The Executive Director of Community Services has submitted a report (attached) which details the progress made on Oxford City Council’s Section 11 (Children Act of 2004) Self-Assessment Action Plan 2014-15 and seeks to approve the Oxford City Council Safeguarding Action Plan for 2015-16.

The report and action plan were submitted to the City Executive Board on 14 May 2015 for approval and the relevant minute (186) is attached later in the agenda.

Council is recommended to:

1.    note the progress and development of the Council’s safeguarding function in 2014-15; and

2.    note the Oxford City Council Safeguarding Action Plan 2015-16 as set out in Appendix 1.

Council had before it a report setting out progress made on Oxford City Council’s Section 11 (Children Act of 2004) Self-Assessment Action Plan 2014-15 and the relevant minute of the City Executive Board.

Council resolved to:

1.    note the progress and development of the Council’s safeguarding function in 2014-15; and

2.    note the Oxford City Council Safeguarding Action Plan 2015-16 as set out in Appendix 1.

The Scrutiny Officer has submitted a report which details recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee on the Safeguarding Children Action Plan 2014-2015.

Scrutiny Committee Recommendations to the City Executive Board

We endorse the general approach taken and recommend that the City Council:

1. Strengthens engagement and protocols with Housing Associations in relation to vulnerable groups that they house

2. Prioritises the following in the next budget round:

a) Continuing to fund the Safeguarding Coordinator post,

b) Supporting the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub.

3. Ensures that feedback from frontline staff is sought more widely when monitoring the effectiveness of training and policy.

4. Monitors feedback from children to test the effectiveness of Safeguarding policies and plans on the ground and to identify any blockages.

5. Ensures that training for City Councillors includes a focus on their role as being the eyes and ears of their communities.

6. Raises the following with the County Council:

a) The need for schools to be issued with guidance on safeguarding policies, including the role of elected Councillors in safeguarding,

b) Concern that some School Counsellors have been cut and that some pupils have to wait a long time to be able to access this provision.

The Scrutiny Officer submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee on the Safeguarding Children Action Plan 2014-2015.

Cllr Simmons, Chair of Scrutiny Committee presented the report.  He thanked the Executive Board Member for Educational Attainment and Youth Ambition and officers for their assistance on this item. He said that one of the main areas of concern for the Scrutiny Committee was the length of time (often many months) that some pupils had to wait for an appointment with a school counsellor. The City Executive Board agreed that this was a matter that should be raised with the County Council.

The City Executive Board resolved to AGREE the Scrutiny Committee recommendations as set out in their written response:

1. To strengthen engagement and protocols with Housing Associations in relation to vulnerable groups that they house.

2. To prioritise the following in the next budget round:

a) Continuing to fund the Safeguarding Coordinator post,

b) Supporting the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub.

3. To ensure that feedback from frontline staff is sought more widely when monitoring the effectiveness of training and policy.

4. To monitor feedback from children to test the effectiveness of safeguarding policies and plans on the ground and to identify any blockages.

5. To ensure that training for City Councillors includes a focus on their role as being the eyes and ears of their communities.

6. To raise the following with the County Council:

a) The need for schools to be issued with guidance on safeguarding policies, including the role of elected Councillors in safeguarding,

b) Concern that some school counsellor positions have been cut and that some pupils have to wait a long time to be able to access this provision.

The Head of Policy, Culture and Communications has submitted a report which details the progress made on Oxford City Council’s Section 11 (Children Act of 2004) Self-Assessment Action Plan 2014-15 and to approve the Action Plan for 2015-16.                                                                             

Officer Recommendations: That the City Executive Board

1. Note the progress and development of the Council’s safeguarding function in 2014-15.

2. Agree the ‘Section 11 Self-Assessment Audit Action Plan 2015-16’, as set out in Appendix 1.

3. Agree that this report be presented to Council, to note the progress and development of the safeguarding function in 2014 and the adoption of the Action Plan 2015-16, as set out in Appendix 1.

The Head of Policy, Culture and Communications submitted a report which details the progress made on Oxford City Council’s Section 11 (Children Act of 2004) Self-Assessment Action Plan 2014-15 and seeks to approve the Action Plan for 2015-16.                                                                          

Cllr Pat Kennedy, Board member for Educational Attainment and Youth Ambition presented the report.

Cllr Price expressed some concern at the number of amber items on the action plan.  The Policy & Partnership Team Leader assured the Board that steps had been taken to mitigate the situation and ensure that these items became green not red.

