1.5 Policies & Procedures The CTSCB Policies and Procedures Sub Group (PPG) is well established and has a work programme in place that is monitored on a quarterly basis. The Group has recently expanded its remit to incorporate adults policies and procedures. The work programme of the Sub group needs to be further developed to incorporate the Adults policies and procedures. Develop the work programme of the PPG to include Adults and MASH policies and procedures. Ensure that the Group responds to any changes to the All Wales Procedures for children and adults as a result of the Act. Protocols and Procedures Sub Group Joint work programme in place. Policies and procedures reviewed in accordance with the timescales included in the work programme New scorecard reporting format to be developed Quarterly reports submitted to the Operational Committee Ensure that the PPG continues to review and update policies and procedures and recommendations on appropriate training/awareness raising Training/awareness raising requirements are remitted to the Training and Communications Sub as appropriate 1.6 Social Services & Wellbeing Act The Act will come into force on 6 April 2016. An action plan is already in place to ensure that the Board is compliant Actions contained within the SS&WB action plan to be implemented accordingly SS&WB Action Plan to be monitored by the Boards Reports to be presented to the via Operational Committee on a quarterly basis and risks/issues escalated where required SS&WB Act Task and Finish Group Quarterly highlight reports and progress on actions presented to the Board on a quarterly basis. To include risks and issues requiring escalation. Outcome 2: Children and young people who are particularly vulnerable have been identified and the Board is assured that there are measures in place to protect them and to prevent them from becoming further at risk What does this mean? Keeping children who may have for care and support safe is everyone’s responsibility. This means feeling safe and being safe with those with whom they live and who support and care for them, as well as being safe in environments outside the home where they may live, travel, play, learn, work or undertake sport, cultural, leisure and other activities. This responsibility lies primarily within the family or with carers and within the wider community. However, there are some groups of children who are particularly vulnerable, perhaps as a result of their own behaviour or as a result of compromised
2.2 Child Sexual Exploitation Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child abuse. It happens when a young person is encouraged, or forced, to take part in sexual activity in exchange for something. A National CSE Action Plan has recently been published to address CSE in Wales. The CTSCB has addressed this on a regional basis by producing its own action plan. The CTSCB action plan needs to be progressed further as annual reports will be required by the Welsh Government. In addition, data collection of CSE cases needs to be carried out and reported to the Welsh Government Progress with CTSCB Action Plan for CSE, ensuring that it complies with the Welsh Government's National Action Plan and the '4 Ps' to Prepare, Prevent, Protect and Pursue. CSE Task Group Action plan implemented and monitored Annual Report on CSE submitted to Welsh Government Progress with data collection monthly returns Cwm Taf Safeguarding Boards Business Unit Monthly returns submitted to Welsh Government Develop the toolkit for challenging cases to include the SERAF risk assessment tool for all cases where CSE is a risk Protocols and Procedures Sub Group Toolkit on challenging cases developed Number of SERAF assessments carried out Progress development of an effective Perpetrator Management Programme in line with the CSE Action Plan CSE Task Group Perpetrator Management Programme in Identify a Board member to champion this work Cwm Taf Safeguarding Children Board Board member identified 2.3 Suicide and Self Harm The Cwm Taf UHB currently co-ordinates a Reduction of Suicide and Self Harm multi-agency Steering Group which delivers elements of the Talk to Me 2 Strategy, considers critical incidents, Partnership working is vital in supporting children and young people at risk of harming themselves. There is a need to improve links between the Consideration to be given to bringing the Steering group functions into the CTSCB structure. Governance arrangements established for Steering Group functions Review the Strategy and Self Harm Strategy on a Cwm Taf regional basis Local Strategy reviewed to deliver Children’s elements of Talk to Me 2.
