Agenda item

Local Safeguarding Partnership Future Arrangements

The Chair of the Children and Young People Select Committee, Councillor Sorba informed Panel Members that he had requested further discussion of this item as he thought there was going to be a major change of a sensitive Statutory function it would need thorough scrutiny. He said he noted that Lewisham would be merging with Bexley and Greenwich Councils and would be sharing one Borough Commander amongst them, instead of one each. The Executive Director for Children and Young People responded that local authorities do not have a choice in the matter, as there was a Legislative Framework. She said the partnership arrangements was for economies of scales, and there was also value in working together.

The Executive Director for CYP informed Panel Members that the Board arrangements would be done within each Borough, with an overview joint arrangement which would include joint meetings.

Councillor Sorba stated that the key position of the Independent Chair was to be replaced by an Independent Scrutineer. He asked that the criteria and job description of the post be shared with Business Panel Members. The Executive Director for CYP said partners had not yet signed off a job description, as the template was still being discussed amongst Local Authorities. She said it would likely be similar to that of the Chair of the Board.

Action >>>>>> ED CYP

The Executive Director for CYP said that responsibility for Scrutiny would sit with the Safeguarding Partnership i.e. Health Trusts, Police and Local Authorities, but the Scrutineer would report to the Chief Executive of the Council to ensure an additional layer of responsibility. She said the Scrutineer would be an external detached role that would look at how well the Partners were working.

Councillor Millbank commented on the timetable, and asked if there would be an opportunity for a pay review. She asked why Lay Members would be employed for only 18 months. Councillor Millbank also asked how the Child Death Overview Panel would work.

The Executive Director for CYP explained how the process would work emphasising that the Tri Borough arrangements would add a layer to the local safeguarding process, but all the real business would be dealt with at local level. She said that although Lay-Member involvement was no longer required,  the partners thought it would be wise to roll them over to the new arrangements to give partners the opportunity to review the role. Panel Members heard that the Child Death Overview Panel would be a valuable umbrella of support that would focus on all aspects of Child Deaths.

Councillor Millbank commented that an external person might find it difficult to get information. She asked how this would be dealt with and was told that as it was a Statutory role they would have the power to request information to fulfil the role, and co-partners would ensure they were effective. Councillor Millbank said it would be useful for the Job Description to be circulated to CYP Select Committee Members once it has been finalised.

Councillor Curran said he was concerned that the possibility remained that important issues could be missed between the Tri Borough arrangements and the Child Death Overview Panel. He emphasised that both parties might mistakenly assume that the other was dealing with an issue, and this might not be the case. He asked how the partners would work together to ensure nothing gets missed. The Executive Director for CYP responded that the arrangements were very clearly set out, and responsibility sits at Borough level. She said there was no risk of blurred responsibilities and the Partners would ensure there was a detailed document that set out how things would work.

The Panel discussed in detail the method of funding which they thought was not well spread out. Panel Members were concerned the funding might not be sufficient to do the work, but were told officers may have to ask for more funding if necessary.The Chair thanked the Executive Director CYP for the report.

RESOLVED:

I.              that the decision of Mayor and Cabinet be noted.

II.            that Mayor and Cabinet be requested to ask officers to do an Executive Management Structure with a clear reporting line for the Child Death Overview Panel.

III.           That Mayor and Cabinet be requested to ask officers to circulate details of the person specification and Job description for the Independent Scrutineer to the Children and Young People Select Committee when finalised.