Issue - meetings

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Young People which outlined the findings of the Joint Area Review of Haringey Council and their statutory partners. In addition, the report set out an analysis of current strengths in Safeguarding and Child Protection Services in Halton and the report also identified service trends in Safeguarding and Child Protection Services in Halton along with a Development Plan.

            It was reported that the significant weaknesses identified by the recent Joint Area Review (JAR) of Haringey Council and its statutory partners services to vulnerable people had caused a waive of both political and public concern about the protection of children in our society. It was noted that it also had a significant impact on those who delivered Safeguarding services.

            The Haringey JAR in November judged the Borough as “inadequate” and gave a damning verdict of the management and application of Child Protection Services across much of the public sector. Lead Statutory responsibility for Child Protection Services rested with the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Children and Young People.

            It was further reported that Halton Council and its partners were judged in April 2009 by the OfSTED Joint Area Review as “Outstanding” in its Safeguarding and Child Protection Practice. That “Outstanding” judgement was confirmed in the Annual Performance Assessment by OfSTED public on the 17/12/08 of the Council’s Children and Young People Directorate. It was noted that this was one of only a few “Outstanding” ratings, nationally.

            Also detailed in the report was the findings from Haringey’s JAR. In addition the report set out Halton’s strengths, Halton’s context and challenge, development plan and financial implications. It was further advised that safeguarding children well required the Council to routinely evaluate the effectiveness, capacity and safety of the current system. The report brought together the full range of issues impacted on the Council in its principal objective of keeping children safe.

REASON FOR DECISION

To ensure that children and young people are effectively safeguarded and the Council is compliant with the requirement set out in Lord Lamings Review of Progress Report

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

None applicable

IMPLEMENTATION DATE

2^nd April 2009

            RESOLVED: That the Executive Board endorses the ‘Development Plan’ enclosed as section 4 to the report.