(RBSCB) Update Report PDF 267 KB

Subject: RBSCB update report
Status:
Report to:
Date: Wednesday, 8th April 2015
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Report of: Jane Booth RBSCB Independent Chair
Tony Philbin RBSCB Business Manager
1.
For publication
Author Email: jane.booth2@rochdale.gov.uk
tony.philbin@rochdale.gov.uk
Tel: 01706 925449
PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1. This report provides an update on the work of the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding
Children Board.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1. The agreement between the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board
(RBSCB) and Scrutiny Committee is that the RBSCB presents a report to the
Scrutiny Committee twice a year, to present its Annual report - in September/October
and in March/April to update on the Board’s activities since the last report and to
inform the Scrutiny of relevant safeguarding children issues. Additional attendance
can be requested by either party if required.
2.2. The RBSCB is a statutory partnership of agencies with responsibility for providing
services and safeguarding children and young people. Its role and functions are set
out in statute and the Board is required to have a chair who is independent of its
member agencies.
The Chair of the Board is accountable to the Council’s Chief
Executive for the efficient and effective running of the Board and he is in turn
accountable to the DfE in this respect.
2.3. In an Ofsted Inspection in November 2012 the RBSCB was found to be
“underdeveloped” and not fulfilling its statutory functions effectively. At that time there
was no separate judgement of the Board by Ofsted but it was considered under the
heading of Leadership and Governance which was found to be inadequate overall.
Since that time the RBSCB has been working to an improvement plan which has been
monitored by the Improvement Board.
3. REVIEW OF ACTIVITY
3.1. RBSCB effectiveness – The RBSCB has presented regular reports to the
Improvement Board in respect of progress against the Action Plan. All actions have
been completed and signed off.
In 2014 Ofsted completed a further inspection
published 5 December 2014. The new methodology included a separate but parallel
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inspection of the Board itself and found the Board no longer to be inadequate. Much
good progress was evidenced and the inspectors provided very positive feedback.:
• The RBSCB has made significant progress during the last 18 months. It
benefits from strong independent leadership, supported by effective business
management.
• Members are appropriately senior to enable the RBSCB to drive forward its key
priorities and the wider safeguarding agenda.
• Partners are increasingly confident about holding one another to account, and
the chair maintains a record of challenge. These indicate an increasingly
mature partnership.
• Governance arrangements are clear and enable the RBSCB to fulfil its
statutory responsibilities.
• There is evidence that the Performance, Quality Assurance and Improvement
sub-group is using data effectively to analyse and evaluate specific areas of
practice
• The RBSCB has a well-managed programme of multi-agency themed audits,
enabling partners to identify good practice and areas for improvement.
• The RBSCB has a well-managed programme of multi-agency themed audits,
• The Board’s Learning and Improvement Framework includes a rigorous
process for screening for serious case reviews
• The Board’s development and effective implementation of a CSE strategy
• The RBSCB has a comprehensive and good-quality training programme,
• the Board has made significant progress in terms of its priorities and is now
well placed to continue to drive improvements in the coordination and
effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements for the children and young people
of Rochdale.
It was of some disappointment that the judgement only moved up one grade, from
Inadequate to “Requires Improvement” but none-the-less the report records much that
is good practice. All recommendations from the report have been addressed.
3.2. Challenge and Quality assurance of services – the RBSCB has a comprehensive
quality assurance framework which includes data collection and analysis. Multiagency case related audits and a full audit of agencies’ practice against their statutory
safeguarding responsibilities. The Board receives quarterly reports following analysis
of the data and uses this to challenge agencies where performance is of concern
Appendix 1 provides an example from the last Board meeting. The following audits
have been completed in the last 12 months
• May 2014 – Neglect
• July 2014 – Missing Children
• October 2014 Thresholds
• Domestic Abuse and Partner Strategy
The Section 11 audit is an annual process the RBSCB uses to judge agency
arrangements to meet the requirements of Section 11 of The Children Act 2004. The
process is well established and involves the use of independent challenge panels that
scrutinise agency self-assessment.
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3.3. Promotion of good practice – In addition to supporting the improvement of practice
through its quality assurance activity the RBSCB also promotes improvement through
its Learning and Improvement framework. The Board maintains an active web-site
which provides regular updates to 685 registered users A comprehensive set of
multi-agency policies and procedures are also provided on –line. The RBSCB
delivers a comprehensive range of training and promotes the development of good
through the dissemination of learning from Serious Case Reviews and other learning
events.
4. Significant events in the last 6 months
• Service Inspection – judged to be no longer inadequate
• Ofsted CSE Thematic Inspection – very positive re quality of services, policies and
procedures
• Safeguarding Awareness week January 2015
• Publication J SCR
• New Multi-Agency Referral Form developed
• 2 Journals published
• Multi-Agency Child Protection Procedures updated
• Thematic analysis of RBSCB audits
March 2015 - The Government issued amended statutory guidance relating to:
• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• What to do if you are worried a Child is Being Abused
• Information Sharing
• Safeguarding Children in Education
A report and presentation is in the process of being developed to update partners
regarding new requirements/changes.
5. Business Plan and Risk Register
5.1. The Business plan is delivered through the work plans of the sub-groups and
reviewed prior to every Board Meeting. Progress on the plan is good. A copy of the
RBSCB Busienss Plan is available at www.rbscb.org
5.2. The Quality Assurance Subgroup hold and maintain the RBSCB Risk Register and
report quarterly to the Board
6. The Annual Report
6.1. The Annual Report 2014 – 15 is currently being written with a plan to present to the
RBSCB for sign off July/August 2015 and will be the subject of the next report to the
A&S committee.
7. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
None arising from this report
8. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
None arising from this report
9. IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
None arising from this report
10. BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION
RBSCB Business Unit
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