Agenda item

Reports of Rebekah Eaves, Safeguarding Boards Business Manager

The Board received reports of Rebekah Eaves, Safeguarding Boards Business Manager, concerning the 2017/18 Annual Reports of the Coventry Safeguarding Children and Adults Boards, copies of which were set out at appendices to the two reports. Areas of overlap with the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board were noted.

The report concerning the Adults Board Annual Report highlighted the priorities and progress set out in the report. Much had been done in the last year to improve awareness of safeguarding issues, particularly those which were more complex. Many agencies had introduced new measures to ensure that staff were not just trained but were able to access ongoing support to improve their safeguarding knowledge and skills. However, not enough of our staff had up to date safeguarding awareness training and the Board remained committed to challenging and supporting agencies to improve this.

Much progress had been made in respect of community and engagement but there was still more to do. It was the intention to work more closely with the community to more fully understand the needs of people with care and support needs in Coventry and ensure that their views influenced strategic decision making. Regarding making safeguarding personal, the Board were now confident that professionals understood and could apply the appropriate principles. There were times when this was difficult and the introduction of initiatives such as Risk Enablement Panels and Family Group Conferencing would be key to ongoing success in this area.

The Board noted that over the last year, huge progress had been made in respect of learning and development, with the Workforce Development Strategy setting the direction and standard for all future training.

The report concerning the Children’s Board Annual Report also detailed the priorities and progress. A key priority was that looked after children and young people had equal opportunities to other children and young people. The Board now had a much better understanding of the outcomes for looked after children. Over the coming year there were plans in place to develop improved opportunities, particularly through the provisional of apprenticeships. There was also ongoing work to further improve the health of looked after children.

Regarding early help services, including mental health support, being available to children and young people, these were resulting in positive outcomes. The redesign of the delivery of Early Help was encouraging, as it would allow for a more seamless provision of support to families, across the continuum of need.

Good work had continued in respect of missing children and young people, and those at risk of child sexual exploitation, being protected by effective multi-agency arrangements. Professionals were increasingly aware of and responding to CSE risk. However, more needed to be done to consider the needs of victims as they transitioned into requiring adult support services.

Significant steps had been taken in raising the profile of understanding of emotional abuse and neglect, including domestic abuse and that abuse was identified as early as possible, and that appropriate interventions were provided to prevent further abuse and harm. This included setting the direction for effective partnership working with the launch of strategies in relation to both neglect and domestic abuse and the roll out of Signs of Safety.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The contents of the Coventry Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2017/18 be noted.

(2) The contents of the Coventry Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2017/18 be noted.