Terms of Reference

Local Safeguarding Children Board Arrangements 2006/7

‘The LSCB is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant organisations in each local area will cooperate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in that locality, and for ensuring the effectiveness of what they do’. (Working Together 2006 3.2)

The LSCB has a clear and distinct identity within the context of children’s trust arrangements and has a unique role in challenging organizations effectively and speaking with an independent voice.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Cambridgeshire LSCB aims to be a listening, active and challenging partnership.  We will focus on promoting safe service delivery and practices to enable children in the county to enjoy their childhood and youth.

Members of the Board take seriously their responsibilities to speak for their organisations with authority, commit to the LSCB’s policies and procedures and to promote good practice and challenge poor practice both within their own agency and across the inter-agency community.  The arrangements through which the LSCB conducts its business are reviewed annually.

The LSCB is an independent partnership and has appointed an Independent Chair to oversee its business and to provide an independent and challenging perspective to its activities.   The role and powers of the Independent Chair are agreed by all partners and annual objectives are set for the postholder.

The LSCB is accountable to elected members and their equivalents through the Children’s Steering Group, chaired by the Lead Member for Children who has a statutory responsibility for safeguarding.  Membership of the CSG includes elected members from the District Councils, non-executives from PCT and Hospital Trusts and a member of the Police Authority.  The Children’s Strategic Partnership also reports to the Children’s Steering Group. 

The following structure has been agreed to enable the LSCB to carry out its statutory functions and responsibilities.   Appendix A outlines responsibilities of members of the LSCB and its work stream groups.

Table One:  Structure of the LSCB

The following groups are also affiliated to the LSCB through the Business Committee:

• Safer Employment Steering Group
• Safeguarding in Sport Group
• Child Protection Advisory Group (Health)
• Wider Stakeholder Forum (see Appendix B).
• Child Protection Review Unit (OCYPS)
• Child Protection Advisory Group (Education) – to be Initially discharged through the Headteacher Steering Groups for Inclusion
• Wider Stakeholder Forum
• The Corporate Parent Steering Group
• Adult Protection Committee

There will be occasions when LSCB or Business Committee establishes:

• Time limited task groups
• Interagency audit teams

The LSCB will link to Area Safeguarding Children Committees (ASCCs) via representation on each partnership and quarterly meetings between the LSCB Chair and the Chairs of the ASCCs.

2. REMIT AND MEMBERSHIP OF LSCB EXECUTIVE BOARD
           
2.1 Remit

• To demonstrate the ownership of safeguarding accountability at the highest level
• To provide strategic direction in achieving the statutory objectives of the LSCB by
  • coordinating the interagency work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and
  • ensuring the effectiveness of that work
    
    
• To oversee the core functions of the LSCB as set out in Regulations, ie:
  • Developing policies and procedures
• Participating in the planning of services
• Communicating the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• ensuring a coordinated response to unexpected child deaths and collating and analysing information about child deaths (by 2008)
• Monitoring what is done to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• Undertaking serious case reviews
• Agreeing the Annual Report and Work Programme
  
  
• To hold local agencies to account in respect of their accountabilities for ensuring children are safeguarded and their welfare promoted
• To ensure sufficient and appropriate training is available to equip the children’s workforce to safeguard vulnerable children
• To resolve high level interagency difficulties
• To ensure that the priorities of the LSCB influence the Children and Young People’s Plan and that the business on the LSCB reflects the priorities of that plan
• To ensure that lessons from serious case reviews and interagency audits are used to improve practice
• To agree any other activity that facilitates, or is conducive to, the achievement of its objectives
• Set budget
• Make recommendations to the CYPSP in respect of planning and commissioning services which will further safeguard children and promote their welfare

2.2 Membership:

• Independent Chair
• Children’s Services
• Police
• PCT
• Community Mental Health Trust
• Strategic Health Authority
• Addenbrookes
• Hinchingbrooke
• Probation
• District Councils

The LSCB Policy Officer will manage the agenda planning and distribution of papers and minutes.

The Legal Advisor and HR Advisor to the LSCB will be invited to meetings as necessary.

The Chair of the Quality and Effectiveness Group will report to the LSCB at each meeting.

3. BUSINESS COMMITTEE

3.1 Remit

• To take overall responsibility for implementing change, for example in respect of new policies and procedures
• To develop, implement and monitor the LSCB Annual Report and Work Programme
• To agree Action Plan following Serious Case Reviews
• To bring to the attention of the LSCB any matter requiring their attention
• To oversee the activity of the LSCB work stream groups
• To seek to resolve complex practice issues within and across organisations and proactively problem solve where there are barriers to best practice
• To ensure the work plans of all work stream groups reflect LSCB priorities
• To support the development of the Local Practice Groups to develop best practice at the frontline
• To manage the information and communication flow between the LSCB and the broader membership
• To develop the information and communication function in respect of children and young people, families and carers and communities.
• To recommend any ‘other policies and procedures to the LSCB  Executive Board       
• To commission services via the LSC Executive Board
• Review relevant national policy developments and initiatives and prepare briefing paper on relevance to LSCB and recommended actions
• To arrange the annual LSCB Development day to promote new knowledge, review achievements of previous year and identify objectives for next year.