Children who are, or may be, affected by the exercise of a Safeguarding functions must be given the opportunity to participate in the Board’s work. Safeguarding Boards must work within the ethos of the theme of Voice and Control which underpins the Act to support people to achieve their personally identified outcomes. Priority Area Where are we now? What needs to improve? What do we need to do? Who is responsible? How will we measure success? 3.1 Strategy Communications and marketing is currently the responsibility of the Training and Communications Sub Group. The Board currently seeks opportunities to promote its work There is a need to improve the methods by which the Board publicises its work by engagement and collaboration with other agencies and by discussions with users and members of the public. There is a need to review the approach taken to communications to ensure that it sits within the correct governance structure of the Board. Carry out a review of the current Training and Communications Sub Group remit Training and Communications Group Review of training and communications completed and recommendations implemented Develop a joint children and adults Communications and Engagement Strategy. Ensure that all communications are developed to suit the audience, ensuring readability and translated into Welsh. Communications and Engagement Strategy developed and implemented 3.2 Safeguarding Boards Website The new Cwm Taf Safeguarding Boards website was launched in November 2015. This is a joint website with the Cwm Taf Safeguarding Adults Board. The website to be regularly updated and developed to support the Board's Communication Strategy Website to be updated and maintained, including translation. Partners to be encouraged to contribute to the ongoing development of the website. Cwm Taf Safeguarding Boards Business Unit Number of hits on website Feedback received via the website
3.3 Participation The currently engages with children and young people on an ad hoc basis via existing groups such as the Youth Forum and LAC groups At least once a year Safeguarding Boards must give children the opportunity to participate in one or more events of the boards work. Links to be made with the Cwm Taf Public Engagement Group and existing groups in Cwm Taf, including the newly established Citizens Panel Training and Communications Participation included in the Board's Communication Strategy. Each Board meeting to consider opportunities for engaging with children and young people Evaluation process to be developed to ensure that feedback received is meaningful Cwm Taf Safeguarding Children Board Record of Board discussions to include participation of children and young people Number of children and young people participating in the work of the Board Safeguarding Week 2016 to involve an event for children and young people Training and Communications Group Engagement activities to be evaluated 3.4 Safeguarding Week The Safeguarding Boards hosted Safeguarding Week 2015, the first of its kind in Wales. Plans are underway for Safeguarding Week 2016. Consideration is to be given to this being a national event Safeguarding Week to be held in 2016, to include a professionals/ stakeholder event and a public event. Training and Communications Group Safeguarding Week held and evaluated Outcome 4: There is effective inter-agency safeguarding practice and processes in place that are supported by robust quality assurance and information sharing systems What does this mean? Safeguarding Boards are required to co-ordinate the activities of each person or body represented on the in relation to protecting and preventing abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm to children and to ensure the effectiveness of those activities. They have an overall responsibility for challenging relevant agencies in an area so that: there are effective measures in place in to protect children who are experiencing harm or who may be at risk as the result of abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm, and
there are effective inter-agency co-operation in planning and delivering protection services and in sharing information. Priority Area Where are we now? What needs to improve? What do we need to do? Who is responsible? How will we measure success? 4.1 MASH The Cwm Taf Safeguarding Hub (MASH) was launched in 2015 and has significantly improved the sharing of information between agencies, helping to protect children and adults from harm, neglect and abuse. With the MASH being fully operational for almost a year, there is a need to evaluate its impact to date and review the current processes to ensure that they are achieving positive outcomes. A MASH Senior Managers Group has been set up to oversee this. Carry out a process mapping exercise to review the effectiveness to date MASH Senior Managers Group Process mapping completed and a proposal in place to make appropriate changes Carry out an evaluation of the MASH, to include feedback from service users and professionals Evaluation carried out with recommendations for further development and improvement Embed the performance of the MASH into the work of the CTSCB's QA Sub Group MASH data incorporated into the QA Scorecard 4.2 Information Sharing Information Sharing agreements are in place within the MASH There is a need to ensure that adequate systems are in place to enable the effective sharing of safeguarding information amongst all agencies Consider areas for development, including agreements between third sector organisations and other statutory agencies. Develop wider information sharing arrangements between other local authority MASH Operational Committee Information Sharing protocols in place 4.3 Escalation processes The has approved a number of protocols and tools to manage risky or challenging cases There is a need to ensure that there is an appropriate escalation procedure in place which is consistently applied across all cases where risks are not being reduced Carry out a review of current processes of escalating cases, taking into consideration the use of peer supervision Protocols and Procedures Sub Group Protocol/toolkit for resolving challenging cases approved by the Board Agency
6.1 Partnerships The Board is currently contributing to a review of all partnerships in the Cwm Taf area. Links are also in place to the Single Integrated Plans and the Social Services and Wellbeing Implementation Plan. There needs to be a clear matrix in place for the delivery of all strategic functions, including safeguarding, across Cwm Taf. Links also need to be made to the newly established Public Service Board (PSB). Ensure that clear links are in place with partnerships and that the safeguarding function forms part of these links. Ensure that partnership links include the statutory and voluntary sectors Cwm Taf Safeguarding Children Board Partnership Review completed and contribution of Safeguarding Boards is evident 6.2 Adults Board (CTSAB) The Act has one set of regulations for the functions and procedures of both Safeguarding Adults Boards and Safeguarding Children Boards. The CTSAB is more recently established than the CTSCB and is still undergoing development. Opportunities for collaboration between both Boards are being identified. There is a need to develop a commitment to provide a framework for improving safeguarding arrangements for everyone and that any artificial barriers based on age begin to be broken down. Opportunities need to be sought for the Board to operate in parallel and arrangements for the Boards should allow sharing, exchange and joint-working on matters of mutual concern, and that this should be supported wherever possible by common functions and procedures. Continue to Identify opportunities for integration Cwm Taf Safeguarding Children Board Joint Board meetings held Joint Sub Groups developed Joint initiatives in place e.g. website, safeguarding week, communications 6.3 National Independent Safeguarding Board The Act sets out the responsibilities of this newly created Board. It will work alongside Although the Safeguarding Boards are not accountable to the National Independent Safeguarding they must Establish effective links between the CTSCB and the National Board Cwm Taf Safeguarding Children Requests for information responded to within timescales Collaborative initiatives completed