Report No. 124/2018 was received from the Chair of the Leicestershire & Rutland Local Safeguarding Children Board (LRLSCB)

Following an introduction from the Portfolio Holder for Safeguarding Children & Young People, Mr Simon Westwood, the Independent Chair of the LRLSCB, summarised the report, the purpose of which was to set out the draft proposed Business Plan priorities for the LRLSCB for 2018/19 for noting and comment by Cabinet.

During discussion the following points were raised:

·         The Children and Social Work Act 2017 introduced measures that would mean the Board would be replaced by local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements

·         A new Child Safeguarding Practice Panel which had become fully operational on 29 June 2018, required the LRLCSB (until new partnerships were in place) to undertake a rapid review into all serious child safeguarding cases and complete this within fifteen working daysof becoming aware of the incident.

·         The Panel understood the pressures of this 15 day deadline and although they required the Board to do the best they could within the time available this did not preclude the arrival at a different decision further down the line.

·         The new arrangements gave more flexibility and permission to organise arrangements to suit the locality, although there were still some common requirements.

·         New guidance for schools would be available from September 2018 and the Board intended that the role for schools within the new arrangements would be clear and understood by the schools and statutory partners by March 2019.

·         Engagement with schools would be a challenge given the diversity of schools

·         York City Council had received a grant from the DfE to pilot engagement with schools and the Board would take some learning from that.

·         Home schooled children were not included in the children missing from education category but the Board kept a close eye on home schooled children as a potential risk factor.

·         The Local Authority did not have any jurisdiction to enter homes or influence the situation but did have a duty to safeguard home schooled children.

·         Home schooled children were not a particular issue locally as the Council had taken a more pro-active stance, using mechanisms to take time in the family environment to learn more about the child.

·         Child exploitation, including child sexual exploitation and child trafficking, had been ably led by Detective Superintendent Simon Cure of Leicestershire Police but was now being handed over to Detective Chief Inspector Matt Ditcher. The Council was actively involved in the handover process.

DECISION:

1.    Cabinet CONSIDERED and NOTED the LRLSCB Business Plan for 2018/19.

Reasons for the decision

1.    It was recommended that the Cabinet commented on the Business Plan 2018/19 for the LRLSCB, particularly in relation to the business of the County Council in 2018/19.