Agenda item

Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Scrutiny Sub-Group

(To receive a verbal update from Councillor C R Oxby, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Scrutiny Sub-Group)

Minutes:

It was reported that the Scrutiny Sub-Group met on 6 July 2016 but unfortunately the meeting had to be held informally due to being inquorate which was the reason why there were no minutes included with the agenda for this meeting.

 

The Sub-Group received the outcomes from Serious Case Review C which had now been published.  The case involved the death of a 5 month old baby with a suspected degenerative neurological condition.  The baby had been the subject of a neglect case, however a post mortem determined that the child had died naturally and the review concluded that the death could not have been prevented.

 

The Sub Group was updated on the work of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and was informed that Bishop Grosseteste University had been approached to produce a short play relating to child sexual exploitation which would be performed at schools around the county.  It would be performed by drama students and written and produced by the University, with funding from the LSCB.  The brief for the play was to feature real stories of child sexual exploitation from around Lincolnshire.

 

A new Education Sub Group of the Board had been formed whose aim was to better engage with the education sector to build their skills and knowledge, share resources and ensure the key messages of safeguarding practice reached those who spent a lot of time with children in Lincolnshire.

 

Some of the new policies currently being developed were the Consent and Competency Guidance which allowed for children to visit a GP without their parents' consent and included appointments to secure birth control.  Criminalisation of Children in Care was another new policy which promoted a sensible response to bad behaviour from looked after children in care homes.  Previously the police were called to all situations, regardless of triviality, but this policy would assist staff to deal with offences themselves.

 

With regards to the membership of the Sub-Group, officers were in the process of identifying new added members to fill the vacancies.  Contact had been made with the Police and Health who were both interested in having representation on the Sub Group and were looking into finding possible representatives.  A new district councillor representative had been appointed, which was Cllr Mike Exton from South Kesteven District Council.  The Parent Governor Representatives had also been approached to see if one of them was able to fill the Parent Governor vacancy.

 

The next meeting of the Sub Group would be held on 28 September 2016 and the Sub Group would receive updates on the work of the Board and its Sub Groups, Serious Case Reviews, and a report on the Identification and Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation.

 

Members expressed disappointment that the Sub Group was not quorate on this occasion as it was due to consider a Serious Case Review.  It was clarified that, following legal advice, substitute members were permitted on the Sub Group, but it was still required to be politically balanced.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the update be noted.

 

 
 
dot

Original Text: