Scrutiny of Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board

1. Scrutiny of Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board October 2011 www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

2. Introduction and Background Phil Picton www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

3. Co-ordinate • Develop policy and procedure • Participate in service planning • Communicate the need to safeguard • Ensure a coordinated response to unexpected death www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

4. Ensure effectiveness • Monitor effectiveness of what is done • Undertake serious case reviews • Collect and analyse info about child death • Publish an annual report on the effectiveness of local arrangements • Deliver inter-agency training www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

5. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

6. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

7. Munro’s LSCB Recommendations Endorsed LSCBs • Annual report to go to HWB and PCC • New role to monitor/evaluate partners contribution/resourcing and impact of early help. • SCRs to be more about systems and less about individual failings (and not to be assessed by Ofsted) www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

8. Other Issues • Reviewing the Board • Funding • 2010-11: £599k • 2011-12: 20% reduction • 2012-13: standstill with growth in business? • Risks from transitions • The link with services for parents www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

9. HSCB Business Plan 2010/11 Overview Jon Chapman www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

10. Business Plan • 10 Themes • 50 business plan actions • Each reported on quarterly by business leads www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

11. Progress • 49 of the 50 actions completed • Remaining action had work to carry over (CDOP) • Good partnership working • Robust monitoring process www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

12. Multi-Agency Pre-Birth Protocol Nicola Curley www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

13. Why develop a new protocol • Children under 1 year are at the highest risk of serious injury or death, but in 2009, only 9 unborns and 72 under 1s were subject to a CP Plan out of a total cohort of 648 • Referrals were limited and of poor quality • Understanding between agencies about risk was poor • Understanding of roles and responsibilities across agencies was limited • Number of SCRS and Case Reviews related to this age group in HCC www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

14. Making changes • Multi agency working group • Focus groups with range of agencies • Adult perspectives versus child centred working • Changing thresholds (Section 47 intervention) • User feedback www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

15. Key aspects of the new protocol • Amended “Meeting the Needs” • New electronic referral forms and earlier acceptance • Inter-agency information sharing meeting • Named link representatives in each Assessment Team • Pre-birth clinics • Emphasis on fathers www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

16. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

17. The protocol in practice • Launched December 2010 as part of the new HSCB Safeguarding Procedures • It is for all agencies across Hertfordshire, but particularly relates to Midwifery, Probation, CMHT, CLDT and the Police • Been in operation 9 months and referral quality significantly improved • 12 unborns subject to CP Plans and 97 under 1s (= 20.7%) www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

18. Next steps • Continue to develop links with HCS and HPFT to take forward assessments for CP and court • Embed the pre-birth clinics more effectively • Continue to improve the earliest possible identification of unborn babies at risk of significant harm through joint working. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

19. HSCB Training Strategy Alison Cutler www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

20. Context – why change? • Need to streamline and focus the training • Improve cost effectiveness • Build capacity to deliver the training • Link to Serious Case Reviews • Improve attendance • Improve relevance • Ensure fit for purpose • Robust monitoring and evaluation www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

21. Highlights 2010 - 2011 • Permanent training team • Evaluation tool developed - consistent standards for level one Safeguarding training • ‘Model’ level 1 safeguarding training package for use across all agencies • Learning and Development strategy • New training programme and online booking system available on the HSCB website • Successful annual conference on the subject of Neglect www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

22. Highlights 2010 – 2011 cont’d • Redesign of core training courses • Greater focus on lessons learned from Serious Case Reviews • Lite bites – successful trial in terms of numbers attending and impact • Train the trainer programme launched including a trainer network for all safeguarding trainers in Hertfordshire www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

23. Outcomes….. • Delivered more for less i.e. 482 people were trained in 2009-10 and in 2010-11 this number rose to 1,340 people being trained with no budget overspend. • Increase in percentage of attendance on courses from 42% to 75%. Courses therefore not operating at a loss and are relevant to the needs of agencies and practitioners. • Positive evaluations www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

24. Outcomes cont’d • Robust monitoring of safeguarding training provision across agencies - gaps identified and appropriate support implemented • Training pool reinstated creating a Hertfordshire focus, consistency and links with practice by utilising trainers and expert speakers from partner agencies • All actions in the HSCB Business Plan achieved for the provision, strategic direction and monitoring of training www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

25. Next steps • Further core programmes and lite bites developed e.g. working with families/carers • Further development of cost effective training/learning based on latest research • Support of interface project – strengthening the link between adult and childrens services • Build on success of CP forums for provision of training and learning meeting local needs • Develop further links with the voluntary sector www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

26. Child Protection Forums in Hertfordshire Deborah Brice www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

27. Child Protection Forums • Broxbourne and East Herts • North Herts and Stevenage • St Albans and Dacorum • Watford and 3 Rivers • Welwyn Hatfield and Hertsmere. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

28. Attendees • HSCB Business Unit Rep • Children’s Social Care • Principal Officers • Schools - designated teacher • Police - local • NHS Provider Trusts - Named doctor/nurse/MW • General Practitioners • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service • Health Visiting Service • School Nursing Service • District Council Housing and other relevant services • Probation • Voluntary and Private Sector Providers. • DV Forums • CMHTs & CDATs www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

29. Primary Functions • To support and enhance links between the strategic and local operational safeguarding children agenda • The promotion and co-ordination of good child protection practice at a local level • The monitoring and quality assurance of local child protection practice • Contribute to the work of the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

