Agenda and minutes

The Board welcomed Lucy Cooke, Interim Clinical Director for Children’s Services for the Berkshire East CCG.

The minutes of the Local Safeguarding Children Board meeting on 20 May 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Matters arising

• Rob France notified the Board that the MODUS computer system was owned by Thames Valley Police, and not by the Office of the PCC as incorrectly recorded in the previous minutes. Rob agreed to raise the ongoing issues with the system within Thames Valley Police. (Action: Rob France)
• The E-Safety presentation had been delivered to the Children and Young People’s Partnership by Kellie Williams. The Partnership had resolved to establish a Task and Finish group who would aim to reassure the LSCB that provision would be covered.
• The Department for Education’s completed review of LSCBs and the government response had been circulated. The Association of Independent LSCB Chairs’ response had also been circulated, and it was noted that the AILC were mindful of the potential destabilising nature of the proposed arrangements. The proposed changes were part of the Children and Social Work Bill which was in the committee process within the House of Lords and House of Commons. It will be a substantive future agenda discussion. .
• The Board was notified that Angella Wells would be joining the pan Berkshire Policies and Procedures group in order to provide additional strength to the links between the group and Bracknell Forest LSCB.
• Jonathan Picken reported that he was working with Sarah Roberts to map the current provision of policies and procedures, noting where the different documents were hosted. This piece of work was ongoing.
• It was proposed that the Children’s Social Care Safeguarding Practice Diagnostic action plan progress report would be brought to the Board on 25^th November 2016. (Action: Lorna Hunt)
• The Board requested that an update report on the function of the  MASH also be brought to the November meeting of the Board . (Action: Mairead Panetta)
• The LSCB’s Safeguarding Plan 2016-2019 had been circulated and added to the LSCB website. All LSCB subgroups were asked to align their work plans with this overarching plan for proper integration into the LSCB. (Action: Jonathan Picken/Sub Group Chairs)
• An updated version of the LSCB Funding 2016-17 document had been circulated in order to provide more accurate financial forecasting. Board members to discount the previous report .
• The Board was notified that Andrew Moody, Head of Children and Women’s Commissioning for the East Berkshire CCGs had now left the organisation.
• It was reported that the CAMHS Transformation plan focussed on provision for ASD. There was also a new public health campaign which encouraged models for crisis intervention to be established. Led by Lisa McNally, Public Health had also developed videos ‘for children, by children’ on common mental health issues, and the Board was encouraged to watch these on Bracknell Forest  You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCxGeEIeH4Q&feature=youtu.be&list=UUkF6Nu9dEwCerdmujtoXWVA. The Board agreed that this should be promoted via the LSCB website and through social media  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Kate Whittaker, Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator attended the meeting to present the Domestic Abuse Report.

Overall, performance in Bracknell Forest was good, and it was noted that Bracknell Forest was the only Local Authority in the Thames Valley to achieve a reduction in Domestic Abuse crime between the years 2014/15 and 2015/16. Bracknell Forest also had the lowest number of repeat offenders in Berkshire.

Kate reported that there were however concerns regarding the gaps in provision for children who were subject to or witnesses of Domestic abuse, and the report aimed to identify the gaps.

For the last four years, there had been £100,000 funding from Bracknell Forest Council for Domestic Abuse prevention work. 40% of this had been allocated to Children’s Social Care to fund work with perpetrators, and 60% had been allocated to other Community Safety projects. As a result of the proposed budget cuts by Bracknell Forest Council, the PICADA programme would cease to be funded.

Training of frontline staff would be unaffected by the budget cuts, and it was noted that bespoke training could  be arranged if there was a specific requirement within an organisation. There was a need to ensure that front line staff were aware of and using the training on Domestic Abuse available to them. DASC meetings, the DAPS programme, the It’s Never Ok website and Plain Talking programme were also unaffected by the budget cuts.

Three areas of work have been identified as requiring further work:

1)    Work with those experiencing domestic abuse within their own relationship (either with a partner or family member)

As there was no specialist provision currently in place, there needed to be better signposting in place to services such as Kooth and other counselling services.

2)    Work with those witnessing domestic abuse at home

The PICADA programme had been working with10 children and 6 mothers in 2015/16, but it was recognised that this was a relatively expensive service. It was considered that delivery could be shared between practitioners who had previously been selected and received the required training in order to integrate this within current service delivery.(Action KF to contact agencies to request staff are supported to contribution to PICADA programme)

3)    Preventative work/healthy relationships work in schools

There was some work ongoing in this area, but it was unclear how consistent and effective it was.

