Agenda item

RESOLVED

That the Executive received the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Annual Report 2022-23 attached as Appendix A to this report and noted the findings.

Reason for Recommendations – To accord with legislation or the policy of the Council;under the statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018’, the five key strategic lead agencies are accountable for safeguarding children and young people, including the Local Authority, who in turn are required to publish an annual report. (see Section 8 of the report Background papers)

Alternative Options Considered: There is a requirement to publish this annual report, as such there are not alternative options available.

The Chair invited Cllr Anne Lee to speak in relation to the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) Annual Report 2022-23. Cllr Lee welcomed the report but noted that certain figures contained within it were outdated and made reference to child protection conferences, income received from strategic partner agencies towards the work of the NSCP and the number of people employed as part of the partnership.

Cllr Dorothy Maxwell was then invited to speak. Cllr Maxwell welcomed the report, noting that the work of the partnership supported children and ensured they would be protected and offered a voice. Cllr Maxwell also queried whether finances were in place to carry out the proposed work and whether it would be assist in preventing children becoming involved with the police or partaking in undesirable behaviours such as carrying knives.

The Chair then invited Cllr Scott Edwards, Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills to present the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) Annual Report 2022-23, which outlined the partnership’s achievements during the reporting period.

In response to comments from speakers, Cllr Edwards noted that by virtue of the report being an annual iteration, some of the figures contained within data sets would be less than current. It was heard that safety of children was paramount, with early intervention crucial in building better outcomes for vulnerable children. It was noted that a definitive number of employees within the partnership could not be provided, as all employees had a safeguarding responsibility. Cllr Edwards stated that the voice of the children was reflected within the report and that two school link officers were employed to liaise with local schools on the subject of safeguarding, while work was ongoing to educate young people on the danger of knife crime.

Cllr Edwards informed the meeting that Council was one of five strategic leads representing the multi-agency Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, a statutory requirement of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 guidance, the purpose of which was to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the county by coordinating the work of those involved to ensure that it was effective. It was noted that there was a requirement to produce an annual report that provided an overview of the partnership’s achievements against the NSCP Business Plan.

Cllr Edwards provided details of the work undertaken during the previous year and the three main priorities set out in the NSCP Business Plan; referencing the introduction of Family Hubs, the priority of tackling knife crime and the development of a Child Exploitation hub. Cllr Edwards noted that neglect was the main abuse category facing children and the main reason children entered the care system.

The meeting heard that the report had been considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting on 5^th December 2023, where it had been welcomed as being of higher quality than the edition published the previous year and offered greater levels of assurance regarding work undertaken. A number of case studies had been added to the report and it was felt that this added greater depth and understanding of the experiences of children and young people.

RESOLVED

That the Executive received the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Annual Report 2022-23 attached as Appendix A to this report and noted the findings.

Reason for Recommendations – To accord with legislation or the policy of the Council;under the statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018’, the five key strategic lead agencies are accountable for safeguarding children and young people, including the Local Authority, who in turn are required to publish an annual report. (see Section 8 of the report Background papers)

Alternative Options Considered: There is a requirement to publish this annual report, as such there are not alternative options available.