3.2 Membership

• Independent Chair
• Representation from:
• OCYPS – Social Care
• OCYPS - Education
• District Councils
• Faith Communities
• Health – PCT, Hospitals
• NSPCC
• CAFCASS
• Police
• Probation
• Sport sector
• Voluntary sector
• Designated Doctor
• Designated Nurse
• Safer Employment Advisor
• Domestic Violence Coordinator
• LSCB Policy Officer
• LSCB Training and Practice Development Manager

The legal advisor to the LSCB will be invited to meetings as necessary.

4. QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS GROUP
    Focus: Statutory functions relating to Monitoring and Evaluation (WT guidance 3.31 – 3.35)

Remit

• Develop and maintain Performance Management Framework for the LSCB. 
• Review performance management information, identifying themes and areas requiring action and reporting these to LSCB on quarterly basis.   Provide annual report on activity to LSCB annual development day.
• Coordinate s11 reviews on an annual basis and report to the Strategic Board
• Evaluate the safeguarding arrangement made by local agencies both individually and together.
• Recommend appropriate means of monitoring activity arising from SCRs to be included in the SCR Action Plan.
• Establish inter-agency audits as required.
• Contribute to the Annual Report and Work Programme

5.  POLICY, PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS

Focus: Statutory functions relating to Policies and procedures (WT guidance 3.18 – 3.21 and 3.26 – 3.28) plus practice development as identified by Business Committee

Remit

• Responsibility for coordinating the development of local policies, procedures, protocols and guidance for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children on behalf of the LSCB, prioritising those specified in Working Together 2006 and others identified by the LSCB or Business Committee.  Establishing a maintenance and updating process.
• Undertake focussed pieces of work at the request of the Business Committee. co-opting additional professionals as required.
• Pool knowledge and skills to

          - develop best practice
          - problem solve

• Contribute to the Annual Report and Work Programme

6. SERIOUS CASES REVIEW PANEL

Focus: Statutory functions relating to serious case reviews (WT guidance 3.40 – 3.41) and child deaths (WT guidance 3.38)
           
Remit

• Undertake serious case reviews in accordance with Government guidance
• Review cases referring by members of the LSCB where there have been interagency difficulties
• Monitor the action plans and dissemination strategies from serious case reviews
• Advise the LSCB of any major new developments and initiatives within this area of responsibility.
• Establish Child Death Panel by April 2008 (shadow Panel in place by September 2007) in line with government guidance
• Contribute to the Annual Report and Work Programme

7. STRATEGIC TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Focus: Statutory function relating to training procedures (WT guidance 3.22 – 3.24) and other activities by local agreement   

Remit:

• Develop the Joint LSCB/C&YPSO Training Strategy
• Provide a training programme based on national requirements and local needs as identified by the LSCB and Business Committee
• To develop and maintain an overview of single agency and multi agency training, evaluating that training and ensuring it is accessed appropriately
• Link LSCB training provision with single agency child protection/safeguarding training provision and identify any opportunities for increasing interagency training
• Maintain effective training pool
• Monitor the quality of training provision and identify any issues relating to the development and delivery of the training programme
• Ensure effective links and contribution to broader workforce planning and initiatives
• Propose an annual budget request for the delivery of the agreed provision
• Report twice a year to the Business Committee on training needs and issues relating to the provision and quality of the training programme.
• Develop and support the facilitators of the Local Practice Groups.
• Support Local Practice Groups and feed practice issues arising from them to the Business Committee on quarterly basis.
• Contribute to the Annual Report and Work Programme

8.  COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

Focus: Statutory functions relating to communication and awareness raising function (WT guidance3.30)
           
Remit

• Communicate and raise awareness of the need to safeguard children amongst agencies and communities
• Promote the work of the LSCB and its policies and procedures through development and maintenance of website; production of newsletters and information leaflets.
• Develop overall dissemination strategy for information and guidance from the LSCB to its partners
• Develop and oversee the LSCB participation and consultation arrangements with children, young people, families, communities and professionals.
• Develop and manage LSCB media strategy including identifying opportunities for pro-active media coverage.
• Contribute to the Annual Report and Work Programme

9. LOCAL PRACTICE GROUPS

9.1 The five practice based groups have a focus on child maltreatment and safeguarding children from harm. The groups support the collective identification of good practice and the conditions which support it, providing an opportunity for people who work with children, young people and their families to reflect and discuss local practice issues and promote effective inter-agency working relationships.  The focus topics of the LPGs will be guided by the Area Safeguarding Committees.  Support to the facilitators will be provided by the Training and Staff Development Manager.

