Decision details

Jane Booth, Independent Chair of the Lancashire Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB), presented the Committee with the Annual Report for 2015/16 which set out the priorities for the LSCB and areas identified for future work.

Members of the Committee were invited to comment and raise questions and a summary of the discussion is set out below:

A query was raised in relation to data around dentistry. It was confirmed that there was a statutory requirement for health assessments which included dentistry for looked after children and performance data from these health assessments was received at each Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) meeting. Committee members noted a request for further information on the monitoring of the uptake of the dentistry service for children and young people and in particular for looked after children.

Members were informed that in relation to interfamilial sexual abuse, a task and finish group has been established to look at data available from child protection plans and initiatives.  In addition, the types of referrals and numbers of cases supported through Early Help was being considered along with the provision of training. The task and finish group would be reporting back recommendations to the Board in the New Year and it was also identified to organise an awareness raising campaign once this work had been completed.

The Committee were advised that, as a response to the recent Ofsted inspection, a review had taken place which identified the following:

·  Adoption of a new approach to audit with the implementation of three virtual audit teams in three localities.  In addition, there were plans in place to hold a number of multi-agency audits per year.

·  A full multi-agency data set was confirmed to be in place and a Quality Assurance group established reporting to the Board.

·  Further strengthening of the routine Section 11 audit (safeguarding) and enhancement to the challenge of those audits which would be done every third year to challenge evidence from the self-assessments.

It was confirmed that there was a national requirement for notification on female genital mutilation cases. This area of work linked to community engagement and there continued to be a need to engage better with communities to support this area of work. 

There were reported to be ongoing concerns around Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). The Health and Wellbeing Board had previously agreed to review the service but the Committee was advised that a wider national review of this service was underway.  Members were reassured that the LSCB were continuing to receive updates on this service.

It was reported that as part of the Pan Lancashire review on mental health, there was a task group set up to look at vulnerable children and their different needs.  It was suggested that there was a need for investment in research or alternative therapies to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or medication currently available.

Resolved: The Committee:

1. Considered and commented on the content of the Annual Report and identified actions to take.
2. At the January 2017 meeting, consider what information to be received around children and young people's health for the meeting in April.