www.cambslscb.org.uk

Cambridgeshire Local Safeguarding Children Board

(LSCB) and Schools in Cambridgeshire

Josie Collier – LSCB Business ManagerSally Giddins – LSCB Training Manager

www.cambslscb.org.uk

What is the Local Safeguarding Children Board?•“The LSCB is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant organisations in each local area will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in that locality, and for ensuring the effectiveness of what they do” Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) – Chapter 3

• However, there was a consultation regarding a revised Working Together out with a separate piece of statutory guidance “Statutory Guidance on Learning and Improvement” which closed in September 2012. We are awaiting the revised document from the DfE

www.cambslscb.org.uk

LSCB Objectives under Working Together (2010)Two key Objectives:

• To co-ordinate what is done by each person or body represented on the Board for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and

• To ensure the effectiveness of what is done by each such person or body for that purpose

www.cambslscb.org.uk

LSCB Functions under Working Together (2010)

Developing policies and procedures, internal and interagency e.g. on reporting abuse, thresholds, training of staff, private fosteringParticipating in the planning of services for childrenCommunicating the need to safeguard childrenMonitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of what is to done to safeguard childrenEnsuring a coordinated response to unexpected child deaths Collecting and analysing information about child deaths Undertaking Serious Case Reviews

www.cambslscb.org.uk

LSCB MembershipThe LSCB in Cambridgeshire has representation from:• 4 hospital trusts; 1community health providers; the

mental health foundation trust; the Clinical commissioning group – including designated nurse and doctor

• Children’s Social care and Youth Offending Service and Youth Support

• Police• Two primary school heads and the CCC CYPS Learning

Directorate (also covering early years• Probation, CCC Adults Services• CAFCASS• A voluntary sector representative• A representative from District councils in Cambs• A ‘lay member’ (who has interesting in F.E)

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Legal duties to safeguard children• The LSCB should have a particular focus on ensuring

that those key people and organisations that have a duty under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 or section175 of the Education Act 2002 are fulfilling their statutory obligations about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

• Schools are not s11 partners but s175 (Ed Act 2002) does apply to LEAs and to governing bodies of schools in relation to welfare of children:

• The governing body of a maintained school shall make arrangements for ensuring that their functions relationing to the conduct of the school are exercised with a view to promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at the school

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Safeguarding and Schools – Working Together 2012

Schools (including independent schools and non-maintained special schools) and FE institutions should give effect to their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils by:

• creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for children and young people; and identifying where there are child welfare concerns and taking action to address them, in partnership with other organisations where appropriate.

• Schools also contribute through the curriculum by developing children’s understanding, awareness and resilience.

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Safeguarding and Schools – Working Together 2012

• Schools and FE institutions should have a senior member of staff who is designated to take lead responsibility for dealing with child protection issues;

• Schools play an important role in making children and young people aware both of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable, and of how they can help keep themselves safe. (PHSE framework)

• However Working Together acknowledges that teachers at a school are allowed to use reasonable force to control or restrain pupils under certain circumstances.

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LSCB Business Priorities 2012-4: what does they mean for schools?

• Effective responses to specific safeguarding concerns e.g. Child Sexual Exploitation, Domestic Abuse, Parental Alcohol misuse

• Effective early intervention and safeguarding (training; policy and procedures; understanding gaps)

• Communication and Engagement – getting the messages out to schools and back in from school

• Performance management – multi-agency audits; Governors report via Education Child Protection Service

www.cambslscb.org.uk

Schools and the Management of Risks by the LSCB

• LSCB monitors risks to an effective safeguarding system. Recent risks highlighted were effective safeguarding in Eastern Europeans new Communities; new Disclose and Barring checks and in safer recruitment. As well as this, schools are a good ‘barometer’ of a community’s profile and ‘health’ and can describe well the key challenges for children and young people.