Decision details

Cabinet considered the annual safeguarding report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report was introduced and the approach and response to the key national issues of child exploitation, unaccompanied asylum seeking children and recruitment and retention were drawn out.

Cabinet members welcomed the report and noted its poignancy in light of recent news about Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. It was noted that it was too soon to know whether this tragedy would lead to structural changes to social care and potential budget pressures. However the service was already dealing with an increased number of referrals due to Covid and it was confirmed that Hampshire social workers would always make decisions in the interests of individual children and not according to budget constraints. The above national average rate of school attendance in Hampshire during covid and the success of joined up working between social care, schools and health partners had assisted safeguarding.

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed. A decision

record is attached to these minutes.