Issue - meetings

The Panel received a report from the Director of Children’s Services which provided the annual report of the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB), a partnership of all agencies in Hampshire that work to Safeguard Children.

The Panel were introduced to the board’s five strategic priorities and achievements in relation to these; a Neglect Strategy for Multiagency Professionals, the Trigger Trio, Key Safeguarding Issues, Quality Assurance & Stakeholder Engagement.  

In response to questions members heard that;

·         Domestic Violence programmes are working and good feedback has been received.

·         There is a lower number of Disabled Children subject to Child Protection than average. It was noted that although many families will need support to care for these young people, on balance the numbers should be higher and this is a national issue.

·         Referrals from the voluntary sector are low as usually CSD is already involved. However there is an event organised to help voluntary organisations understand how the process works.

·         NHS England commission Secure beds for Children and there are few resources available. Bluebird House is in Totton and is national resource, however there are discussions in relation to the delivery of education.

·         Usually, families move down levels in the support system and rarely have their support end suddenly. Where this is the case it is planned, however one tension is that level 3 intervention can be refused.

Resolved:The Children and Families Advisory Panel is asked to:

·         Note that the child protection partnership is working effectively across

Hampshire but there are pressure points in relation to the volume of

activity in the system.

·         Ensure that learning from Serious Case Review’s is embedded in respective agencies and leads to effective information sharing between organisations.

And that;

·         The Chairman writes to Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, to express concern on behalf of the Children & Families Advisory Panel on the issue of Home Education.

·         A report to inform the Panel of the reasons for the increase of Home Education and the increase it could have on Child Protection is brought to a future meeting of CFAP.