30. Functions achieved by • Ensuring effective implementation of HSCB policies and procedures at local level (linked to the HSCB Policy & Procedures sub-group). • Ensuring effective inter-agency co-ordination of local child protection services. • Monitoring, reviewing and analysing statistical reports of local child protection activity and reporting back to the HSCB Audit & Performance Analysis sub-group. • Reviewing local multi-agency working arrangements and resolving any conflicts. • Problem solving local multi-agency issues www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

31. Identifying shortfalls in provision and recommending strategies for meeting identified needs • Promoting and facilitating the HSCB inter-agency child protection training programme (linked to the HSCB Training sub-group) • Promoting and reviewing general standards of inter-agency child protection work by local audit and quality assurance of cases • Promoting public awareness of the problem of child abuse and preventative strategies • Other tasks as requested by HSCB • Promoting work across interface between children and adults. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

32. Up-date on the work of theHSCB Child Death Overview Panel Deborah Brice & Maria Barnett www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

33. Purpose of the Child Death Overview Panel One of the HSCB statutory functions in relation to the deaths of any children in its area is to: • collate and analyse information about each death with a view to identifying any case that requires a serious case review • any matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children in the area and • any wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or pattern of deaths www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

34. Practice The HSCB has put in place procedures for ensuring that there is a co-ordinated response by the authority, its HSCB partners and other relevant persons to an unexpected death as follows: • Core Functions of the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) • Procedures for Notifying a Child Death • Rapid Response process www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

35. Core Functions of CDOP • The HSCB Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) receives and assesses data on the deaths of all children from birth to 18 years in Hertfordshire (excluding those exceptions as set out in statutory guidance Working Together 2010 e.g. legal, planned terminations and stillbirths) • This includes neonatal deaths, expected and unexpected deaths in infants and in older children. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

36. Local development • A local leaflet for parents, families and carers, developed by CDOP is being sent out (with a letter) by the HSCB Project Officer on behalf of the CDOP Chair to help explain why the death of every child under the age of 18 needs to be reviewed by professionals from a number of different organisations. • It is called 'What we have to do when a child dies' and is located on the HSCB website. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

37. Local leaflet cont’d • This information explains how parents can contribute to the review perhaps via their GP or other health professionals who forward this information onto the Review Panel. • It reassures parents, families and carers that the information we gather will be treated with the greatest respect and in strictest confidence. • We guarantee that none of our findings, recommendations or reports will name or identify their child or family. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

38. Local trends • In year 2010, 56 deaths were reported to CDOP, and the panel has been able to review 53 of these (refer to briefing paper for statistics). • Three cases are outstanding, awaiting the outcome of a coroner’s inquest or other review processes. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

39. Recommendations and learning points arising from child death reviews • The national report contains a series of learning points collated from local reports. Co-sleeping and smoking were identified nationally as priorities and have been the main focus of Hertfordshire CDOP activity in 2010. • A campaign to educate on these matters has been agreed by the HSCB and will be implemented this financial year 2011. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

40. Partnership Case ReviewsAlternative methods of learning James Townend www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

41. Alternative methods of Learning Partnership Case Reviews (PCRs)– an innovative systemic model that is new to Hertfordshire building on the experience of the police Individual agency reviews – where one agency/organisation would review its work or involvement with a family Working groups to address specific case issues. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

42. The PCR process A referral is received by the Serious Case Review sub-group where the criteria for a SCR are not met, but it is felt lessons in respect of multi-agency safeguarding practice could still be identified The terms of reference for the review are established by the SCR sub-group Key professionals from all involved agencies are invited to a facilitated workshop. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

43. The PCR process cont’d The facilitated workshop is supported by a software product called ‘Smartspeed’, a facilitator, an ‘expert’, and a ‘technographer’ Working with the involved professionals the workshop establishes the facts of the case and from these the lessons that can be identified in respect of safeguarding practice. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

44. PCR learning • This occurs on three levels: • an individual basis by the participants in the partnership case review; • a locale basis as a function of the fact that the services involved are generally grouped around specific localities; and • on a strategic basis when the identified lessons are reviewed by the Serious Case Review sub-group with a view to extrapolating whether they can/should be applied to broader safeguarding processes. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

45. Other methods of learning • Where a case has easily identifiable issues more focussed pieces of work have been completed, these have included: • The initiation of a single agency review • The establishment of a multi-agency working party to address a specific issue • Or instigating immediate actions to address obvious flaws www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

46. The lessons learnt Professionals need to understand that risk relates to behaviour and context whether that behaviour is attributable to a diagnosable mental health problem or not Bruising or bleeding in pre-mobile babies should always be referred for a CP medical The impact of an adults learning disability on their ability to parent safely must be adequately assessed. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

47. The lessons learnt Risk assessments need to understand the cumulative impact of multiple risk factors Where professionals do not receive an adequate response to a safeguarding concern they need to make use of the appropriate escalation protocol When working with pregnant women professionals need to view behaviour in the context of the adults future role as parents. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

48. The lessons learnt Where patients move between GP surgeries or across geographical boundaries a summary of their social, as well as medical, history is essential in informing newly involved health professionals of their vulnerabilities. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

49. District and Borough Councilsprogress in taking forward the findings of the Section 11 audit Matt Rayner & Maria Barnett www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

50. Statutory context • Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a duty on all statutory agencies working with children and young people to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. • This duty means that these key people and bodies must make arrangements to ensure two things: • Firstly that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children • Secondly, that the services they contract out to others are provided having regard to that need. www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk