{"id":50110,"date":"2014-11-12T11:30:39","date_gmt":"2014-11-12T11:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=4544fb9cc05faacbabce7bb692a0e29e"},"modified":"2014-11-12T11:30:39","modified_gmt":"2014-11-12T11:30:39","slug":"speech-edward-timpson-speaks-at-the-lscb-chairs-annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=50110","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Edward Timpson speaks at the LSCB chairs annual conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Thank you David (Jones, association chair).<\/p>\n

I\u2019m delighted to join you all again today for your annual conference.<\/p>\n

And, as ever, I\u2019d like to start by saying a big thank you. Chairing an LSCB<\/abbr> takes vast reserves of dedication, effort and time – as all of you here know only too well. <\/p>\n

Safeguarding children is, and always will be, one of the most important jobs in any society. <\/p>\n

And in that endeavour, the role of LSCBs<\/abbr> is vital – and increasingly exposed. Which makes your role as chairs – it has to be said – more challenging than at any other time. <\/p>\n

Alexis Jay\u2019s report into the shocking abuse in Rotherham and Ann Coffey\u2019s report in Greater Manchester have rightly sparked a wide-ranging debate about how we can improve child protection. LSCBs<\/abbr> are at the heart of that, born of an understanding that effective child protection requires partnership, challenge and local accountability.<\/p>\n

When we as a society say that child protection is the responsibility of \u2018all of us\u2019, LSCBs<\/abbr> are – or should be – the embodiment of that approach. As chairs you should be exposed locally, not in a negative way but in a positive one – publicly known, recognised and accountable for the work that you do.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s because we recognise the importance of the role that Ofsted has started reviewing the performance of LSCBs<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say that their first reports show a really mixed picture.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the good – they found some great examples of LSCBs<\/abbr> which are doing fantastic work.<\/p>\n

In Portsmouth, for example, the inspectorate found a strong use of data across agencies to scrutinise frontline performance, effective handling of serious case reviews, and the development of a good strategy to tackle child sexual exploitation, in which the Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board played a crucial role.<\/p>\n

Another good example is North Yorkshire, where they found strong partnership working and clear direction, effective handling of SCRs<\/abbr>, and 2 strategic groups overseeing the work involved in identifying children at risk of sexual exploitation or going missing from home, care or school.<\/p>\n

Those LSCBs<\/abbr> are making a real difference to children\u2019s lives and doing great work. And it\u2019s why I\u2019ve asked my officials to speak to LSCBs<\/abbr> judged as \u2018good\u2019 to see whether there is any common thread we can identify. <\/p>\n

Because we have to acknowledge that there are too many LSCBs<\/abbr> which are inadequate. Too many which aren\u2019t making the sort of difference they need or indeed would want to make. An overall picture from the Ofsted reviews so far says that LSCBs<\/abbr>, as a whole, \u2018must improve\u2019. To date only 11 of the 33 reviewed have been judged \u2018good\u2019, and not 1 outstanding. That\u2019s a challenge for those of you here today, and I hope you\u2019ll meet it head on. <\/p>\n

And in taking on that task, I hear again and again that it\u2019s difficult for you to hold local authorities to account while being appointed by those same local authorities, and I\u2019m prepared to look at this again if necessary. Because we can\u2019t have the part of our child protection system charged with bringing everyone together and holding services up to rigorous scrutiny as the weakest link.<\/p>\n

And so I\u2019d like to talk today about 3 particular areas of challenge.<\/p>\n

First, how we minimise the likelihood of the events in Rotherham, and the weakness of the response from local services happening elsewhere in the country.<\/p>\n

Second, how we improve the quality of SCRs<\/abbr> so that they become a more effective tool for learning in the local system and beyond. <\/p>\n

Third, how we can drive innovation in LSCBs<\/abbr> as we are doing in other areas of children\u2019s social care services.<\/p>\n

On the first – how we address the challenges of child sexual exploitation and of the failure of local services to understand the scale of the problem – the role of LSCBs<\/abbr> is absolutely central. You\u2019re the people tasked with bringing together and holding accountable the various services which collectively failed young people in areas such as Rotherham and Greater Manchester. <\/p>\n

You should be in the lead in tackling this. How many of you are confident that you really understand the nature and level of that risk in your local area?<\/p>\n

How many of you have looked at your local systems and analysed the practical and sometimes cultural barriers which might be leaving children unprotected by services when they are at risk of CSE<\/abbr>? <\/p>\n

Yes, this is tough and challenging work – but it\u2019s also an opportunity. For chairs to take the lead and deliver decisive and necessary change. To help protect children from CSE<\/abbr> in their local area and across the country. <\/p>\n

To help achieve that, there are some specific questions I\u2019d like to ask today: <\/p>\n