NEW SURREY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN ARRANGEMENTS - (FROM SEPTEMBER 2019)
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NEW SURREY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN ARRANGEMENTS (FROM SEPTEMBER 2019)
CONTENTS
Foreword 3
Background 4
The Surrey Context 5
SSCB Review Headlines 8
Summary of Key Changes 9
Vision and Values 10
Details of the New Arrangements 11
Independent Scrutiny 22
User Voice 24
Dispute Resolution and Escalation Policy 25
Safeguarding Children Partnership Support Team 26
Information Governance and Data Protection 27
Funding Arrangements 28
Implementation of the new arrangements 29
Initial Priorities for the Partnership 30
2FOREWORD
Surrey’s ambitions for children and young
people are clear. The Community Vision for
the county, developed in 2018 by the county
council and its partners, is for children and
young people to have a great start in life; to
be healthy; to be safe and feel safe; to feel
confident in their futures and, crucially, that
‘no child is left behind’.
This means that all agencies and
organisations must work particularly hard
to help vulnerable children and young
people to achieve better outcomes.
The new safeguarding arrangements
contained in this document are designed
to ensure strong and effective partnership
working in child protection and safeguarding
practice across the county and also to
promote the continuous improvement of
these services. We are determined to
improve outcomes for vulnerable children
in the county and will work together
collaboratively and relentlessly in
order to do so.
Dave Hill CBE Gavin Stephens Matthew Tait
Executive Director Chief Constable Joint Accountable
Children, Families, Surrey Police Officer
Lifelong Learning Surrey Heartlands
and Culture CCGs
3BACKGROUND
Safeguarding and protecting children This review has led to reforms. In
from serious harm is one of the most 2017, the Children and Social Work
important and challenging responsibilities Act gave responsibility for the effective
of government and of all agencies in a local implementation of local safeguarding
area. Central government issues legislation, children arrangements to three agencies –
regulations and guidance in respect of the Local Authority; Police and NHS Clinical
safeguarding children and local areas are Commissioning Groups – to be known as
required to have systems and procedures the ‘Safeguarding Partners’. It abolished the
in place to comply with these expectations requirement for local areas to have Local
and to keep local children safe. Safeguarding Children Boards and, instead,
introduced the greater flexibility encouraged
A national review of these arrangements in the Wood Review by requiring the
(the Wood Review 2016) found that Safeguarding Partners to work with others,
the existing legislative and regulatory known as ‘Relevant Agencies’, to agree and
framework had led to a ‘one size fits put in place suitable local arrangements for
all’ approach to local safeguarding the purpose of ‘safeguarding and promoting
arrangements which, in many parts of the the welfare’ of children.
country, was characterised by insufficient
collaboration between agencies and In line with the supporting regulation found
weak governance structures, led by Local in the updated ‘Working Together 2018’,
Safeguarding Children Boards, which were local areas are required to publish any
not sufficiently effective in developing and new arrangements, including those for
managing local safeguarding children Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews
systems. The review also found that the (replacing Serious Case Reviews) and for
existing national model of ‘Serious Case the now required independent scrutiny of
Reviews’ was failing to promote the learning the effectiveness of local arrangements,
at both national and local levels required by June 2019 and implement them by
to make the safeguarding system September 2019.
more effective.
4THE SURREY CONTEXT
GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE comparator figures (273.6 per 10,000). which were repeat offences. There were
These arrangements apply within the The county had a slightly higher rate of 5,625 reported incidents where children
boundaries of the county of Surrey; Surrey children subject to Child Protection Plans and young people were victims of offences.
Police; Borough and District Councils and (38.3 per 10,000 against 37.6) and a
NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups. lower rate of looked after children (36.0 SERVICES CONTEXT
per 10,000 against 43.9). There were Some children’s services in Surrey,
similar rates of care leavers in Surrey particularly those concerned with
and comparator authorities. 3% of the safeguarding children, have not been
school population were pupils with Special good enough. Ofsted’s most recent
Educational Needs and Disabilities, in inspection of these services, in May
line with comparator data. 9.5 per 10,000 2018, judged that they were inadequate
children missed 30+days of education. In and a non -executive Commissioner
2018-19, 38.9 per 10,000 children are being was appointed by central government. A
home educated. Latest census information programme of rapid improvement is being
shows that 380 per 10,000 children implemented which is designed both to
were young carers in Surrey against improve outcomes for children receiving
416 per 10,000 in comparator figures. services and to provide assurance to the
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Commissioner that sufficient improvement
Surrey is a relatively affluent county with In assessments undertaken by social can be achieved and sustained.
a population of over 1.1 million. Some care services, mental health issues
350,000 (30%) of the overall population affecting either parents or young The Local Authority is transforming
are children and young people under 25yrs people were identified in 39% of all the ways in which children’s services
old. The population is predominantly white cases (no comparator data available). are delivered with a stronger focus on
(90%), with relatively small numbers from Substance misuse issues featured in performance and quality. New ‘front-door’
Asian (5.6%); Black (1.1%); and Mixed 32% of assessments, higher than the arrangements are in place; early help and
(2.1%) backgrounds. Deprivation levels comparator figure of 26%. There were statutory social care services have been
are low, with the county being amongst 116 incidents of domestic violence per re-organised and new practice models are
the lowest ranked according to income 10,000 population in Surrey, fewer than in being introduced. These include the
deprivation affecting children measures. the comparator region (161 per 10,000). ‘Family Safeguarding’ model through
which multi-disciplinary teams take a
In 2017-18 there were 523.5 referrals to In 2018-19, there were 2115 recorded ‘whole family’ approach to protecting
social care services per 10,000 population, episodes of children and young people children in their families.
higher than comparator authorities (456.1). being reported as missing from home.