Arising from discussion, the following points were noted:

• Children’s Social Care were submitting an innovation bid to DfE with Hertfordshire bid for further funding for domestic abuse work. This would be presented to a future LSCB.
• There had been good attendance at training, particularly from Bracknell Forest staff and agencies. Attendance from Health partners was less regular, and it was suggested that Health partners should check whether training was being attended elsewhere or whether this was an area of need. (Action: Nancy Barber)
• There had been a lack of engagement from Faith Groups, and it was agreed that actions should be taken to ensure that faith groups were trained and aware  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The LSCB Annual Report was drafted but was awaiting some additional data/info, and it was agreed that the document would be circulated electronically by the end of  August 2016. Comments were requested by 12/9/16. (Action: Jonathan Picken)

Peter Floyd , Lay Member as Chair presented the report on the progress of the Communications and Community Engagement Sub-group.

The Sub-group had met twice since being established in March 2016 and clarified its Terms of Reference. The group aimed to collate ongoing communications activity and provide a strategic overview and an action plan was in development. The following community engagement activities were in development:

• The group had planned events under the Summer of Fun agenda to engage children and speak to them about what makes them feel safe or unsafe.
• Three schools had agreed for the sub-group to visit their school councils and discuss their aims in September
• A Young People’s Reference Group was being established at Garth Hill College.
• Parish and Town Councils were also being approached to inform Councillors and gather community contacts in local councils/parishes. A representative of John Nike Leisure had been invited to the next meeting.

The Annual Plan will include:

• Review of existing publicity
• Monitoring of LSCB website/social media
• Gain feedback from children and young people-from Young People’s Reference Group and school councils
• Consultation with parents/carers and practitioners and volunteers
• Engagement with Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector.

The main challenge for the sub-group was capacity, and it was reported that help and feedback will be requested from the Board members in future.

The Chair and sub group were thanked for their positive work and the LSCB will receive reports six monthly.

Lorna Hunt presented the 6 monthly report to the Board on the Child Sexual Exploitation Strategic Sub-group on behalf of the Chair, Karen Roberts.

It was reported that there had been ongoing work to raise awareness. 95 children were referred into the SEMRAC sub group and it was commented that there was good multi-agency work with increased police involvement and good robust data and actions agreed.

Communications /raising awareness and building on the nine signs key messages publicity was considered a challenge for the sub-group as it required some dedicated time  and it was suggested that the Council’s Communications and Marketing team would do more to facilitate this. Alex Walters agreed to raise the issue with the Chief Executive of the Council. (Action: Alex Walters)

The Board asked for clarification regarding the issue of placement of Looked After Children in out of area placements where the host local authority’s policy is not to include children placed by other authorities in their CSE/Missing processes. (Action: Sonia Johnson/Karen Roberts) 

The Board raised concerns regarding the emergency contraception distribution to children and young people. It was suggested that Public Health should be approached to collate data on this issue. (Action: Jonathan Picken/Alex Walters)

The Sub-group was also working on updating the profiling of CSE.

Jonathan Picken agreed to follow up on the missing information from partners regarding the CSE profile scoping. (Action: Jonathan Picken)

Particular work in progress included group work with year 9 pupils at Brakenhale School, developing training for taxi drivers and to test and train hotel employees in the area and this work was driven by the Local Authority’s Trading Standards and the Police.

The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny committee were undertaking a review of CSE and missing as part of their annual programme and members were conducting interviews for research. The CSE report would be presented to Overview and Scrutiny in September 2016 and then be presented to the LSCB.

The Board commented on the impact of the sexting trend, and agreed that there was a requirement for schools and colleges to reassure the LSCB that work was ongoing to tackle sexting. Parents would also need to be educated on the issue. However, the Board recognised the challenge of capacity, and also that highlighted by regional research suggesting  that some young people engaged  in ‘sexting’  despite  being aware of the consequences.. Work was ongoing to produce good data regarding sexting across the Berkshire Local Authorities and would be coordinated by the CSE Leads forum now chaired by Inspector Andy Howard.

The Board thanked Karen Roberts and the CSE and Missing sub group and SEMRAC for their positive and continued focus on CSE and Missing. Further reports would come to the LSCB six monthly.

Mairead Panetta , Head of Safeguarding attended the meeting to present the report on the progress of the Bracknell Forest FGM Task and Finish Group and present their draft FGM Strategy and Action Plan which was nearly completed. This work followed on from work led by the CCG in East Berkshire on developing the referral pathway.

There had been good representation at the meetings, and no further meetings of the group were required. It was understood that FGM was not currently a significant issue for Bracknell Forest, as Public Health estimates suggest a prevalence amounting to approximately  2 cases  of FGM within the borough. The Board noted that to date there had been  2 referrals of pregnant women. However, work to raise awareness was important and had been ongoing with a referral pathway having been developed to respond,.. Online training is available, and the LSCB’s inter-agency training highlights this issue and is addressed in both Adult and Children’s Safeguarding training within Bracknell Forest Council.

