Committee would be welcome to attend a LSCP meeting as observers to provide feedback on its business to the Committee. Stacey Waller suggested that when the LSCP report to the Committee in November 2021 it could communicate its key messages back to members. The Executive Director of Children's Services added that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee would receive an annual report once it got further into its cycle.

Appreciating how significant the role of social media and the digital world was on children's lives, the Committee sought further detail on junior online safety. Stacey Waller explained the advice was delivered to year five primary aged children, and added that her colleagues could offer further detail as part of the next update due in November.

RESOLVED

That the report and presentation be noted.