Rates of children in need in Surrey (269.6 4,934 offences were recorded as committed These developments require strong
per 10,000) were slightly lower than by children and young people; 2,710 of partnerships at both strategic and
5operational levels and the Local Authority has • Physical and sexual abuse and the A County wide safeguarding team
a strong commitment to working better with neglect of children in their homes commissioned through collaborative
partners and making safeguarding services and especially the impact of growing arrangements will undertake leadership for
more effective and outcomes for children up in homes where domestic abuse, safeguarding through delegated authority
and young people more positive. substance abuse and/or mental health although each clinical commissioning group
issues are prevalent. remains accountable for any actions or
Surrey Police has an ambition to make • The need for greater understanding of decisions taken on behalf of their agency.
Surrey as safe as it can be for everyone, what drives children to be missing from
particularly children and young people. their homes. Services are commissioned from providers
It recognises the complexity of this work • Gaps in reporting of crime and of health services, which include acute
and the need for strong collaboration safeguarding concerns within and community services; mental health
by working closely with all partners, marginalised communities. and learning disability services for children
particularly in engaging with the new Surrey and adults; children’s services; urgent
Safeguarding Children Arrangements. Surrey The effectiveness of the Police’s approach care and out of hours services and
Police will seek to integrate services where to safeguarding, including its partnerships primary care services. All these agencies
it makes sense to do so using these new with other agencies, forms a core element have safeguarding responsibilities for
arrangements as a springboard in the evaluation of its services undertaken which they are accountable and work
for innovation. in inspections by HMICFRS and in joint collaboratively with children’s social care
inspectorate activity. and other services to this end. NHS provider
Surrey Police will be an equal partner within organisations operating in Surrey are
the new arrangements and will ensure Health needs of children and their designated ‘relevant agencies’ and are
appropriate focus on issues currently families in Surrey are served by six clinical part of the Safeguarding Partnership.
impacting on the service including: commissioning groups working together to
• The complex, contextualised and safeguard and improve outcomes for children It is acknowledged that some clinical
transitional risks which adolescents through collaborative arrangements: commissioners and health providers may
face from their peers, partners and · Guildford and Waverley have responsibility for services outside of
adults outside the family home, · Surrey Downs Surrey due to their organisational boundaries
including serious violence, knife · Surrey Heath overlapping with other local authority areas.
crime, gang involvement, drug crime, · North West Surrey
criminal and sexual exploitation. · East Surrey As Surrey health services develop their
• The complex nature of the · North East Hampshire and Farnham. integrated care footprints safeguarding
online environment and need to remains of paramount importance
keep up with the ever changing within new commissioning and provider
nature of this problem. functions, and is a core area for inspection
by CQC and in joint inspections.
6Surrey has in the region of 1500 Early Years’ important role in safeguarding children and
Settings, Schools and Colleges providing young people in the county. As such, some
care and education to the county’s children Third Sector organisations are named as
and young people. These providers play a ‘relevant agencies’ in these arrangements
key role in safeguarding children expected and all those working with children, young
as they are to have arrangements in place people and families may be part of the
to safeguard and promote their welfare Surrey safeguarding children Partnership.
and to work closely with other agencies
within an area’s broader safeguarding
arrangements. This means individual
institutions are required to have robust
safeguarding policies and procedures in
place within their day to day operations and
also are expected to work collaboratively
with other agencies in line with Surrey’s local
safeguarding policies and procedures.
The effectiveness of their approach to
safeguarding forms a core element of
evaluation within the inspection regime for
early years settings, schools and colleges.
All institutions are designated ‘relevant
agencies’ in these new safeguarding children
arrangements and are key members of
Surrey’s safeguarding children Partnership.
There is a vibrant Third Sector in Surrey
which provides many services accessed by
children, young people and families. These
include family support and youth services and
targeted support for children with disabilities
and their families and for young people with
mental health issues. The sector has a strong
track record in supporting families in need
and vulnerable young people and has an
7SSCB REVIEW HEADLINES
Developing robust safeguarding
governance and dynamic strategic
leadership which drives practice
improvement, service effectiveness and
improved outcomes for children is an
essential element of Surrey’s improvement
programme. A review of the working of
the current Local Safeguarding Board
was undertaken in December 2018 and a
paper containing recommendations was
presented to the SSCB in January 2019.
The review involved analysis of inspection
reports from 2015, an examination of
Surrey documentation and interviews with
key partner agencies. The subsequent
paper provided a ‘direction of travel’ for
changes to the governance and strategic
leadership of Surrey’s local safeguarding
practice which has formed the basis of
these new published arrangements.
All agencies represented in the review
expressed a strong commitment to the
principle of a safeguarding children
partnership which has a stronger focus
on outcomes for children; knows and
understands the performance and quality
of its services; holds itself accountable
for improving services where needed and
develops a ‘learning culture’ which promotes
reflection and continuous improvement. There
is a clear appetite for using the flexibilities
now given to local areas to develop more
effective governance and dynamic strategic
leadership to achieve these goals.