Mairead reported that Social Care work with faith groups over the summer would include training on FGM. Phil Cook requested for Involve to be included in this work. (Action: Mairead Panetta/Phil Cook)

The Board proposed that a report should come back to the Board in a year to review progress and any changes to practice.  (Action: Jonathan Picken to add to forward plan)

Arising from members’ questions, the following points were noted:

• The Board were glad to note that the UN had recognised FGM as child abuse.
• The FGM work would be under the remit of the Domestic Abuse Executive- a sub group of the Community Safety Partnership.
• Keith Grainger reported that for FGM, the safeguarding process was different than that in relation to other safeguarding practice .The duty was on the individual member of staff to report a concern of FGM rather than to report to the safeguarding lead in their organisation.
• National guidance was available for the referral pathways for adults and children subject to FGM, but it was agreed that this pathway needed to be clarified for non-professionals in Bracknell Forest. (Action: Mairead Panetta)
• It was suggested that partner agencies needed to be advised of the social and emotional symptoms of FGM as the physical symptoms were unlikely to be seen by a non-health professional. It was suggested that the national risk assessment tool could be used.
• An amendment was requested regarding the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) referral pathway in to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) in order to clarify the different pathways for children and pregnant mothers. In addition clarification was proposed to ensure TVP were able to fulfil their statutory duties and comply with local force orders and to make explicit that a referral to the MASH equated to a referral to the police. It was also suggested that a link to the national tool be added to the flowchart. (Action: Mairead Panetta)
• Christine McInnes agreed to get an update from Debbie Smith on the schools guidance/provision for FGM. (Action: Christine  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Kellie Williams presented the report on the Bracknell Forest Prevent Strategy and Action Plan.

A statutory duty had been introduced to implement the Prevent programme, and this had resulted in Bracknell Forest Council developing a prevent strategy and action plan which was reviewed in 2014 and has recently been further reviewed by the Prevent Steering Group. The majority of the three year action plan work had been completed, and a new Strategy and Action Plan was now required for 2016-19.

As a result of the last action plan, there had been nine months focussed on training, with schools and social care agencies all holding training events for staff. However, there was only one member of staff in the Community Safety Team who conducted training sessions and so this had resulted in a challenge of capacity. As this was unsustainable, partner agencies were asked to assess the level of training their organisations may need. For some agencies, online training could be produced whereas for others, the full WRAP training would be required. The LSCB Training and Professional Development Sub Group will review the support it can offer in promoting and co-ordinating the training available, including initiatives to increase the availability of trainers.

Kellie reported that there had been a challenge to get sufficient community engagement with the programme. Due to Bracknell Forest’s demographic, the primary terrorism threat was from far right extremism rather than Islamic extremism. This needed to be communicated, as the Community Safety Team had experienced a lack of understanding from the public. The Community Safety Team had been working with Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society in order to understand their perception of the Prevent agenda and to reassure them of the safety of the programme. The Community Safety Team had not yet been in touch with any far right groups as it was thought they would be less likely to embrace the agenda.

The Government have proposed that the responsibility for the Channel Panel be moved from the Counter Terrorism Police to the Local Authority, and pilot schemes of this arrangement would begin in September in Kent and B+H. Kellie expressed a concern that as Bracknell Forest had not had a Channel Panel case in 4 years, practitioners would be inexperienced in doing assessments and may be less effective than specialist police officers currently working in counter terrorism

The model of a regional forum, similar to that adopted in respect of CSE would be explored with the aim of facilitating learning from neighbouring LSCB’s areas. (Action: Jonathan Picken/ Kellie Williams) 

Comments and amendments to the Strategy and Action Plan were requested from partners. Arising from discussion, the following points were noted:

• It was suggested that a complaints process be established, as this had caused issues in other local authorities. (Action: Kellie Williams)
• It was suggested that the percentage of referrals which were valid (55%) be made public, as this may change public perception. There could also be more of a focus on the positive anti-Hate Crime messages in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Jonathan Picken updated the Board on the LSCB Thresholds guidance and a separate LA Permanency Strategy which was distributed at the meeting.

An LSCB Task and Finish group had been established to review the 2 documents. This included exploration of how partner agencies were using permanency planning approaches to provide security and stability for children.

Feedback from consultants had challenged the current conceptual model currently used within the Board’s current ‘Continuum of Need’ guidance  , and had advised  that the areas of need should not be as rigidly demarcated  in order to allow more flexibility in responses to  increases and decreases in need..

The standalone  ‘Thresholds Guidance’ had been therefore been updated to reflect this feedback and now also included  reference to contemporary issues including HBV,  Prevent and other safeguarding issues not reflected in the current document.  Although the guidance links a number of areas and initiatives, the Board agreed that it was a priority for all to endorse. All agreed it required wide spread dissemination and for agencies to identify specific actions to ensure its implementation. The Chair reiterated that the process o f reviewing and disseminating the Thresholds guidance is a major function for the LSCB

It was therefore agreed that the 2 documents should  be considered as being separate LSCB guidance, but references within each will help ensure  links between  them.

