Background information:
Under the Children Act 2004, as amended by the Children and Social Work Act 2017, LSCBs, set up by local authorities, will be replaced. Under the new legislation, the three safeguarding partners (local authorities, chief officers of police, and clinical commissioning groups) must make arrangements to work together with relevant agencies (as they consider appropriate) to safeguard and protect the welfare of children in the area. The child death review partners (local authorities and clinical commissioning groups) must set up child death review arrangements.
The Working Together 2018 statutory guidance, defines new responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children placed on the three safeguarding partners. The responsibility for this join-up arrangements locally rests with the three safeguarding partners who have a “shared and equal duty” to make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in a local area.
The new Kent Children’s Safeguarding Partnership has been developed to deliver the statutory requirements and associated revised mandatory guidance. This partnership will be led by the delegated leaders from each of the safeguarding partners and seeks to safeguard children and promote their welfare. The new partnership will further develop processes to hear the voice of children and their families about what have to say about the services they receive, engage relevant agencies in the safeguarding system and review and improve local practice and better understand local conditions.
The proposed decision supports the Strategic Outcome 1 - Children and young people in Kent get the best start in life in e proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 01/04/2019
Decision due: Not before 14th May 2019 by Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Lead director: David Whittle
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Michael Thomas-Sam, Corporate Lead Adult's and Children's Policy and Strategy Tel: 03000 417238 Email: michael.thomas-sam@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 417238.
Consultees
The three safeguarding partners have discussed the new arrangements with the LSCB, the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board and consulted the Cabinet Member. The Cabinet Committee will consider this subject at its meeting in May 2019. The Corporate Management Team has informed the development.
This matter was considered by the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee at its meeting on 7 May 2019.
Financial implications: The full financial impact of the new local safeguarding arrangements is dependent upon the decisions of the new board when it is established. However, the existing partners have made financial commitment which will enable transition to the new arrangements for the requirements placed on the safeguarding partners to be met.
Legal implications: The Children Act 2004, as amended by the Children and Social Work Act 2017 placed clear legal obligations on safeguarding partners (local authorities, chief officers of police, and clinical commissioning groups), including statutory time limits within which the new arrangements must be satisfied.
Equalities implications: The equalities implications will be set out in the equalities impact assessment which will be placed before Members.