8SUMMARY OF KEY CHANGES
From September 2019, the following • There will be fewer standing
key changes will be made: sub-groups with the adoption
• A new Safeguarding Children of a commissioning approach
Partnership will be established and to quality assurance and
led, jointly and equally, by Surrey learning and development.
County Council, Surrey Police and • New procedures will be put in
Guildford and Waverley Clinical place for the independent scrutiny
Commissioning Group (on behalf of the effectiveness of the new
of all CCGs and NHS providers arrangements and for the stronger
in Surrey). engagement of young people in
• The three named statutory the local safeguarding agenda.
‘Safeguarding Partners’ will • A stronger focus on learning
form a new Executive Group from practice (both less than
for the Partnership, joined by good and good) will be developed
representatives from the county’s through a dynamic ‘learning cycle’
schools and colleges, district and approach to be led by Surrey’s new
borough councils, and the Police Children’s Workforce Academy.
and Crime Commissioner’s office.
Representatives of the Third Sector
will attend the Executive Group
on an issue by issue basis.
• Surrey’s current Local
Safeguarding Children Board will
be replaced by a new Children’s
Safeguarding Partnership.
• The membership of the Children’s
Safeguarding Partnership will become
‘relevant agencies’ and will be
extended to more fully represent the
breadth of interests/stakeholders in
children’s safeguarding in Surrey.
9VISION AND VALUES
In developing the new arrangements, The vision is backed by a set of core values:
partners have agreed this vision: • We have the strongest ambitions
for children and are determined to
The new safeguarding arrangements work with pace and efficiency to
will make a difference to the lives of continuously improve our services.
children and young people in Surrey. • Children and their voices are at
They will ensure that agencies work centre of everything we do.
better together, learn from local and • Children flourish best within
national practice and continuously families and we will always look
improve services to enable children to work with families to protect
and young people to be safe and feel and safeguard children.
safe in their families and communities. • It is equally important to help
children be safe and feel safe in
their communities.
• Safeguarding children is everybody’s
business. All services need to
jointly ‘own’ their safeguarding
responsibilities, work collaboratively
and in integrated ways to achieve
better outcomes for children.
• Mutual support and challenge are
both essential if we are to realise our
vision – we need to be honest about
our challenges and successes.
• Front-line practitioners are key to
our success and we must equip
and enable them to work to the
best of their abilities with children
and families.
10DETAILS OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS
THE STATUTORY
SAFEGUARDING PARTNERS
The Chief Officers of the three statutory
Safeguarding Partners have approved the
new arrangements and are accountable for
their operation. Their nominees for day to
day leadership are:
Surrey County Council
Executive Director Children, Families,
Lifelong Learning and Culture
Surrey Police
Assistant Chief Constable
Guildford and Waverley CCG
County-wide Associate Director for
Safeguarding
11THE RELEVANT AGENCIES Health Third Sector Organisations
It is recognised that the Safeguarding NHS England Surrey Youth Focus
Partners alone cannot achieve the goals Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group Homestart Surrey
of these new arrangements and they need Surrey Heath Clinical Commissioning Group Family Voice
to work collaboratively with a broader set North West Surrey Clinical Commissioning Surrey Young Carers
of partner agencies and stakeholders in Group Other Third Sector Organisations eg those
safeguarding and promoting the welfare East Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group providing commissioned services
of local children. Many have already been North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical
members of the existing SSCB arrangements Commissioning Group Criminal Justice/Family Justice
and remain committed to their involvement. Children and Family Health Surrey Office of the Surrey Police and Crime
New partners have also been identified to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Commissioner
enable the engagement and representation Central Surrey Health National Probation Service
of a wider set of interests. First Community Health and Care Kent, Surrey and Sussex CRC
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust HMPs/YOIs
Having been named as Relevant Agencies, Royal Surrey County Hospital Cafcass
these organisations are required to act in Epsom and St Helier’s Hospitals
accordance with the arrangements and Frimley Park Hospital Faith
contribute to their operation in appropriate Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals All Diocesan Boards
and commensurate ways. Relevant agencies South East Coast Ambulance Service
will be expected to operate within the terms Others
of Working Together 2018 and in compliance District and Borough Councils Surrey Fire and Rescue
with local safeguarding policies and Elmbridge Borough Council All Children’s Homes; Adoption and Fostering
procedures. They will be invited to attend and Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Agencies
contribute to meetings of the Partnership and Guildford Borough Council
relevant sub-groups and workstreams. Reigate and Banstead Borough Council *Part of the county council, Surrey’s Public
Runnymede Borough Council Health and Adults’ Social Care services will
The Relevant Agencies are set out below: Spelthorne Borough Council also be key partners in these arrangements.
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Education (inc daycare) Waverley Borough Council *Any other organisation/agency may in the
All early years settings and schools, including Woking Borough Council future be considered a ‘relevant agency’ and
Academies, Free Schools and Independent Mole Valley District Council invited to join the Safeguarding Children
Schools, colleges and other education Tandridge District Council Partnership.
providers in the SSCP area.