It is hoped that a very wide range of organisations could be engaged in this  and that  if the documents are endorsed, there could be ‘champions’ in each organisation to promote them.

Board members were invited to comment on both documents, but asked to pay particular attention to the Thresholds document. Any feedback would be disseminated to Board members, and an update brought to the September Board meeting together with proposals for dissemination across partner agencies. (Action: Jonathan Picken/Angella Wells)

The Board received the report of the LSCB Risk/Challenge Log 2016-17.

It was noted that there were no red items, and amber items were work in progress. The Board recognised the many areas of good progress set out in the updated challenge Log.

With regard to Action 12, the Board was informed that the meeting with the provider of the commissioned residential service had been undertaken by the Chair and Business Manager , and a report and presentation on the outcomes and actions being taken would go to the LISG meeting in August.

With regard to Action 15, the Board was informed that the issue regarding young people vulnerable to exploitation post-18 had been raised by all the Berkshire CSE leads. There had not yet been any results, but a future update would be provided.

The Board received the Draft Joint Partnership Board Protocol, which was an update to the existing partnership protocol. This set out the functions and relationships between the strategic partnerships within Bracknell Forest. The protocol includes the LSCB, the Adult Safeguarding Board, the Community Safety Partnership, the Children and Young People’s partnership, the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel

The document had been distributed to Board members in draft format, and feedback was requested. The document set out the Partnership governance and how the different Partnerships relate to each other, as it had been agreed that review and clarity around the arrangements was required.

The Protocol would be brought to the September Board meeting for sign off, before going to the other named Partnerships meetings for approval.

The Board received a report on the Policy and Procedures for Elective Home Education from the Chief Officer, Learning and Achievement.

Christine McInnes reported on the growing trend of educating at home, commenting on lower numbers (48) in Bracknell Forest than other Berkshire Local Authorities but an increasing number overall. There were concerns regarding a potential lack of safeguarding understanding amongst stakeholders when there has been clear evidence from national SCRs of the potential risks of isolation and invisibility to universal services.  There were also concerns regarding the children who were educated at home but had never entered the system as there is no formal registration process under current legislation and guidance.

The Local Authority have considered the recommendations from the NSPCC report and revised the Bracknell Forest Policy and Procedures in response.

It was reported there was increasing assertiveness and that where the Local Authority was aware of a child being home schooled, meetings and reports were requested from the parent to monitor their progress, and efforts were made by officers to see the child but this was not always possible. The Local Authority can issue attendance orders and have done so twice. In Autumn 2016, a drop in session had been arranged for parents of home schooled children to meet staff and collect educational resources.

There was no firm data about the demographic of home educated children, but it appeared to be that they were from a wide range of homes and families.

Parents were choosing to home school their children for a number of reasons, including:

·      The new arrangements with KS2 tests which many parents were unhappy with

·      Dissatisfaction with a school place allocation

·      A change of family arrangements

Christine reported that children who were Educated at Home were more likely to be NEET in later life, and so outreach work to prevent this begun in Year 8 with home schooled children.

It was agreed the annual report on children electively home educated would come to the LSCB. (Action: Christine McInnes)

Nancy Barber, BHFT informed the Board that the Family Nurse Partnership would be decommissioned at the end of September 2016. Nancy also notified the Board that the BHFT Health Visitor service was being re-commissioned and had gone out to tender, which had resulted in an unsettling time for employees. (Action: AW to request report from Public Health for the next meeting)

Jonathan Picken reported that the Family Justice Board would be reporting to the Pan-Berkshire Chairs meeting once a year to debate their interface and practice and their quarterly report to the LSCB was noted.

Christine McInnes informed the Board that the meeting would be her last at Bracknell Forest, as she would be moving to a job in London. The Board thanked Christine for her contribution, and wished her well in her new job. 

The Chair noted the apologies from the Director of Children and Young People and Learning who was unable to attend today. This would have been her final LSCB meeting as she is retiring at the end of August and she had requested that her thanks to the LSCB members to be recorded.

The Chair wanted to formally acknowledge and record the significant contribution made by the Director to providing strong leadership to the safeguarding agenda and her support to the LSCB over the last six years and the Board wished her well in her retirement.

The LSCB noted the following Information Items which were circulated electronically:

·         AILC Position Statement in Response to the LSCB Review

·         Emergency Duty Team report

·         LSCB Board Forward Plan

·         Finance Update

·         Family Focus Transformation Project

·         CAMHS update and Transformation Plans

·         Minutes from other partnerships

a.    Berkshire FJB report

The next meeting of the LSCB was scheduled for the 23 September 2016.