The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the changes in the partnership model and the transition from the Local Safeguarding Children Board to the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership. 

2.    To note the work that has been carried out by the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children’s Partnership over the year 2019-20. 

3.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

(Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership Manager (L. Griffiths)

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, introduced the report. He highlighted that the focus over the past year had been to establish the new arrangements and this was really important in ensuring the systems and processes were fit for purpose. Cross-community and partner arrangements showed the importance everyone placed on this work. The next year should really help to show how the partnership can have a positive impact for young people. He then introduced Cheytan Vyas, Director of Quality and Safety and the WEL Clinical Commissioning Group and Georgina Zumeris, Detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan Police, as Lead Partnership Members.

They noted that the leadership was now shared between the Council and these other Lead Agencies. An independent scrutineer role had been recruited to as well to support the Partnership.

Key priorities for the next year were around; strengthening safeguarding within education, the multi-agency approach to training around domestic abuse and also increasing the effectiveness of work to prevent criminal and sexual exploitation of children.

Work on quality assurance and in ensuing the voice of young people guided the work of the partnership was also going to be important. Other issues noted included work around the child death review process, the length of time serious case reviews should take and on the targeting of predators on children and preventing reoffending.

The Mayor thanked everyone involved in the work of the partnership and highlighted how important this area was to the Council. He welcomed how the profile of this work had been raised over the last few years. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the changes in the partnership model and the transition from the Local Safeguarding Children Board to the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership. 

2.    To note the work that has been carried out by the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children’s Partnership over the year 2019-20. 

3.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.