12THE SAFEGUARDING PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURE
Independent Scrutiny
Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
User Voice
Learning
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
Third Sector District/Boroughs
Safeguarding Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
User Voice
Learning
Learning from Engagement and
Case Review Panel CDOP
Practice Group Communications Group
Independent Scrutiny
13Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Learning from Engagement and
Case Review Panel CDOP
Practice Group Communications Group
The Safeguarding Children • To work collaboratively to drive and • To receive reports arising from the
Executive Group ensure the delivery of the annual independent scrutiny of the local
The nominated leads for the three statutory Safeguarding Children Strategic Plan. safeguarding arrangements.
Safeguarding Partners will form the County’s • To commission and receive reports • To take actions/problem solve in
new Children’s Safeguarding Executive on a performance dataset/dashboard respect of performance and quality
Group, along with a representative each reflecting the multi-agency inputs, issues as they are identified in reports
from Surrey’s schools, district and borough outputs and outcomes required to meet to the group.
councils, and the Office of the Police and the objectives in the Strategic Plan. • To provide regular ‘accountability
Crime Commissioner. The members of this • To establish standing and ‘task and reports’ to the Children’s Safeguarding
group will be the strategic leadership group finish’ sub-groups as considered Partnership and to chief officers of the
and ‘virtual management team’ for the new appropriate; agree terms of reference statutory Safeguarding Partners.
safeguarding arrangements. They will hold and desired outcomes and receive • To co-author an annual report on the
themselves and others to account for fulfilling reports on their activity. operation of the arrangements and
their safeguarding responsibilities effectively • To commission and receive reports on evidence of their impact on outcomes
and will have a relentless focus on improving multi-agency audit/quality assurance, for children for presentation to the
safeguarding outcomes for Surrey’s children and learning and development activity. Partnership and wider publication.
and young people. • To commission and receive reports
on the status and outcomes of rapid The Executive Group will meet monthly
The group’s key roles will be: reviews and formal and informal to fulfil these responsibilities and will be
• To jointly identify, with the wider children’s safeguarding practice chaired independently. Ad hoc meetings
Safeguarding Partnership, safeguarding reviews (CSPRs). may be called to consider urgent matters.
priorities for Surrey and to co- • To commission and receive ‘user voice’ Any relevant agency, eg Third Sector
commission an annual Safeguarding reports and engage with the issues Organisations, may be invited to attend
Children Strategic Plan. identified by children and the group on an ‘issue by issue’ basis.
young people.
14Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding Forum Forum
CVS Safeguarding
Network
Partnership District/Boroughs
Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Learning from Engagement and
Case Review Panel CDOP
Practice Group Communications Group
The Safeguarding Children Partnership • To act as a reference group for the respect of safeguarding and broader
The statutory Safeguarding Partners Safeguarding Partners to identify and children’s services within the county council.
and the named Relevant Agencies take action on new and emerging
will form the County’s new Children’s issues in the County in respect The Council’s legal section will
Safeguarding Partnership. of children’s safeguarding. attend meetings of the Partnership
• To ensure effective linkages with to provide relevant advice.
The Partnership will have the other relevant partnerships and
following key roles: governance structures.
• To jointly identify, with the Safeguarding • To ensure the new arrangements
Children Executive Group, safeguarding fulfil the vision and values of the
priorities for Surrey and to co- partnership in their operation.
commission and monitor an annual
Safeguarding Children Strategic Plan. The Partnership will meet on a quarterly
• To receive reports from the Executive basis to consider its business and will
Group and others in respect of the be chaired independently. An annual
delivery of the Strategic Plan. ‘reflection and action’ event will be held
• To commission ‘vital signs’ reports with a broader attendance to inform
on performance and quality of the refreshing of the Strategic Plan.
children’s safeguarding services.
• To consider reports on relevant The statutory Cabinet Member for Children
learning and development activity. will be a member of the Partnership, will
• To receive reports from attend meetings of the Partnership and
Independent Scrutiny activity. will also be invited to attend learning
• To commission and receive reports on from practice groups and events. This
‘user voice’ activity and the viewpoints involvement will support the Cabinet
of children and young people. Member’s statutory and policy roles in
15Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children
Executive Group Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children
Partnership Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Business Group Engagement and
Communications Group
CDOP
Case Review Panel Learning from
Practice Group
Learning from Engagement and
Case Review Panel CDOP
Practice Group Communications Group
The Children’s Safeguarding The Case Review Panel • Ensuring the relevant findings
Partnership Business Group This group will be made up of designated of formal practice reviews are
This group will consist of representatives of senior managers of the statutory disseminated appropriately, that
the three statutory Safeguarding Partners Safeguarding Partners. It will meet, virtually any management actions needed
and Chairs of standing and task and finish or actually, on an ad-hoc, as needed basis to are undertaken promptly and that
sub-groups to support, in the first instance, ensure timely decision-making in respect of learning arising from these reviews
the transition to the new safeguarding cases which may fulfil the criteria for formal informs the activity of the Learning
arrangements. Its subsequent role will be Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. from Practice Partnership Group.
to ensure the business of the Safeguarding
Partnership and decisions taken are The group will be responsible for: This group will be chaired by the CCG’s
progressed efficiently and effectively. • Setting the criteria for, commissioning County-wide Associate Director for
The group will meet monthly and will be and progressing formal Child Safeguarding in the first instance.
chaired in the first instance by the council’s Safeguarding Practice Reviews nb: The responsibility for Serious Incident
Director of Quality and Performance. including rapid reviews. Notifications will remain with the local
• Leading on the liaison with the authority, although this will usually be
National Child Safeguarding Practice undertaken following consultation with
Review Panel on behalf of the three the other Safeguarding Partners.
designated Safeguarding Partners.
