Issue - meetings

The Board was reminded that the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) had been replaced by the Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP), a statutory partnership, on 30^th September 2019.  The Board was invited to give consideration to the LSCB annual report covering the period 1^st April 2018 to 30^th September 2019 in order to conclude the work of the LSCB.

LSCBs had been introduced in April 2006 with the primary responsibility of coordinating and ensuring the effectiveness of the work undertaken by partner agencies for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  The 18-month report demonstrated the activity and impact that the Oldham LSCB had in year one of a three-year strategic plan (2018-2021) across six key priority areas of domestic abuse; complex and contextual safeguarding; children not accessing education; transitions; understanding the impact of trauma; and the child’s lived experience.

It was noted that in the 18 month period progress had been evident in all priority areas with key successes including the introduction of Operation Encompass to support information sharing about domestic abuse between police and schools; the introduction of multi-agency training to support trauma informed practice across the Partnership; and dedicated work with children and young people to develop tools to support access to mental health support services.  Learning and improvement activity focused on areas of complex safeguarding, and the Greater Manchester peer review of September 2019 highlighted both good practice and areas for improvement, all of which are being used to shape and develop Oldham’s Complex Safeguarding offer.

Six serious case reviews and two multi agency concise reviews were held during the period of the report, highlighting key learning themes including - 

·         the need for evidence-based approaches and interventions relating to children’s mental health and trauma;

·         a focus on improving the quality of assessments;

·         a collective commitment to addressing neglect;

·         a focus on collaborative working, decision making and planning;

·         early identification of risk specifically in relation to unborn babies, non-mobile children and those at risk of exploitation; and

·         supporting professionals to be culturally competent in their practice.

Considering the period following the annual report, the Board was advised that the vision and aims of the OSCP were those stated in the three-year strategic plan (2018-2021), with the local safeguarding partners continuing to be committed to this vision and aims, demonstrating continuity of commitment to the safeguarding partnership, irrespective of change to governance structures.  Joint working with Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board was continuing to develop a joint Safeguarding Oldham brand, social media and website platforms and to engage with adult safeguarding colleagues in a new model of learning and improvement which will ensure that cross cutting themes are identified and responded to quickly and effectively.

RESOLVED that the Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report for 1^st April 2018 to 30^th September 2019 be noted.