Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Service Director (Children's Safeguarding & Prevention).

At its meeting on 11 April 2013, the Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee considered a report on the processes and pathways in place in Stockport in relation to the identification of a problem for a child, young person or family, including bullying or harassment.

Officer contact: Chris McLoughlin, 0161 474 4624, chris.mcloughlin@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Children & Child Protection) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the process and pathways in place in the Stockport to identify a problem for a child, young person or family, including those associated with bullying or harassment.

The Supporting Families Pathway provided a central point of contact for professionals and the public to raise concerns and for these to be considered by a range of agencies through a common assessment framework (CAF). The report also highlighted work being undertaken to develop a Multi-agency Safeguarding and Support Hub (MASH) to ensure more intelligent and effective information sharing between agencies.

This matter had been referred to the Scrutiny Committee by the Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee on 11 April 2013 in order to ensure that the Scrutiny Committee was aware of the development of the Multi-agency Hub.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In the last quarter over 1300 calls were received, of which 700 were directed through the Pathway, which previously would have been referred through the Social Care system.

·         The further involvement and co-location of colleagues from health would be welcomed to provide advice and guidance to callers, although this was more problematic now that health visiting was no longer commissioned locally. Nonetheless, there was close working between the Council and NHS safeguarding teams.

·         The Pathway was not designed for urgent or emergency interventions, which would be handled through out-of-hours social care services or through the Police. Nonetheless, Police officers were embedded within the team and were useful in early identification and intervention.

·         Safeguards were in place to prevent non-risk issues being escalated and unnecessary and distressing interventions taking place.

·         Stockport Homes staff were currently aligned to the Pathway, although co-location was a longer term aspiration.

·         GPs were aware of the system and had made referrals through the Pathway, although there was scope for this to be reinforced.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Service Director (Children & Child Protection) be invited to submit further reports on the Multi-agency Safeguarding and Support Hub (MASH) as appropriate.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Children's Safeguarding & Prevention).

The report provides an overview of the processes and pathways in place in Stockport in relation to the identification of a problem for a child, young person or family, including bullying or harassment.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Susan Claydon on 474 3191 or email: susan.claydon@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Service Director (Children's Safeguarding and Prevention) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the processes and pathways in place in Stockport in relation to the identification of a problem for a child, young person or family, including bullying or harassment.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Health Scrutiny Committee be recommended to give further consideration to the development of the multi-agency safeguarding and support hub which aimed to ensure better and more intelligent information sharing between key public sector agencies in approximately six months’ time.