• Ensuring publication of all or parts
of a CSPR report as appropriate.
16Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children
Executive Group Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children
Partnership Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group Business Group
Case Review Panel CDOP Case Review Panel CDOP
Learning from Engagement and Learning from Engagement and
Practice Group Communications Group
Communications Group Practice Group
The Learning from Practice Group • To provide reports to the Executive The Engagement and
This group will consist of representatives of Group and Partnership on multi and Communications Group
the three statutory Safeguarding Partners, the inter-agency audit activity and on This group will consist of representatives
Children’s Workforce Academy and Relevant informal safeguarding practice reviews. from the three statutory Safeguarding
Agencies by invitation. It will be key to the • To make recommendations to the Partners and interested Relevant Agencies.
embedding of a learning culture and ‘cycle’ Executive Group and Partnership, and It will be responsible for an annual
into the new safeguarding arrangements. implement decisions, on changes to programme of engagement and
multi-agency safeguarding policies communications with both users
The group’s key roles will be: and procedures arising from audit and of safeguarding services and with
• To commission and receive reports on practice reviews. practitioners across the safeguarding
an annual local programme of multi and • To produce and disseminate regular Partnership workforce.
inter-agency audit activity. ‘highlight reports’ on safeguarding
• To set the criteria for, commission practice for practitioners. The Partners are committed to implementing
and progress informal safeguarding • To work with the designated the user voice strategy set out in the
practice reviews which do not meet safeguarding lead in the Children’s document below and the group will lead
the criteria for formal reviews but Workforce Academy to commission on engagement and consultation with
are considered helpful to inform an annual multi-agency learning and young people and families using tools
improvements in practice and services development programme and other ad including surveys and focus groups. The
locally (inc reviews highlighting good hoc learning events. group will also support the development
practice). of young people’s involvement in quality
• To ensure the learning from audit This group will meet bi-monthly to fulfil these assurance, commissioning and scrutiny of
activity and from formal and informal responsibilities. It will be chaired by the the safeguarding arrangements in Surrey.
safeguarding practice reviews is county council’s Assistant Director for Quality As such, it will be important to include
disseminated appropriately. Practice in the first instance. skilled user involvement practitioners
in the membership of the group.
17Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Learning from
Case Review Panel
Practice Group
CDOP
Engagement and
Communications Group
The Partners are also committed The Child Death Overview Panel CDOP remains a function that will
to improving communication on The statutory Child Death Review be overseen by local safeguarding
safeguarding issues across the Partners, Guildford and Waverley Clinical arrangements in Surrey with the
children’s workforce in the county and Commissioning Group and Surrey County CDOP being a standing group of the
the group will be responsible for the Council, will continue to convene a Child Children’s Safeguarding Partnership. The
production of a regular ‘newsletter’ Death Overview Panel, the purpose of multiagency panel which will continue
for staff and for the regular collection which is to undertake comprehensive and into the new partnership will undergo
of practitioner views on the operation multidisciplinary reviews of child deaths in a review of membership to ensure
of the safeguarding arrangements. order to better understand how and why compliance with Working Together
local children die. Findings are used to take (2018). The Surrey CDOP will maintain
The group will meet bi-monthly and will be action to prevent other deaths and improve its relationships with neighbouring
co-chaired by the current CEO of Surrey the health and safety of our children. CDOPs, in order to experience the
Youth Focus and the county council’s benefits of learning from a larger cohort.
Assistant Director for Quality Relationships. Currently CDOP functions through a
multi-agency model, with a multi-agency CDOP will continue to be chaired
panel membership which is responsible by a public health professional
for reviewing all child deaths in Surrey. to provide independence.
In addition to the panel there is a small
core team, who oversee the provision The Child Death Overview Panel will meet
of the current CDOP offer including the at least quarterly with ad-hoc meetings
provision of a key worker, organisation of taking place wherever necessary. The
child death review meetings for unexpected CDOP will gather and assess data on the
deaths and early contact with families deaths of all children and young people
through a joint agency response. from birth (excluding those babies who are
stillborn) up to the age of 18 years who are
normally resident in Surrey. This will include
18Health Safeguarding
Forum
Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education
Safeguarding Forum
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Learning from Engagement and
Case Review Panel CDOP
Practice Group Communications Group
neonatal deaths, expected and unexpected consistent approach to child death review Health Safeguarding Forum
deaths in infants and in older children. meetings across the county, allowing This group will consist of representatives
Where a child normally resident in another the CDOP team to respond immediately of all Surrey’s CCGs; NHS Providers
area dies within Surrey that death shall be following a child death and ensuring a and Designated Doctors and Nurses.
notified to the CDOP in the child’s area of robust approach to ensure the learning from It will enable the lead CCG to engage
residence. Similarly, when a child normally child deaths results in practice change. Surrey’s other health stakeholders in local
resident in Surrey dies outside of the safeguarding issues. The group will be the
County, Surrey CDOP should be notified. The CDOP team will provide a setting for the agenda of the Executive
representative to the Learning from Group and Safeguarding Partnership to
In order that the Surrey CDOP partners Practice Partnership Group to ensure be communicated and considered and
meet the requirements to organise and relevant learning from child deaths is for decisions affecting the health sector
manage the Child Death Review Meetings incorporated into the Partnership’s to be made and implemented. It will also
for both expected and unexpected child learning and development strategy. provide an opportunity for the sector to
deaths and to ensure service continuity, advise the lead CCG of issues in respect
quality and governance of the process, an Search for the detailed CDOP of safeguarding practice requiring the
extended core team will be hosted by one arrangements at: www.surreyscb.org.uk attention of the Executive Group.
