Ian Blog – SSCB Independent Chair and Scrutineer
It’s been a really interesting few weeks since my last blog and there are many things to tell you all about. With the introduction of Working Together 2023, the partnership met for the first time with the Chief Executive Officers from the local authority, Integrated Care Board and Staffordshire Police. The morning, supported by a representative from the Department for Education, set out how the new arrangements would work moving forward and with the integral involvement of the Chief Officers. The session reflected the passion and commitment of all of the safeguarding partners to keep children in Staffordshire happy, healthy, loved and safe. It left me feeling excited for the future and the opportunities to truly work together at both a strategic and operational level in the best interests of children. This session identified who would be the Lead and Delegated Safeguarding Partners and considered how the role of the independent chair moves to one of safeguarding partners. With that in mind, my role will shift to Independent Scrutineer, and I will work closely with the Chief Officers, the Delegated Safeguarding Partners, their delegated managers and all staff in the safeguarding system to scrutinise the effectiveness of the arrangements.
We discussed my two recent scrutiny reports at the Partnership Board meeting recently. One focused on the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and one on the child safeguarding practice review process. Both had a set of recommendations for the safeguarding partners to consider and I hope to be able to feedback later in the autumn about the impact of that work.
As part of that scrutiny work, I also had the inaugural meeting of the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) scrutiny reference group. Early years settings, schools and colleges are key to the success of the safeguarding arrangements in Staffordshire. It is crucial that they are part of the new arrangements moving forward yet we need to agree how to ensure appropriate representation across the education system. The DSL group I met with in June were a compassionate and committed group wanting the very best for children. Concerns and issues were aired and I am grateful for the honesty, yet the need to get things right for children shone through. This can only be an advantage and I look forward to working with the sector on future scrutiny assessments.
I have been so aware over the last few weeks the toll working with children and families can take on individuals and teams. We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves safe and cared for and that also means reaching out to each other and our leaders when things are difficult and challenging.
The summer holidays for some does give a chance to stop and relax a little. Please do take care and I wish everyone a great summer.