Multi-Agency Case File Audits (MACFA) Learning Briefing Nicki Pettitt, Independent MACFA Auditor 18 th September 2015

Setting the scene – the legal and local context The MACFA process in Telford & Wrekin The themes and key observations The learning and impact Future plans Plan for the session

Each Local Safeguarding Children Board has a statutory function to: Assess the effectiveness of the help being provided to children and families, including early help Quality assure practice, including through joint audits of case files involving practitioners and identifying lessons to be learned Working Together to Safeguard Children

3 themed audits per year. Themes agreed in advance and reflect local or national priorities/need. Names/DOB/address of 4* children plus parents sent out in advance. (*Can vary by theme) File audit and discussions with staff to take place and information recorded – using audit tool. Consideration of family engagement. Day long meeting with key agencies and safeguarding leads/managers in attendance. Feedback to staff involved on the learning, undertaken after the meeting, and again when the report is received. Audit summary report completed by the chair with key learning, recommendations and an action plan. The MACFA Process (1)

O for Outstanding G for Good RI for Requires Improvement In for inadequate The MACFA Process (2): OFSTED Gradings

Immediate concerns for children identified within the case file audit are referred back by the managers present immediately following the meeting (or in some cases while the case is being audited and before the formal meeting.) Any performance issues in regards to staff or agencies that are identified during the MACFA are reported back to the managers within the agency and there is an expectation that these are addressed with the professional, this might include a review of their wider work with children and their families. The MACFA Process (3): concerns and performance

The quality of: Early recognition and intervention Assessment Participation Implementation of plans Effectiveness of multi-agency working Recording Management and supervision Voice of the child (Other issues are included depending on the theme) Good practice is also specifically highlighted. The MACFA Process (4): what is audited?

Domestic abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Neglect Children harming children (currently being finalised) The MACFA themes so far.....

Key observations: Be specific in recording of assessments and referrals, especially in relation to substance misuse The voice of the child should be sought and specifically recorded Plans should be outcome focused and have time boundaries Information sharing with those not present at meetings should occur High complexity in the cases Involvement of health professionals was not always evident Chronologies not always evidence on case files Gap around use of CIN and step up and step down processes Contingency planning needs to be in place Good awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on children MACFA 1: Domestic Abuse

MACFA 2: Child Sexual Exploitation Key observations: Recording the facts and exactly what was meant was not evident The perpetrator’s age was not included in records. Information was not shared widely No use of timelines, genograms or eco-grams Lack of chronologies Lack of clarity about the purpose of the plans and consistency across the plans Exploration of the parents/sibling’s history was not evident. Wider family was not always considered in assessments. Having the child and parent/s at CSE strategy meetings appears to ensure good cooperation from families in the plan. A good relationship is reported between the CATE and sexual health practitioners.

MACFA 3: Neglect Key observations: Toxic trio was present in all cases audited Additional vulnerability noted in many cases Large sibling groups often recorded as one, rather than each child individually. Assessment of impact of new babies on care of other siblings not always evident. The impact of neglect over time not always considered and evidence of drift. Disguised compliance present Professionals not knowing how to respond to neglect in the case of an older child. Step down and ‘start again’ evident. Positive impact of the neglect strategy and pilot seen especially around involvement of the child/young person in their plan.

MACFA 4: Children harming children (CHC) This is in the process of being signed off but the key observations are: Lack of chronologies A lack of understanding of the CHC pathway. The need to include health professionals to strategy meetings Considering and referring both victims and perpetrators is needed Consideration of the impact on the wider family and community not evident The YOS attending strategy meetings to ensure early information sharing in CHC cases. That children and young people are not automatically criminalised despite the serious nature of some of the allegations, and the admissions of the child.

MACFA recommendations - examples Neglect MACFA: That the TWSCB considers undertaking an audit of all children where there is a CP plan for neglect to establish if there is a chronology and a genogram on agency records. Child Sexual Exploitation MACFA: That the TWSCB considers how it can be assured that when a child is hurting another child, the process which considers them as a child in their own right is robust.

MACFA impact - examples Chronologies multiagency guidance on chronologies was devised and shared with agencies to diseminate and use to compliment their specific processes. The local authority are considering the utilisation of the same electronic chronology across all areas. Core Groups The TWSCB and Local Authority are in the process of finalising updated Core Group procedures which will provide better outcomes for children and families involved. Child’s Daily Lived Experience Pilot The Neglect audit evidenced that the multiagency work around the pilot had impacted positively resulting in better outcomes for the child and the family. The pilot included a practical tool (the clock) for practitioners to use within the core group as well as a different approach in child protection conferences.

Future plans for MACFAs Closer monitoring of the MAFCA actions plans to ensure timely progress 3 MACFAs will be undertaken each year (next one Nov 2015) Consideration of improved family engagement in the audit process Consideration of a MACFA with direct practitioner involvement Improving the sharing of the learning from the MACFAs with a wider audience Links with other local and national learning