Surrey CCG on behalf of the partnership.
This core team will include the designated The group will meet bi-monthly and
doctor, a named nurse for child deaths, a will be chaired by the Surrey-wide
number of nurse specialists, a public health Associate Director for Safeguarding.
professional and the CDOP coordinator.
The extended core team will support an
enhanced needs-led service in terms
of a smooth joint agency response,
provision of a more individually tailored
lead professional arrangement, ensuring a
19Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children
Executive Group Executive Group
Schools and Education Ofsted Priority Other Key Ofsted Priority Other Key
Safeguarding Forum
Action Board Governance Groups Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding Children Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Partnership Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Third Sector
Action Board Governance Groups Business Group Business Group
Districts & Boroughs
Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum
Forum
Network
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Learning from Engagement and
Learning from Engagement and Case Review Panel CDOP
Learning from Engagement and Case Review Panel CDOP Practice Group Communications Group
Case Review Panel CDOP Practice Group Communications Group
Practice Group Communications Group
Schools and Education Districts and Boroughs Third Sector Safeguarding Network
Safeguarding Forum Safeguarding Forum The Partnership is ambitious to extend
This group will be made up of The nominated districts and boroughs the engagement with the county’s very
representatives of the county’s schools representative on the Safeguarding diverse community and voluntary sector
and colleges and the county council’s Partnership Executive Group will convene in local safeguarding practice and in
education and social care services. Its regular meetings with district and borough the work of the Partnership. Community
key purpose will be to provide a forum council colleagues to ensure strong and Voluntary sector representatives
for communication and for learning and engagement of these councils in the on the Partnership will be asked to
improvement for professional staff in county’s safeguarding agenda. The group build on the current communications
respect of the safeguarding of children will be focused on information exchange ‘network’ in place to promote this aim.
in education settings. The group will lead and on addressing issues where district and
actions and initiatives arising from the borough councils can play important roles
Partnership’s priorities and plans; will in shaping and implementing safeguarding
identify and address issues of concern policies and practice at a local level.
relating to inter-agency working and will
provide an education perspective in the
Partnership’s safeguarding arrangements.
The group will meet at least
termly and will be chaired by the
Assistant Director for Education.
20Safeguarding Children
Executive Group
Ofsted Priority Other Key
Action Board Governance Groups
Schools and Education Health Safeguarding
Safeguarding Forum Forum
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
CVS Safeguarding District/Boroughs
Network Safeguarding Forum
Business Group
Learning from Engagement and
Case Review Panel CDOP
Practice Group Communications Group
Links with other Strategic Partnerships To both promote the maxim that
In addition to the Children’s Safeguarding ‘safeguarding is everybody’s business’ and
Partnership, there are a number of other also to ensure appropriate collaboration
strategic boards/groups which have across strategic level groups, members of
agendas affecting the safeguarding and the Children’s Safeguarding Partnership
wellbeing of children and young people. Executive Group will seek to meet with
These include: Chairs of groups noted above on a
• Surrey Children and Young People’s regular basis. Additionally an annual
Partnership. conference for lead representatives of
• Surrey Corporate Parenting Board. all relevant strategic groups will be held
• Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board. to enable information exchange and
• Surrey Adults Safeguarding Board. support business planning for all groups.
• Surrey Community Safety Board.
• Surrey Youth Justice Partnership.
21INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY
The Safeguarding Partners in Surrey It is expected that the scrutiny system CULTURE OF SCRUTINY
welcome the new requirement for will consider how effectively safeguarding Scrutiny in Surrey will be positive in its
independent scrutiny of the local arrangements are working for children, approach with a focus on reflection and
safeguarding arrangements and value young people and their families and, learning. An evidence based approach will be
and understand its key role in providing importantly, for practitioners. Scrutiny taken. It will also be assertive and expected
safeguarding assurance to children, will also seek to challenge & assess to encourage a culture where challenge
young people and their families, as how well the statutory Safeguarding is accepted and seen to be helpful and
well as the support and challenge such Partners are providing leadership across constructive by all partners. The Partnership
scrutiny can provide to agencies and the broader safeguarding system. will aim to build a culture where everyone
organisations involved in the arrangements. involved in safeguarding children from front
It is envisaged that those providing the Scrutiny will take a proactive role in line practitioners to members of the Executive
scrutiny function will act as ‘critical accessing and working with the wider Group and Partnership welcomes challenge
friends’ and that scrutiny becomes a system and will take account of findings of and scrutiny and actively participates.
