Agenda item

Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) Annual Report 2016-17

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services (Item 5a attached) in respect of BSCB Annual Report 2016-17 (Item 5b attached)

 

Minutes:

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:-

 

·         Bob Dyson, Independent Chair, BSCB

·         Brigid Reid, Chief Nurse, Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

·         Angela Fawcett, Designated Nurse Safeguarding Children, Barnsley CCG

·         Chief Superintendent Scott Green, Barnsley District Commander, South

·         Yorkshire Police (SYP)

·         Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Bates, SYP

·         Mel John-Ross, Service Director, Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding,

·         BMBC

·         Monica Green, Head of Service-Safeguarding & Quality Assurance, BMBC

·         Nigel Leeder, BSCB Manager, BMBC

·         Cllr Margaret Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson - People (Safeguarding), BMBC

 

Bob Dyson  introduced a report of the Executive Director Core Services in respect of the BSCB Annual Report 2016-17, highlighting the work of the Board over the last year and outlining its plans for continued improvement, including key priorities for 2017-18. 

 

Questions were asked in response to the report submitted and the following matters were highlighted: 

 

·         Children and young people are at the heart of the Board and their views exert a strong influence on the work of the Board through various mechanisms, including the recent National Takeover Day, and their experiences are fed into continuous improvement plans.

 

·         Children and young people are exposed to a number of harmful behaviours but neglect is a particular challenge.  An additional multi-agency sub group has recently been formed to focus on this issue, interfacing with Early Help to respond quickly.  A new care profile and assessment tool has also been developed to better identify and respond to risk.

 

·         A task and finish group has been established to review and refresh the Anti-Bullying Strategy.  The profile of bullying is changing and bullying via social media is prevalent.  Children have stated that they feel safest when in school and schools have been heavily involved in developing the Anti Bullying Strategy, to include the journey to and from school.  It is essential that children are kept safe in school and that they are listened to and empowered to speak openly and honestly about issues which concern them. 

·         Investment has been put into schools to combat emotional and mental abuse.  The Thrive Project provides early support and the tools to deal with bombardment, thereby building a child’s resilience.  A partnership approach involving Health Visitors, School Nurses and GPs, who all understand the emotional impact of bullying on children, ensures that children get the right support at the right time.  There are a number of examples from young people demonstrating how schools are dealing with bullying effectively, which is reassuring.

  

·         Reassurances were given that despite pressure on budgets, keeping children safe using effective multi agency working and a wraparound approach is the key priority for the Board.

 

·         Having one Independent Chair across both the Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Adult Safeguarding Board works effectively as best practice can be spread across both boards.  The Communication Strategy sits across both boards.  Senior leadership within the People Directorate is joined up and strong.

 

·         When children and young people transition from the Children’s Board to the Adult Board, issues are picked up, regardless of the age of the child, as children have ongoing needs which may involve single or multiple agencies.  Transition features heavily on the business plans of both boards.

 

RESOLVED:

 

  1. That the report be noted.

 

  1. That updates be provided regarding the findings of the Anti Bullying task and finish group, particularly with regard to social media bullying.

 

  1. That the witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution.

 

Supporting documents:

 

A - Z Directory