David Mellor, Chair of the Children and Adult Safeguarding Boards, will attend the meeting to discuss safeguarding and in particular the issues around safeguarding in health settings.
More information about the work of the Safeguarding Boards can be found online at:
www.safeguardingchildreninstockport.org.uk
Minutes:
David Mellor, Chair of the Stockport Safeguarding Children and the Adult Safeguarding Boards, attended the meeting to discuss with the Scrutiny Committee the work of the Boards and the particular safeguarding challenges related to health.
Mr Mellor provided the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of each Board and the level of activity taking place by each. In both cases, there was rising demand through increased referrals.
The Children’s Board was a statutory body, which included arrangements for funding its work, and involved approximately 35 agencies. The Adult Board was not yet statutory, although there was a Bill before Parliament that would provide it with a statutory footing. Currently, the only source of funding was from the Council, which was unacceptable if there was genuine commitment from all partners to protecting adults.
There had been an 18% increase in referrals to the Council relating to adult safeguarding concerns. This need not necessarily reflect a worsening situation but was more likely due to increasing awareness, particularly in the wake of the Francis and Winterbourne View Reports.
It was stated that Health Service partners were active and committed members of both Boards, in particular the CCG which was developing robust systems in relation to safeguarding. The Foundation Trust had experienced challenges in ensuring all staff had been trained and that here were appropriate supervision arrangements.
The following additional areas of challenge/ ongoing work were identified:-
· Significant work since 2012 to address Ofsted findings in relation to health checks for Looked After Children.
· Action Plan in place to improve pre-birth assessments.
· CAMHS service under significant pressure to provide specialist services to the high numbers of non-Stockport looked after children in placements in the borough.
· Pressures on School Nursing.
· Challenges in engaging with all GP practices.
· Child Sexual Exploitation remained a challenging area for partners, although lots of work had been done to mitigate risk and provide support to possible victims.
The following comments were made/ issues raised:-
· The CCG had significantly increased its safeguarding provision and resource. It was taking steps to ensure that this activity was embedded across the organisation as well as ensuring there were effective systems embedded within the services it contracted. The Governing Body took an active interest in these issues and was very aware of the funding issues. Work was continuing with the Local Area Team of NHS England to ensure all GPs were being engaged.
· The number of private children’s care homes in Stockport presented a number of challenges and had been subject to a Review by the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee. These children deserved the best service, regardless of their origin, but it had to be recognised that they put additional pressure on services. There were also approximately 79 Stockport looked after children placed outside the Borough and there would be ongoing consideration about the appropriateness of these placements.
· The Adult Board had been able to engage with acute providers and the Foundation Trust was a member of the Board. Although there was regular reporting, it was currently reliant on the willing co-operation of the Trust/ providers.
· Recent convictions and high profile cases of adult abuse and neglect had helped in raising the profile of adult safeguarding. Importantly the convictions would also act as a deterrent.
· The rigidity of the eligibility criteria for access CAMHS had been a source of concern and had led to serious problems. The work of the Council in developing a 0-25 approach to services to overcome problems with transition would assist with this.
· Concern was expressed about the ongoing difficulties with training and engagement with GPs. While it was recognised that GPs were under increasing pressure, it was vital to ensure that they were trained to get safeguarding basics right.
RESOLVED - (1) That David Mellor be thanked for his attendance and presentation.
(2) That the Chief Operating Officer of the Clinical Commissioning Group be requested to circulate a copy of the CCG Safeguarding Policy.