key driver for constructive challenge the regulatory inspections of the individual
& reflection in pursuit of continuous Safeguarding Partners (Ofsted; CQC; In practice this will involve developing
improvement across the partnership. HMIC); Joint Targeted Area Inspections; approaches which are reflective, show pride
and elective peer reviews. It will also in what is achieved and a willingness to
In order to support the resilience of be informed by the workings of other change those things that do not always go
young people and their families it is local scrutiny functions such as those well. Supporting frontline practitioners in what
essential to ensure that all agencies delivered by the council’s Overview can often be a very challenging role and
with an involvement in safeguarding and Scrutiny Select Committees. engaging with children young people and
coordinate their efforts effectively and their families to create a better understanding
make the very best use of the skills Equally importantly the scrutiny function of their lived experiences will be important
and resources available. Independent will take account of the views of children, principles to underpin the approach. A
and objective scrutiny has a very young people and their families and key aim of scrutiny will be to identify and
important role to help ensure multi- those of practitioners throughout the spread the very best practice as well as
agency arrangements to safeguard and County, based on existing and developing contributing to improvements where needed.
promote the wellbeing of children and arrangements for engagement.
young people in Surrey are effective. Whilst due regard will be given to the
process of joint strategic planning, the
main focus of scrutiny will be to assess
the delivery and impact of such plans
to ensure that resources are aligned to
priorities and the needs of young people.
22SYSTEM OF SCRUTINY • Determining the effectiveness of audit programmes and making
Scrutiny of the county’s safeguarding arrangements to identify and review outcomes available for scrutiny.
arrangements will be led by an appointed serious child safeguarding cases. • Sharing findings from any internal
Independent Scrutineer, who will also • Involvement in the escalation and reviews undertaken eg relevant Select
chair key meetings of the Partnership and conflict resolution process. Committee reviews.
Executive Groups in the first instance. • Engaging with and assessing the • Sharing learning (and its evidence)
Other scrutineers will be drawn from those effectiveness of the Surrey Children’s from case and practice reviews
with experience in child safeguarding, an Workforce Academy in respect of its commissioned by the Partnership or
understanding of local need and the capacity multi-agency safeguarding training and single agencies when requested.
to recognise effective partnership working. staff development offer. • Enabling and encouraging front-
Scrutiny and evaluation will be managed • Ensuring the voice of the child line practitioners to engage in forum
and delivered separately from the executive and service users is at the heart of meetings and giving and receiving
functions of the Partnership. all aspects of scrutiny by directly constructive feedback.
engaging with children, young people • Peer review & challenge, particularly
The Independent Scrutineer will oversee the and families and also assessing the from local areas whose safeguarding
development of the scrutiny system and the effectiveness and impact of single partnerships are recognised to be good
delivery of an annual scrutiny plan. The role agency and partnership engagement and outstanding.
will include: strategies. • Sharing information from local
• Promoting culture change throughout engagement activity with particular
• Attending and chairing the Executive the Partnership to embed scrutiny as a emphasis on ‘the voice of the child’
Group and Safeguarding Partnership. constructive process with learning as and its impact on service delivery.
• Reviewing safeguarding audits and its outcome.
performance data, including s11 audits. • Contribute to and reviewing the The Executive Group will be responsible for
• Ensuring regular thematic peer reviews. Partnership’s Annual Report. ensuring that any recommendations from
• Having a direct line of sight to practice scrutiny are acted upon and will produce
through an independent programme The scrutiny system will rely on the an annual impact assessment as part of
of multi-agency practitioner forum designated Safeguarding Partners and the annual report.
meetings. Relevant Agencies to make an agreed
• Engaging with the Council’s Cabinet commitment to:
Member for Children, Young People
and Families and with the formal Select • Making available performance data and
Committee Process together with analysis demonstrating access to, and
the Corporate Parenting Panel and the quality and timeliness of services
assessing their effectiveness in regard for young people.
to safeguarding. • Engaging in multi and single agency
23USER VOICE
It is essential that the voices of children, These are ambitious goals. To this end,
young people and their families are at the the Partnership will engage with groups
heart of our safeguarding arrangements. including Surrey’s Youth Parliament, Youth
This means not only that views are Cabinet, Citizen Panels, schools councils,
routinely sought by professionals but also, Healthwatch, community groups and
most importantly, that these views help Surrey’s Children in Care Council to explore
inform and shape our services – that the ways in which meaningful involvement
user voice has a real impact and makes can be agreed, achieved and supported.
a difference in what we do. As part of The Partnership will hold itself and each
the broader user engagement strategy other to account for effective engagement
services are committed to develop across with users and a standing sub-group of
all children’s services, the Safeguarding the Partnership will lead on this work and
Partners are determined to find ways in provide assurance to the Partnership
which children, young people and their through regular reporting. The Partnership’s
families can participate in: annual report will demonstrate the extent of
user involvement and provide an evaluation
• The setting of safeguarding priorities of its impact.
for the county.
• The commissioning of safeguarding
services.
• The development of new safeguarding
policies and procedures.
• The evaluation of the quality of
safeguarding services provided by the
Partnership.
• The scrutiny of the effectiveness
of the Partnership’s safeguarding
arrangements.
• The learning and development
programme for the Partnership
workforce.
24DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ESCALATION POLICY
Although agencies in Surrey are committed
to collaborating and working together in
integrated ways to protect and safeguard
children and young people, differences
and disagreements are inevitable in
multi-agency working. These need to
be resolved as speedily as possible.
