Messages From The Board

Three messages from the Board December 2012

The Board received highlight report from Bedfordshire Police on CEOP Thematic Assessments and steps they are taking to combat the crime.
The Board received the annual LADO report and notes the progress made.
The Section 11 review for the year for Luton agencies have been received and were good.

The LSCB has reviewed Ofsted action plan and notes areas of good progress and identified areas for further focus.
The LSCB is having a conversation on ‘what good looks like’ across and within agencies both at a strategic and frontline practitioner level.
The LSCB is continuing to develop work with the Safe Network to develop minimum safeguarding standards across the community and voluntary sector including faith settings.

The Board encourages organisations to respond to the department of education consultation on the statutory guidance on Working Together, Learning and Improvement and Managing Individual cases: the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families.
The Board endorses the action plan to build on the strengths of safeguarding of children and young people in Luton.
The LSCB has endorsed Professor Michael Preston-Shoot as the LSCB Independent Chair for another year.

All professionals should be clear on the definition of 'Private Fostering' and alert the Referral & Assessment team of any children or young people they suspect are being privately fostered in Luton. Click here for more information
The Ofsted Inspection has concluded and the Board wishes to thank all agencies for their dedication to safeguarding Luton’s children and young people.
Guns, Gangs and crimes in Luton – The Board welcomes the 'intelligence picture' provided by the 'Street Gangs & Firearms' team at Bedfordshire Police on and wishes to promote the sharing of intelligence on gangs and guns with Bedfordshire Police at the earliest opportunity.

The LSCB welcomes the continuing cooperation between the LA and Bedfordshire police to support applications for Forced marriage Protection Orders which continue to be higher than the rest of the country.
The Board reviewed its performance against Ofsted’s Good practice standards.
The Board welcomes the positive move by the LSCB Training team to evaluate not only the quality of training but its impact on practice.

The LSCB is pleased to note the increase in the number of health visitors in Luton and commends the initiative in change of working practices including Saturday working which has helped to engage fathers and families.
The LSCB also commends the Missing Person group which is a multi-agency arrangement led by Bedfordshire Police.
The LSCB wishes to extend its engagement with communities and support them with their safeguarding responsibilities.

The Board is looking for further opportunities to engage with local communities and leaders about issues of health and wellbeing affecting young people and their families.
The LSCB has sought assurances that agencies are taking steps to protect Frontline Services as far as possible in times of economic restraint.
The LSCB wish to ‘drill down’ to the ‘lived experience’ of frontline staff to assure ourselves that structurally and systematically effective practice is secured at the Frontline. The Board will be progressing this at the Open day in their talk with frontline practitioners.
There is a need to collectively enhance our readiness for inspection.

The Board is endeavouring to work with and support agencies to manage their statutory duties to safeguard children and young people in this era of reduced resources.
The LSCB will seek to drill beneath published papers, reports and policies to establish that children are being safeguarded.
Safeguarding inspection is everybody's individual and collective business.

We continue to explore where we may make efficiency savings whilst maintaining effective safeguarding for Luton’s children and young people.
The Launch event of the Interagency Safeguarding Procedures and the 'Meeting the needs of children and young people'' document planned for January 19th 2011 will be an opportunity for practitioners to see the work of the Board and engage with LSCB members, we encourage all practitioners to attend. (Attendance is strictly via the LSCB Training application process. For more details contact the LSCB Training Administrator on 01582-547895 )
The Graded Care Profile tool should be used as a practical tool to give an objective measure of the care of children when dealing with cases of Neglect.

The LSCB will seek evidence based assurances from agencies to satisfy itself that regardless of forthcoming spending cuts, the safeguarding of children and young people will not be compromised.
It is essential that all professionals working with children and young people work within the LSCB Interagency Safeguarding Procedures available at www.lutonlscb.org
The LSCB is committed to increasing the transparency of work by all staff when working with children, young people and their families.

The Board reaffirmed the importance of LSCB Board members engaging with frontline practitioners and managers, and with children and their families. Opportunities to meet with those who have direct experience of safeguarding will be welcomed and encouraged.
The importance of partnership working and of innovation was emphasised, especially given the national economic picture and its emerging impact on finances in the public sector.
The importance of professionals and agencies sharing information in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and their families was stressed.

The LSCB are an innovative, rigorous and proactive Board
Wherever possible the LSCB will work collaboratively with cross border colleagues to reduce inconsistencies in working practices or duplication of efforts
The LSCB must satisfy itself that what we are expecting from individuals and all agencies is being delivered