Agenda item

Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2016/2017 - Report of the Independent Chair of County Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Independent Chair of Local Safeguarding Children’s Board that presented to Members the Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report for 2016/17. The Business Manager for the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board provided members with a presentation which highlighted their achievements and set out their strategic priorities for 2017 – 2020 (for copy of report and slides, see file of minutes).

 

The Business Manager for the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board informed members that Durham LSCB held a development day in February 2017 to review progress on the priorities, consider key challenges, and to set the following strategic priorities:

 

·         Child Sexual Exploitation

·         Neglect

·         Empowering Young People

·         Working together.

 

Councillor Kennedy asked what had been done with schools to help address self-harm issues. The Business Manager for LSCB advised that this had been a priority for the LSCB last year and had been taken forward by the Health and Wellbeing Board. The Business Manager indicated that there was information available to schools at different levels such as universal package and a tiered package for safeguarding.  It was also advised that Durham County Council’s Educational Psychologists also provide a tool kit to help schools with self-harm issues. Councillor Kennedy went on to ask if there was information for schools to circulate to parents. The Business Manager for LSCB informed that there was information on the website and schools could provide the tool kit to parents. She added that work was being developed for a minded package of support for parents.

 

Councillor Kennedy then asked about the equipment used by social workers to access information. She was advised that Durham County Council provide equipment that was heavily firewalled. The LSCB involves multi agencies and it was up to individual agencies what types of equipment their staff use.

 

In response to a question about Matrix, the Business Manager advised that there was web based training, face to face training and e-learning and Board members were expected to disseminate information.  Information was also available via the schools extranet and the Board worked with safeguarding leads within schools.

 

In relation to Empowering Young People, Councillor Bainbridge asked what was available in schools. She was advised that booklets were available and that the Board was developing a new programme which covers all aspects. The programme was due to be launched within the next few weeks and schools would be encouraged to share the information.

 

Councillor Brookes enquired if there was a parallel process giving information such as serious case reviews. The Business Manager indicated that this information was included in the 60 page annual report and was available on the website. Councillor Brookes asked if the report could be forwarded to all members of the committee.

 

The Business Manager confirmed that the Board worked with primary schools on self-harm and child sexual exploitation following a question from Mrs Swift.

 

Councillor Jewell referred to taxi driver training and asked if the initial expectations had been met.  The Business Manager advised that expectations had been met and initially it was a voluntary awareness session asking taxi drivers to report anything that seemed odd to the police. 1500 taxi drivers had participated in this voluntary training and now it was included as part of the licensing conditions for taxi drivers.  The Board has issued fact sheets for taxi drivers, fast food restaurants, hotels and was now working with bus stations.

 

Resolved:

That the report be noted

 

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