10.0 AFFILIATED GROUPS

10.1 Safer Employment Steering Group
Responsibility for statutory function relating to recruitment and supervision of persons working with children (WT 3.25).

The Safer Employment Advisor is member of Business Committee.

10.2 Safeguarding Children in Sport
Responsibility for developing understanding of safeguarding within sports the sports community in Cambridgeshire

A representative of the Safeguarding Children in Sport Group is a member of the Business Committee.

10.3 Child Protection Advisory Group (Health)
The Child Protection Health Advisory Group is the body responsible for addressing the safeguarding children agenda between Health Trusts and LSCB.

Designated Doctor/Nurse is the link to the Business Committee.

10.4  Child Protection Advisory Group (Education) – to be Initially discharged through the Headteacher Steering Groups for Inclusion
To advise on the development of safeguarding policies and practices as they relate to schools and early years settings.

The Director of Inclusion represents this perspective on the Business Committee

10.5 Child Protection Review Unit (OCYPS)
The CPR Unit manages the child protection conferencing system and the child protection register (to be child protection plans).

The Head of Social Care represents the CPRU on the Business Committee.

10.6 The Corporate Parent Steering Group
A multi-agency group responsible for developing the Corporate Parenting Strategy and programmes aimed at the achievement of the ECM outcomes for Children Looked After Director of Inclusion, Brian Gale, represents the interests of this group on the Business Committee

10.7 Wider Stakeholder Forum (see appendix 4)
Process for communication to be negotiated with stakeholders.
 
10.8  Time limited task groups
Established as required

10.9 Inter-agency audit teams
Established as required

11. RELATIONSHIPS

Between the Director of Children’s Services and the Independent Chair
The Director of Children’s Services has statutory responsibility for the LSCB and the Independent Chair of the LSCB acts on his behalf.  They will meet regularly to consider the business of the LSCB, its effectiveness, direction and any other problems to be resolved. The DCS will agree annual objectives for the Chair.

Between the LSCB and the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)
The Independent Chair of the LSCB will be a member of the CYPSP and advise the partnership of safeguarding issues arising from its activity, draw to the partnership’s attention any matters of concern emanation from the LSCB and making recommendations in respect of service commissioning where appropriate.

Between the Independent Chair and the Chief Executives/Senior Managers of the s11 partners.

The Independent Chair and Director of Children’s Services will seek to meet annually with the Chief Executive/Chief Officer of s11 partner organisations who are not members of the LSCB to brief them on safeguarding issues and the LSCB work plan.  Any matter requiring them to exercise their accountability for safeguarding will to be brought to their attention as necessary.

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

12.1 LSCB

• The LSCB Policy Officer will shape the agenda for the LSCB based on the requirements of the LSCB, matter arising from the Business Committee and in discussion with the Chair. 
• The LSCB Administrator will receive agenda items and papers for the LSCB meeting no later than 8 working days before the meeting. The minutes of the previous LSCB and the minutes of the Business Committee to be circulated and agenda’d
• The agenda and associated papers will be circulated no later than 5 working days before the meeting
  The LSCB Policy Officer will ensure the minutes of the LSCB meetings are circulated no later than 15 working days after the meeting having been agreed with the Chair or, in that person’s absence, the Deputy Chief Executive OCYPS.
• Minutes will be circulated to members of the LSCB, the Business Committee and work stream groups plus the wider LSCB Community (see Appendix A for Stakeholders)

12.2  BUSINESS COMMITTEE

• The LSCB Policy Officer will shape the agenda for the Business Committee based on the requirements of the LSCB, the Business Committee, matters arising from the work stream groups and in discussion with the Chair.
• The LSCB Administrator will receive agenda items and papers for the Business Committee meeting no later than 8 working days before the meeting. The minutes of the previous LSCB and the minutes of the Business Committee to be circulated and agenda’d
• The agenda and associated papers will be circulated no later than 5 working days before the meeting
• LSCB Administrative support staff will take the minutes for this meeting.
• The LSCB Policy Officer will ensure the minutes of the Business Committee meetings are circulated no later than 15 working days after the meeting having been agreed with the Chair or, in that person’s absence, the Vice Chair
• Minutes will be circulated to members of the LSCB, the Business Committee and work stream groups plus the wider LSCB Community (see Appendix B for Stakeholders)

12.3  WORK STREAM GROUPS

• The LSCB Administrator will arrange all work stream group meetings but will not minute them.  Administration to be provided by partner agencies or members of the group.
• Chairs of the work stream-groups to provide a brief written summary of progress, highlighting any issues for the LSCB, to each Business Committee.

13.  FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

The interface and timing of meetings are key factors if the quality of communication, decision making and delivery of practice changes is to be effective.

• The LSCB will meet quarterly
• The Business Committee will meet 6 times each year
• The Committees will meet as often as is necessary to carry out their business.
• The Local Practice Groups will meet quarterly with additional meetings if there is specific LSCB activity to be undertaken. 

14.       REVIEW ARRANGEMENTS

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