Cllr Brown said that she welcomed the steps proposed to promote councillor engagement in the safeguarding programme as it was essential that all councillors understood how to respond to safeguarding issues when raised in their ward. The Policy & Partnership Team Leader advised that mandatory training sessions were scheduled for May and June 2015 and offered to send additional guidance and briefing material to all councillors in advance of the training.

Cllr Brown said that she felt that more emphasis needed to be given to vulnerable adults as Oxfordshire’s aging population profile meant that this was now a key issue for the Council. The Policy & Partnership Team Leader acknowledged this point and agreed there was more to do in this area; she said that the September Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub would be looking at this.

Cllr Simm said that it was important to remember that many vulnerable children lived with vulnerable adults and that they should be considered together.  Similarly it was important to note that child sex abuse took place mainly in a domestic context.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1. NOTE the progress and development of the Council’s safeguarding function in 2014-15.

2. AGREE the ‘Section 11 Self-Assessment Audit Action Plan 2015-16’, as set out in Appendix 1.

3. AGREE that this report be presented to Council, to note the progress and development of the safeguarding function in 2014 and the adoption of the Action Plan 2015-16, as set out in Appendix 1 (subject to the report being updated to show the latest progress against the Action Plan).

The Policy Manager and Cllr Pat Kennedy, Board Member for Educational Attainment and Youth Ambition presented the proposed amendments to the Safeguarding Children action plan (part of the Safeguarding Children Policy).

The Policy Manager explained the Council’s duty to make arrangements to look after children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004. The new changes included:

• The creation of the Multi-Agency Support Hub (MASH) to co-ordinate and share information on vulnerable children within the county.
• Amending taxi licensing regulations to educate taxi drivers on the signs of vulnerable children and who to report it to.
• Challenging unacceptable behaviour in the community.

All Councillors would receive safeguarding training as part of the compulsory members training organised for May and June 2015. If Councillors are concerned about the safety of any children in the city they should contact the Policy Manager.

The Chair thanked the Policy Manager for the hard work done.

The Committee discussed the following:

A Members Briefing with Maggie Blythe, Chair of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board (OSCB), was rearranged from a general introduction to the work of the OSCB to become a Serious Case Review meeting. The meeting on the overall work of the OSCB will be rearranged for the summer.

Councillors working with local schools to spread the message. As all schools are required to have a safeguarding policy, the City Council needs to work with the County Council to ensure Councillors can communicate this message to schools.

Council officers are trained to identify vulnerable children in the community and report incidents they witness.

The MASH has helped improved council procedures, allowed officers to work closer and develop stronger relationships with other agencies.

An interim budget has paid for a consultant to assist officers in the development of the action plan. A longer term budget will need to be sought.

There is no national legislation that regulates guest houses, can Council do anything under its licensing regime?

Despite the small number surveyed, officers felt the training review questionnaire had provided a good cross section of responses.

The Committee made the following recommendations to CEB:

·       That further engagement with housing associations is needed to assist vulnerable people.

·       Note the need for additional funding for safeguarding measures.

·       Future feedback training sought

·       Request a review of what Council could do to licence guesthouses

·       Outreach work aimed at students needed to be monitored more effectively.

·       Raise with the County Council the need for every school to have and retain a school counsellor.

This report presents the independent review of the outcome of its self-assessment of its Safeguarding Children arrangements.

The Board is asked to:-

(1)  Note the findings of the Independent Review of Oxford City Council’s Safeguarding Children-Section 11 Self-Assessment;

(2)  Agree the proposed Action Plan as set out in Annex 1.

The Head of Policy, Culture and Communications submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning the independent review of the outcome of the Council’s self-assessment of its Safeguarding Children arrangements. Councillor Pat Kennedy, Board Member for Education, Crime and Community Safety, presented the report to the Board and provided some background and context.

Councillor Kennedy commented that, overall, the outcome of the independent review is good news for the City Council. An action plan has now been drafted and is shown in the report.

Councillor Curran observed that the sexual exploitation of minors, and their safeguarding, was not just a City issue – it was one for the District Councils as well.

Val Johnson, Policy and Partnerships Manager, suggested that the City Council should now carry out a review of safeguarding for vulnerable adults, for which the Board expressed support.

Resolved to:-

(1)  Note the findings of the Independent Review of Oxford City Council’s Safeguarding Children Section 11 self-assessment;

(2)  Agree the proposed action plan as set out in Annexe;

(3)  Congratulate Councillor Kennedy and Council Officers for their achievements in this important area.