Safeguarding:
Moving Forward – Improving Beyond Inspection
The Moving Forward Event was hosted by Hull Children’s Trust Board on the 8th September at the Partnership Learning Centre. The event, part of a series of similar events, was to highlight the findings of the recent Ofsted inspection and to consider with partners, ways of continuing to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Jon Plant, Head of Safeguarding Children, welcomed participants from across partner agencies and thanked everyone for their support and contribution during the inspection of Children’s Services by Ofsted. Jon described Children and Young People’s Services having an understanding of their service and performance which is connected to reality and they approach their task with openness and honesty. This results in a service which is better aligned than in the past.
John Readman, Director of Children & Young People’s Services, highlighted the Inspection outcomes. He told delegates that the inspection was conducted in a rigorous and robust fashion and reflected `a City which knew itself’. The Director went on to highlight the areas of strength and challenge relating to Looked After Children and Safeguarding Practice in the City. Leadership and Management were found to be `good’ by Inspectors and John Readman said that this reflected upon all of the staff and managers across agencies who had worked to achieve this on behalf of children.
Julia Mizon, lead Commissioner for Children and Young People, NHS Hull, gave feedback on the health outcomes from the Inspection. There is a review of CAMHs Service where waiting times are a significant issue. There will be consideration of fast-tracking for those children whose needs are critical e.g. children whose plan is for adoption and other vulnerable looked after children.
The NHS Hull Safeguarding Assurance Board are meeting to consider the recommendations of the Inspection.
The event included two opportunities for multi-agency workshops to consider:
What needs to happen to continue to improve safeguarding and LAC services in Hull? And,
How can we improve multi-agency working for the early intervention in the lives of children?
The feedback from the two workshops reflected participants’ views including:
- options for supporting disadvantaged families at an earlier stage
- having effective collaboration across partner agencies
- Case-file audits undertaken by a range of agencies
- Consulting with children, young people and their parents in relation to the development of services
- Improving communication
- Rolling out training of the Threshold guidance document
Ian Bolton of the Rights and Participation Project gave delegates information about the Hull Pledge to looked after children and young people. The Pledge includes promises to `try our hardest to’ –
- Support you in reaching your dreams
- Help you to have fun and get involved in clubs and activities which will help you make new friends and develop your interest
- Provide you with a safe and comfortable home where you can feel part of a family or group
- Support and guide you with any health or emotional needs
- Help you to do the best you can at school and give you support with reading, writing, maths or any other subject when you might need it
- Support you in taking up education and training opportunities after you leave school
- Support you into becoming successful adults with a positive future plan
There are additional promises within the Pledge and the pamphlet available to delegates which advises young people to get in touch with Young Voices Influencing Care (YVIC) For more information call RAPP 01482 225 855
Wendy Bennett
September 2011
Posted 12th September