Coventry Safeguarding Children Board Newsletter

Coventry Safeguarding Children Board

A goodbye from Janet

Janet

As planned, I am stepping down after two years as Chair of the Coventry Safeguarding Children Board so this will be my last newsletter introduction. The Board is in good shape and I would like to thank all the partners who have worked so hard to bring that about.

Newsletters are now a regular feature of the Board’s work and will continue to keep you informed about what children are telling the Board and what Board partners are doing around safeguarding in Coventry. This edition features an article about the Board’s recent conference on mental wellbeing for children and important information about updated safeguarding procedures that will be introduced in Coventry from August 24 as well as an update on work with our young advisers. 

Janet Mokades

Welcome to our new Chair, David Peplow

dave

I am really pleased to have been appointed to take over the Chair of the Coventry Safeguarding Children Board from Janet.

Over the last year I have been involved in some of the review work the Board commissioned so I have already met a number of partners and know about the progress that has been made since Janet came to Coventry. I also Chair in Warwickshire where we share some Board members.

Following the review of LSCB’s published earlier this year, it is clear that there will be some changes. We need to work through them and make sure we hold on to the strong partnership that is already here.

I look forward to working with you all so that together we can ensure each of us does the best we can for the children and young people of Coventry.

David Peplow

Independent Chair, Coventry Safeguarding Children Board

New Coventry LSCB policies and procedures

The Policies and Procedures subgroup have reviewed the Tri-X standard Policies and Procedures manual. This change was required because staff had told us that policies and procedures were lengthy and in need of simplification.  The new manual will go live on 24 August 2016 and will be available on our website. It is important that all staff working with children and young people use the policies.  If you have any questions, then please contact your organisational safeguarding lead.

Andy Wade

Chair of the LSCB Policies and Procedures subgroup

Escalation process

When working with another agency, concern or disagreement may arise over another professional’s decisions, actions or lack of actions in relation to safeguarding children. When this disagreement arise it is important they are addressed in a timely way keeping the best interests of the child at the heart of this. When this does occur professionals should refer to the Conflict Resolution Policy of the above mentioned manual which can be accessed from 24 August 2016.

Mental Well-being conference

mwb

Last month we hosted a successful conference on 'Achieving Mental Well-Being for Children and Young People' at the Welcome Centre.

Delegates from multiple agencies attended the event with the aim to:

  • Hear from young people about their experiences.
  • Understand the reasons for the rise in mental ill health.
  • Learn how to promote resilience for young people.

To help us achieve this, Professor Swaran Singh attended to provide a fascinating keynote speech alongside presentations by colleagues from the University of Warwick, Public Health, Integrated Primary Mental Health Service and CAMHS. A young person's story was played to give the delegates an example of their experiences. There were also a number of engaging workshops throughout the day. 

The feedback received was very positive and the aims of the conference were achieved.

During Professor Stewart-Brown's presentation, she shared a link about an interesting course on how the mind of the parent influences the developing mind of the child

Young Person's Advisory Group

Due to the school term finishing, the Young Person's Advisory group is unable to provide an update for this newsletter. However, we do have an item from the Safeguarding Board's Training Coordinator who recently met with the group:

A meeting is held each term to give support and updates to trainers who deliver on the Safeguarding Board  training programme. This term the meeting took place at Sherbourne Fields School where we met two of the young people from the advisers' group.

They told us about their role as young advisers and with the pupil council in school. We had a discussion about children’s voices and keeping safe and what messages might be included in training. Take a look at the dvd which they have produced, featuring several children and young people from the school on what makes them feel safe.

In school the group support other pupils in various ways including a buddy system.

They have also been exploring the possibility of meeting with the pupil council at one of the Primary Schools.

Anne Pluska

Safeguarding Boards Training Coordinator

Restrictive practices

Members of the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust and Children’s Social Care worked collaboratively following concerns identified within the city of Coventry regarding the potential misinterpretation of the use of a safe space, weighted blanket or weighted vest/bear hug vests.  Concerns were also raised as to the easy accessibility of purchasing such equipment privately without seeking any clinical advice from a suitable professional.  Within today’s technological society such equipment is readily available from various sources.

Over the past six months a small working group met together on a regular basis to plan, develop and devise guidance and information packs. This included pathways (see below) for any person to follow should they have any concerns with the use of such specialist equipment in the future.  This information has also been made accessible for all via the Children’s Occupational Therapy website www.covkidsot.co.uk.

weightedPressuresafe space

Supporting schools in early help

From 1 September 2016 the current CAF Co-ordinator's role with schools regarding early help will be changing. They will provide enhanced support to school staff enabling them to feel confident to intervene and work alongside families even earlier leading to better, more sustainable outcomes and children engaging positively in their education.

What does this mean to my school?

You will have a named CAF Coordinator who will have increased visible presence within your school, complementing and supporting the good work that is already happening. They will provide 6 weekly case oversight of all open Level 2 CAF Episodes, which will include problem solving ‘stuck’ cases. There will be a focus on improving quality, increasing number of successful outcomes being met including attainment, attendance and children’s aspirations. In turn this will lead to better school outcomes, promoting a shared responsibility for supporting families.

The CAF Coordinators will up-skill school colleagues by role modelling, reinforcing and sharing good practice, including the offer of bespoke training.  Enhanced eCAF support will be delivered by a dedicated eCAF Team.

Half-termly meetings will be replaced by Vulnerable Children’s Meetings with a new focus on those children that are not currently supported by Early Help or Social Care – this will include preparation for school holidays, ensuring there is a plan in place for these vulnerable children and their families.

The CAF Co-ordinators will have an awareness of all your open CAF episodes and will continue to assist with the step up/down and diversion processes between School, Social Care and Children and Families First.

Why are we doing this?

  • Earlier interventions at Level 2 lead to better outcomes and positive impact for children and their families.
  • Better trained and supported Lead Professional’s, resulting in higher quality intervention and improved attendance, behaviour, attainment and aspirations.
  • Families will be supported as a shared responsibility.
  • Thresholds are applied appropriately, and families are getting the right intervention, which will lead to a decrease in repeat referrals between services.
  • Planned approach to summer holidays to ensure children and families are receiving the appropriate service from the right agency.
  • Seamless transition between thresholds ensuring families understand why a case may escalate into social care or where outcomes are successfully met and stepped down to universal services.
  • Ensure the Voice of the Child is integrated into family assessments, interventions and plans.
  • Ofsted requirements and government legislation.

For more information and contact details please visit www.coventry.gov.uk/CAF

Latest LSCB updates

Twitter

For all the latest Coventry LSCB updates follow us on our Twitter account: @coventrylscb

Please also visit our website www.coventry.gov.uk/lscb.