Minutes:
Rob France informed the LSCB that he would be leaving Bracknell and Wokingham on 19 June 2017 to take up a post at Thames Valley Police Headquarters. Shaun Virtue would be taking on the role of Superintendent for Bracknell and Wokingham Police.
Abigail Simmons informed the Board of the merger between Bracknell Forest and Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s Safeguarding Adults Partnership Boards. It was commented that the LSCB did not wish to lose the close and local connection between the Boards in Bracknell Forest, and the work on the current Board priority of the transition between children’s and adults services. The Board did not feel that they had been included in consultations before the merger. The Chair of the joint board would be Terry Rich, the current Chair of RBWM’s Adults and Children Safeguarding Boards.
Catherine Bates raised concerns regarding the different referral pathways to the LA for Ascot Heath Infant School children living in Bracknell Forest and Windsor and Maidenhead, and her concern that it was more difficult with RBWM. It was agreed that Jonathan Picken and Lorna Hunt would raise this with counterparts in RBWM. (Action: Jonathan Picken/Lorna Hunt)
Sarah Bellars reminded the LSCB of the appointment of the new Safeguarding Named Nurse, Jennie Green.
Sarah also gave an update on the Strategic Transformation Partnership (STPs) across East Berkshire, Surrey, and Hampshire Local Authorities and CCGs under the Frimley Health geography. The partnership hoped to increase accountability by sharing finances, and to treat the increasing number of patients without additional resources. Six STPs had been established in the first wave across the country. The LSCB asked Sarah for a further update on the work of the STP in July. (Action: Sarah Bellars)
Ian Dixon informed the Board of two resignations from the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) in the last month, and of the difficulties in recruiting to these posts. There had not been a historical problem in recruiting, but colleagues in Wokingham and RBWM had reported similar problems in recruitment. The LSCB agreed a watching brief.
Ian Boswell reported on the two Partnership Problem Solving Groups under the Community Safety Partnerships – one of which was focussing on police Operation Orchard, tackling anti-social behaviour in the town centre during school holidays.
Ian also informed the LSCB of the installation of a ‘mosquito’ device at a private property at The Point, which was intended to deter young people from loitering. This device was not endorsed by the police or Council, and there were concerns around the effect of this device on children. The LSCB supported any challenge of the use of this device.
Jonathan Picken commented that he had been impressed by the Thames Valley Police Hate Crime work presented at a recent Prevent Steering Group, and suggested it would be useful to look at in the Board. (Action: Jonathan Picken to request this report)
Lorna Hunt reminded the Board that the Local Authority and LSCB were both undergoing Single Inspection Frameworks (SIF), and that a provisional and confidential judgement would be delivered next week, followed by a published report on 14th July..The Chair expressed her thanks to all partners who had been involved in the inspection of the LSCB and recognised the additional pressures on those who were also involved in two other inspection processes in Wokingham (JTAI) and West Berkshire (SIF re-inspection)