In the normal course of work with children
and families, it is expected that disputes
are resolved through constructive dialogue
between individual practitioners or their
managers in the first instance – any
practitioner or manager may call an urgent
multi-agency meeting to this end. Matters
that cannot be resolved at this stage should
be escalated to more senior managers and,
ultimately, to the Safeguarding Executive
Group. This group will also arbitrate or
mediate on any dispute in respect of
multi-agency policies and procedures.
Any consideration of disputes and
escalations should always have the
wellbeing and interests of children
and young people as the paramount
concern. Regular review of the causes
of disputes and escalations will be
undertaken to inform learning and support
continuous improvement of services.
25SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT TEAM
The Safeguarding Partnership will be In addition, capacity based in the council’s
supported by a group of professional Quality Assurance service and Surrey’s
and business support staff hosted Children’s Workforce Academy will be
within the county council’s Children, deployed on an annual basis to co-
Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture ordinate the delivery of the Partnership’s
Department. Under the management of multi-agency safeguarding auditing
the Department’s Assistant Director for programme and the Partnership’s
Quality Relationships and Service Manager learning and development strategy.
for Policy, Planning and Partnerships,
the jointly funded staffing structure is:
• Partnership Development Manager.
• Board(s) Manager.
• Partnership Development and
Engagement Officers x 2.
• Administrative/Business Support.
This team will support the development
and strengthening of partnership practice
in safeguarding across the county, co-
ordinating strategic planning, ensuring
the efficient operation of the Executive,
Partnership and sub-groups and providing
capacity to co-ordinate and support
specific workstreams, task and finish
groups and practice reviews. The team
will also have a key role in implementing
the Partnership’s communications
strategy and will lead the production
of the Partnership’s annual report.
26INFORMATION GOVERNANCE AND DATA PROTECTION
All existing documentation in respect
of the Surrey Safeguarding Children
Board will be transferred and held by
the Surrey Safeguarding Partnership
Support Team from September 2019.
Safeguarding Partners and Relevant
Agencies will be expected to operate
in compliance with information
governance and data protection
legislation and regulation. To this end,
multi-agency information sharing and
consent protocols will be reviewed
and refreshed as necessary.
27FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS
An annual budget to support Surrey’s
safeguarding arrangements will be
established and managed within the
county council. Current funding
agreements will be maintained for
2019-20 and thereafter reviewed
on an annual basis to ensure
sufficiency and equitability.
The following agencies currently contribute
to the overall budget of £500,000:
• Surrey County Council.
• Surrey Police.
• NHS CCGs and Providers.
• District and Borough Councils.
• Probation Service.
• Cafcass.
In addition to core funding, income from
specific multi-agency safeguarding
training provided is also invested in
the Safeguarding Arrangements.
28IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS
This document is being published in June
2019 in line with statutory requirements.
The arrangements outlined in the document
will come into effect in September 2019
at which point the county’s current
Safeguarding Children Board and
sub-groups will no longer exist.
A review of the new arrangements
will be undertaken by September 2020.
29INITIAL PRIORITIES FOR THE PARTNERSHIP
Routine business planning for the NEGLECT CONTEXTUAL
Partnership will commence for The Partnership is committed to raising SAFEGUARDING ISSUES
implementation from 2020-21. In the standards of practice and response The Partnership will increase the focus
meantime, initial priorities for action have to the neglect of children and young on contextual safeguarding issues
been identified by the Statutory Partners people within their families. Neglect is including serious violence and knife crime
and agreed by the Partnership. These are: known to be a common feature in child affecting young people and criminal and
protection work and practice has often sexual exploitation not least because
THRESHOLDS ‘lagged behind’ research and innovation these are very real concerns of young
A clear understanding of thresholds for by others. Our priority will be to equip the people in Surrey as elsewhere. We will
different levels of intervention which children’s workforce in Surrey with a clear seek to work collaboratively with young
is shared across all agencies and framework for assessment and action people to increase our understanding
organisations in contact with children and in cases of neglect, including criminal of these risks and to devise and
young people is an essential foundation neglect, and the skills to enable more develop more effective responses.
stone for effective safeguarding practice. effective interventions in these cases.
Surrey SCB has recently published ‘Family EMOTIONAL WELLBEING AND
Resilience Surrey’ available here: www. DOMESTIC ABUSE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL
surreyscb.org.uk, outlining thresholds The Partnership is determined to improve
for access to early help, targeted and HEALTH SERVICES (CAMHS)
practice in safeguarding children in
specialist support, including the triggers Good emotional wellbeing and self-
families where domestic abuse takes
for compulsory intervention. The new esteem are key protective factors and
place. This requires strong multi-
Safeguarding Partnership will prioritise promote the resilience of children and
agency working and we will review our
the embedding of the guidance across young people in Surrey. A comprehensive
policy and procedural framework and
children’s services and the children’s range of CAMHs services are needed
our learning offer to this end. We also
workforce in Surrey. We will work from early help which may be provided
aim to improve co-commissioning of
proactively to ensure consistent and robust through schools to clinical diagnostic and
services in respect of domestic abuse
application of thresholds and will address therapeutic interventions provided by
with other key governance bodies.
issues arising from the implementation specialist practitioners. The Partnership’s
of the guidance collaboratively. priorities are both to improve children and
young people’s access to CAMHs services
and to improve the quality of services
provided. A new CAMHs strategy is being
developed and these services will be
recommissioned to achieve these aims.
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