Agenda and minutes
PDF 134 KBVenue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G02A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions
Contact: Amit Alva Email: Amit.Alva@southwark.gov.uk
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Rachel Bentley (Vice-Chair). |
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Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent
In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear working days of the meeting. Minutes: There were no items of business which the Chair deemed urgent. |
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Disclosure of interests and dispensations.
Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: There were no disclosures of interests and dispensations. |
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Minutes
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2024. Supporting documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2024 were approved as a correct record. |
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Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)
To receive a verbal update from Alasdair Smith, Director of Children & Families, Children's and Adults' Services on Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP). Minutes: The commission first heard from Alasdair Smith, Director of Children & Families, Children's and Adults' Services on the following points.
· 3 Statutory partners- Council, Health & Police; Update to statutory guidance on working with children- Partnership required to have fourth partner as education · Instead of independent Chair, rotating Chairing by partners; Current Chair Vanessa Briton (Police); Aim to keep children safe from harm and abuse, wider stakeholder meeting with schools and hospitals · Multi agency safeguarding hub owned by the council but referrals from all partners including police, most significant referral is child abuse, child neglect is also growing as a factor. · Families need to get help early, parents are under immense pressures at times. Early help system- children and family centres; higher number of case referrals in Black British, underlying causes of higher deprivation, service looking at tackling the root causes. (Peckham and Newington) · During Covid over 400 child protection plans in Southwark compared 265 cases currently; Private fostering work after Ofsted review- more awareness and learning messaging, challenges in recruiting social working staff, 9 vacancies for council and agency staff · Southwark working with London Innovation and Improvement Alliance to improve conditions within the social worker market, where-in agencies exploit vacancies in competing boroughs by increasing hourly-charges. · Strategy for child neglect needed and being developed, especially due to Covid and Cost-of-Living crisis and the immense pressure on families; working with families to put in place appropriate child protection measures; understanding parents and pressure, exploring core issues. · Care- leavers are given support by personal advisers who are not social workers, as ages 18 and above don’t receive the support given by Children’s Safeguarding Legislation, although care-leavers are still quite vulnerable. Most care leavers feel safe at their existing housing, however some concerns on the quality of housing. · Sub-groups in partnerships- Equality and Effectiveness- looking at the different pathways to tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), National review of children with disabilities not in care. · Disproportionality in child protection services and discrimination and need for more work in child neglect. · Child safeguarding practice review- experienced leaders in sub-groups, looking at national safeguarding issues such as adolescent peer to peer violence cases. · Local learning review are reviewed nationally and resulting actions are implemented; Issues of mother’s mental health affecting child welfare, Trans children struggling with sexuality and gender identity issues; review good practices to support young trans children. Supporting practitioners to help trans children and parents · Multi agency child exploitation panel- includes social care, health and police agencies; Working together initiative- new statutory guidance- incorporating education as a partner; Council approach to combine Children and Adult Safeguarding partnership under Alasdair; Small grant from government for this initiative used in schools for education. The commission then asked questions on the following themes
· Council role working with the police on young people in custody, BAME young people affected more. · Baroness Casey Review findings of racism in the MET police and their involvement in safe guarding. · Reduction in child protection plans post Covid in Southwark compared to other borough; ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Draft scrutiny report and recommendations 2023-2024
To consider the draft scrutiny report and recommendations for the 2023-2024 municipal year. (To follow) Supporting documents: Minutes: Education Recommendations
The commission clarified the process of receiving responses back from the Cabinet on recommendations in eight weeks and that the scrutiny team endeavours to actively track recommendations from the previous years.
On recommendation 6 (Kintore Way), the commission discussed the need for the recommendation to cover more LA maintained nurseries and not just Kintore Way (KW) nursery. However the commission also agreed that the rationale for KW to be mentioned in the nursery is due to the large proportion of nursery pupils and provisions at KW. The commission then agreed to include KW ‘but not limited’ to in the recommendation.
On recommendation 7, the commission discussed the need to revise the time frame in the recommendation of May 2024.
On recommendation 4, the commission discussed the need to include thorough communication of process with schools with regards to tracking pupil numbers; and further communication with schools when decisions are being taken on closures and amalgamations as a part of the Keeping Education Strong Strategy.
Local Economy Recommendations
On recommendation 5, the commission discussed the need to review the recommendation noting that Southwark Works relies on partner organisations to provide entry level jobs and the council’s limited role in it.
On recommendation 3, the commission agreed to review and rephrase the wording around the timing of the internships and provide more context in the body of the report.
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Work Programme 2023-2024
To note the commission’s work programme for the year 2023-2024. Supporting documents: Minutes: The commission noted the work programme for the year 2023-2024. |