FYLDE CHILDREN'S TRUST PARTNERSHIP SAFEGUARDING

What is Safeguarding? Safeguarding & Promoting the Welfare of Children 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' HM Government, (2006) defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as: Protecting children from maltreatment; Preventing impairment of children's health and development; Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and undertaking that role so as to enable children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

Definitions of Abuse: Physical Abuse Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in a child. Emotional Abuse The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on a child's emotional development. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another as in the case of domestic abuse. Neglect The persistent failure to meet a child's basis physical and / or psychological needs likely to result in the serious impairment of a child's health and development. Sexual Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts.

Safeguarding is everybody's responsibility: If all agencies are proactive in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and are effective in identifying children with additional needs, ensuring early intervention through the CAF the need action to protect children will be reduced. Support/protection of children cannot be achieved by a single agency… Every Service has to play its part. All staff must have placed upon them the clear expectation that their primary responsibility is to the child and his or her family.” Lord Laming in the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report

National Context: Background Sadly the national context for safeguarding has been shaped by the tragic deaths of a number of children. 1.Death of Victoria Climbie (Feb 2002) 2.The death of Jessica Chapman & Holly Wells (August 2003) 3.The death of Peter Connelly (Aug 2007) prompted a national review of safeguarding following the Climbie Inquiry. Lord Laming's report: 'The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report' was published on the 12 March The Government published its response: 'The Protection of Children in England: action plan' in May 2009, accepting all of Lord Laming's recommendations. Key changes: i.Establishment of a new National Safeguarding Delivery Unit; ii.Rewrite of 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' (Due for publication on the ). The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit published a Pre-Consultation Paper in November Deadline for responses: 17 December (Note references to Children's Trusts); iii.A more rigorous inspection framework (See below); iv.New national indicators (proposals are currently out for consultation. Response deadline: 8 December 2009.

Laming: Key Messages: Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility; Commitment at every level to protecting children; Everyone should know how & who to contact if they are concerned about a child; Place the child at the centre of all that we do: listen to children; Training & support for front-line staff, service managers & political leaders; Professionals working with adults should be trained to identify & assess the needs of & risk of harm to children; Importance of early intervention & support for children at risk of significant harm; Multi-agency assessments of child’s needs, including direct contact with child, case histories and significant events; Thresholds should not prevent children in need accessing services; Serious Case Reviews need to be effective in learning lessons: at local, regional & national level; All police, probation, adult mental health & adult drug & alcohol services should have well understood referral processes which prioritise the protection of children.

Inspection Framework: Comprehensive Area Assessment: annual rating of council children’s services for (Effective from The new Performance Profile includes the following: Block A: Inspected and regulated services and settings. Block B: Children Looked After and Safeguarding Inspection (3 yearly inspection - 10 days notice); Annual unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment; Relevant joint area review inspection findings in relation to safeguarding and looked after children; findings from any triggered inspection; and serious case review evaluation findings; Findings from any triggered inspection and serious case review evaluation findings. Block C: Every Child Matters Indicators (National Indicator Set).

Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board Role of LSCB: Coordinate local work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; Ensure the effectiveness of the work: –S11 Audit completed by LSCB member agencies - process of self-assessment against 9 standards (completed annually); –Promote continuous improvement Develop policies and procedures; Training: ensure single-agency and inter-agency training on safeguarding & promoting welfare is provided to meet local needs; Raise awareness of how everybody can contribute to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of children; Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of what is done by the LA and Board partners, individually and collectively to safeguard & promote welfare of children and advise on ways to improve; Arrangements in place to ensure the safety & welfare of children who are privately fostered; Response to child deaths: All child deaths are reviewed by the LSCB Child Death Overview Panel; Undertake Serious Case Reviews and ensure lessons are learned (LSCB Serious Case Review Group).

Performance Indications October Months FyldeFylde and WyreCounty Number of referrals Re-referrals 485xx Percentage of Referrals Completed Within 7 days 67.52%xx Number of Section 47 Enquiries xx2029 Number of Re- registrations 4.5%x11.9% Number of Section 47 Enquiries to ICPC x76943 Number of Children on Register

Fylde Child Protection Plans - 13 FyldeLancashire Emotional Abuse5250 Neglect5387 Physical Abuse193 Sexual Abuse251