Agenda item

Section 11 audits were undertaken to ensure that all services across a local authority were aware of their role in child protection and had suitable policies in place. However, as the 2015 Ofsted inspection had noted, these had not been conducted at SBC recently.

One frequent issue with these audits was where services did not see the direct link between their quotidian work and child protection. To counter this, SBC had established templates for completing forms and offered support to Heads of Service. Whilst this still required reinforcement, measures were being put in place to ensure that this would be embedded as a constant theme across SBC services. It was acknowledged that this was still a work in progress, but it did now have ownership from SBC’s Senior Leadership Team.

The Panel made the following points in discussion:

·  SBC intended to make sure that future audits were not just about compliance. Rather, SBC intended to ensure that it would be at the centre of planning for services.

·  The action plan required populating with information; the Corporate Management Team had reviewed the template and developed action plans to be revisited every 6 months.

·  SLSCB would have a new Chair by the autumn of 2016. Any changes to this body would be undertaken in light of the Wood Review into Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (published in May 2016). Work was also being conducted with the Department for Education to scope the requirements for the new Chair, as well as key partners. The job description was now available, with interviews to be conducted in the summer of 2016.

·  It was recognised that the alteration in service provision had created a complex series of arrangements and reporting mechanisms. Councillors would be prioritised, but the system required simplification to ensure that both duplication and omission of reporting issues was avoided.

Resolved: that the Panel receive an update on progress made regarding Section 11 audits in six month’s time.