Agenda item

To consider a report by the Service Manager for Strategic Partnerships.

The Corporate Director for Quality Assurance and Safeguarding introduced the report and highlighted the key areas. The report identified some areas for improvement, and she updated on progress in these areas. The Safeguarding Children Partnership had split from BCP Council and now included education as a statutory partner. The Partnership had implemented new Working Together statutory guidance before the deadline.

The Committee discussed the report and asked questions of the officers. The following points were raised:

·       There were concerns about pupils’ mobile phone use in schools and how this affects their mental health. Improvements to socialisation and mental health had been seen in schools operating a no-phones policy.

·       Individual schools can introduce a no-phones policy; however, it would need a change from government for it to be mandated in schools.

·       The council should be encouraging schools to introduce no-phones policies. Training could be given to school governors to raise awareness of introducing a no-phones policy

·       A fortnightly Headteacher meeting would be used to discuss the benefits of no-phones policies in schools. There would be opportunities for schools with the policy to mentor those schools without the policy and helping them to introduce it.

·       A member questioned what the council was doing to raise parents’ awareness of online safety and safeguarding. In response officers advised that online safety learning and development was available to professionals and the voluntary sector. Report Remove, an initiative by Childline, was raised at the Children’s Services conference.

·       The Corporate Director for Quality Assurance and Safeguarding committed to discussing online safeguarding and raising awareness with parents at a Safeguarding Children Partnership meeting and creating an action plan.

·       As a result of the Families First for Children Pathfinder, there was improved integration from the Education sector in multi-agency work. Members requested that an update on this is included in the next annual report.

·       In response to whether there were areas of safeguarding unique to Dorset, it was confirmed that there were no unique areas, however there could be differences in safeguarding caused by demographics.

·       A member questioned how responsibility and finances worked in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. The Executive Director for Children’s Services advised that the Safeguarding Partnership Board oversees the delivery of safeguarding, and the Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People was responsible for the Children, Young People and Families Plan. The Executive Director was responsible for facilitating across the system.

·       In relation to the finances, there could be tensions with funding. The council was receiving a grant for 2025/26 for implementing the Pathfinder, which included introducing the Education sector as a statutory partner in safeguarding.

·       The Chairman sought assurance that the council learns from previous safeguarding issues to ensure they do not happen again as in her experience over time, learning was forgotten leaving services vulnerable to repeating safeguarding failures. Officers advised that there were multiple options, which included changing policies, delivering training to staff, and monitoring progress and performance, ensuring that it is reviewed regularly. Issues which cause gaps in awareness could include changing staff or new leadership. The Chairman would take this up further with the Strategic Director outside of the meeting.

The Corporate Director for Adult Social Care summarised the role of the Safeguarding Adults Board and their role in safeguarding arrangements. There was also a role for the Community Safety Partnership in safeguarding.

The Chairman summarised the key points arising from the discussion. The committee should receive progress updates on no-phones policies, online safety, and embedding the education sector into safeguarding arrangements.