Agenda item

Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services

To update on the activities currently being undertaken within the partnership to address Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Surrey led by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB).

Declarations of Interest:

None

Witnesses:

Caroline Budden, Deputy Director of Children, Schools and Families

Linda Kemeny, Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievement

Mary Angell, Cabinet Associate for Children and Families Wellbeing

Key points raised during the discussions:

1.    Members drew attention to the large number of boards dedicated to tackling Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in the County. It was suggested that collaboration between SCC and its partner agencies could be improved in this arena by amalgamating the various boards and committees allowing a more centralised response to CSE. The Deputy Director of Children, Schools and Families advised that there were four multi-agency groups covering the four different areas of the county. It was felt that one group would not allow the individual areas to be overseen in sufficient detail. The information from these meetings was then fed into a strategic overview board which looked at the countywide response to CSE. The Deputy Director acknowledged that the partnership working model was developing, but expressed the view that great strides had been to forge good working relationships with partner agencies across the county.

2.    The Deputy Director was asked to elaborate on the steps being taken to identify the number of children and young people at risk of CSE in Surrey. The Board was advised that increased awareness of CSE had created certain challenges around making an accurate prediction of the number of children that could be subject to CSE in the county. A list of the children which are considered to be at risk of CSE in Surrey had been compiled and was being reviewed and updated monthly to assess those children which were considered to be at the greatest risk. All partners, including the police, had the same list to facilitate collaborative working and to ensure that the appropriate safeguarding structures were in place for children at risk.

3.    Information was requested on the measures being taken to disrupt activity and challenge those who were engaging in CSE in Surrey. The Deputy Director indicated that details of police operations and activities to disrupt CSE were confidential, but confirmed that action was being taken to identify and stop individuals who engaged in CSE. The Board was informed that processes had been implemented to look at actions taken by the police and other agencies to make sure that they are effective at safeguarding children. There was a discussion about the need to have a single-point of contact for matters to CSE related to each agency.

4.    The Board asked whether the discovery of an incident of CSE in Surrey would result in the establishment of a Serious Case Review. The Deputy Director indicated that Serious Case Reviews were conducted in instances when certain agencies or organisations were considered not to have discharged their duty by failing to take appropriate action to protect a child. Where partners were not deemed to be specifically at fault then it is generally considered that a best practice review would be more suitable.

5.    The Cabinet Associate for Children and Families Wellbeing advised the Board that Ofsted had highlighted that children who go missing while in care were not routinely interviewed by an independent person once they returned. It was highlighted that it could be challenging to elicit honest answers from a child who did not want to be interviewed and that there was a need to create an environment where children trust social workers and independent interviewers and feel happy to confide in them.

6.    The Board sought assurance that steps were being taken to follow up with children who have gone missing from care to ensure that they were not at risk or victims of CSE. It was advised that work was done to build trust and ensure that children in care could feel confident about talking to social workers. 

7.    The Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievements stressed the important role played by primary schools in providing early education for children in how to identify the early signs of CSE and protect themselves online. The Board was informed that maintained and independent schools would receive support for identifying and tackling CSE and allow a greater sense of clarity and ownership in how they tackle the problem.

8.    Further information was requested on how the reporting and accountability structures within Children’s Services had improved since the Ofsted inspection. The Deputy Director indicated that steps had been taken to make individuals and organisations much better at sharing knowledge and information with each other. Accountability structures had also been clarified and defined so that individuals and agencies know who is responsible for particular areas of work.

Recommendations:

The Board notes the report and thanks the Surrey Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) for its report. It recommends that:

1.    That officers work proactively with other safeguarding partners to ensure a single-point of contact for CSE is implemented across each organisation;

2.    That the Scrutiny Board and the Police and Crime Panel organise a joint session to further explore issues related to Child Sexual Exploitation;

It welcomes the opportunity to meet with the Independent Chair of the SSCB when it receives the SSCB’s annual report in October 2015.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

That officers provide a further report demonstrating an analysis of trends and patterns related to CSE in 12 months’ time.

Board next steps:

            None