To receive the annual report of the Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) for 2014 - 15

74.1    Members received the annual report of the Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) for 2014-15.

74.2    The Independent Chair of the SSCB reminded Members that under section 14A of the Children Act 2004 she was required to publish an annual report on the effectiveness of child safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Shropshire.  She advised that as well as the Scrutiny Committee the report was submitted to the Leader of the Council, the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

74.3      The Independent Chair informed the meeting that in the year in question:

•        There were 66,400 children under 19 in Shropshire, 13% of which were in income deprived households

•        There were 2,626 referrals to children’s social care, up from 2,305 in the previous year.

•        249 children were subject of a Child Protection Plan.

•        313 looked after children

•        400+ children in care placed in Shropshire from elsewhere in the country

•        1 serious case review which was for a child placed in Shropshire from out of county.

74.4    The Independent Chair commented that there was considerable pressure from rising demands and reducing resources across the system but the development of Early Help, the development of Compass and strong leadership, placed the County in a good position to cope with this.

74.5    A Member asked for more information on the Task and Finish Group on the safeguarding of disabled children mentioned in paragraph 4.3.1 of the report.  The Independent Chair commented that the Task and Finish Group had been established to raise awareness of disabled children and to look at any gaps in the service provided for disabled children, and that it was due to report its findings to the SCCB  Board in 2016 and that its finding would be included in the next annual report.

74.6    A Member asked what was being done to improve the attendance of GPs at Meetings.  The Independent Chair commented that the attendance of GPs was improving and that often they could not attend due to work commitments and added that the SSCB was putting pressure on the CCG and NHS England to ensure that GPs received proper training and support.  The Head of Safeguarding stated that the Council were looking at ways of improving engagement with GPs.

74.7    A Member asked what was being done to ensure that “the voice of the child” was being heard. The Independent Chair stated that the Board received regular reports around hearing the voice of the child at each meeting and also received presentations from young people, but that there was more to be done.

74.8    A Member commented that there seemed to be a real problem with the support of children placed in Shropshire from other Counties and asked whether anything could be done about this at a national level.  The Independent Chair stated that the matter was very much on the national agenda but the Board needed to ensure it was satisfied that arrangements for LAC placed out of County were robust.

74.9    The Vice-Chairman thanked the Independent Chair for attending the meeting and answering Members’ questions.

74.10  RESOLVED

            That the contents of the Shropshire Safeguarding Board Annual Report 2014-15 be noted.