Agenda item

To give members the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the Strategic Safeguarding Panel for 2023/24.

To accept the report and note the observations.

 

 

A report from the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support and the Social Services Statutory Director was submitted.

 

An update was provided on the work of the Strategic Safeguarding Panel during the last year. It was explained that the Panel's work was integral to the operation of all Council Departments, as it considered safeguarding processes corporately. It was noted that the Cabinet had accepted the report at their meeting on 11 June 2024.

 

Attention was drawn to the main changes introduced during the last year, including amendments to the Panel's Terms of Reference, the Safeguarding Operational Group's Terms of Reference and publishing a new Safeguarding Policy. They were proud that the Safeguarding Policy was now clearer, especially regarding the definitions of protection and safeguarding. It was reiterated that training on this Policy would be developed in the near future.

 

It was confirmed that the Children and Supporting Families Department had received 7,230 referrals to children's services during the year. This statistic was compared with the average figure before the pandemic, where referrals to children's services were approximately 5,000 per year. It was noted that this was a substantial increase in referrals but it was confirmed that the annual figures had levelled by now, hoping that the number of referrals would decrease in years to come.

 

It was reported that there was an increase of 248% seen in the work relating to safeguarding concerns about practitioners and those in positions of trust, compared to 2022/23. It was confirmed that procedures were in place to respond to safeguarding concerns about those who, as part of their work, come into contact with children or adults at risk.

 

It was explained that there were 281 looked-after children at the end of March 2024. It was confirmed that the number of looked-after children had reduced during the last year but, because of the Council's responsibilities to protect asylum seekers and refugees, the number of children under the care of the authority had remained at 281, similar to the numbers at the end of March 2023. Likewise, it was confirmed that the number of Adults reports during the 2023/24 year was very similar to the numbers reported at the end of March 2023.

 

Pride was expressed that the Council had earned a 'White Ribbon' accreditation as it had adopted a strategic method to end domestic violence and to emphasise that it was not tolerated within the County. Furthermore, it was noted that 55% of Council staff, who worked in the public safety field, had attended an 'Ask and Act' training to give them confidence to support individuals experiencing violence, domestic abuse or sexual violence. It was emphasised that it was a priority for those staff members to attend the training over the next year.

 

Reference was made to an increase in a number of matters during the last year, such as retail crime (thefts from shops). It was confirmed that the Council had collaborated with the Police to ensure that information about support to cope with the cost-of-living crisis was available to them, in the hope that this would reduce the numbers of retail crimes in the future. Attention was drawn to a number of other safeguarding aspects that received the Panel's support, namely Serious Violence Duty, Modern Day Slavery and Counter-terrorism.

 

It was confirmed that the Panel was monitoring the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Emphasis was given on the fact that the vast majority of individuals employed by the Council had a current and clear DBS with some exceptions, such as those on sickness absence and maternity leave.

 

During the discussion, the following observations were noted:- 

An enquiry was made as to whether it was possible to track the number of staff that had completed the Prevent training. In response, it was noted that there were two ways to gain access to the training. It was reported that the Home Office had developed new training for Prevent and that it was also available in the form of an e-module on Cyngor Gwynedd's website. Assurance was given that this e-module was mandatory to the whole workforce by now and that staff was encouraged to use the e-learning portal to gain access to it. It was acknowledged that it would be challenging to collect specific data on the number of staff who had completed this module because individuals were able to complete it directly through the Home Office's website. It was explained that these individuals would not be included in the data collected by the e-learning portal of people who had attended the training. The Corporate Director reported that he would try to collate the information and share it when it would be available.

 

Gratitude was expressed for the report and the work and a desire to see an increase in the statistics was expressed, such as 92% of the "Main Safeguarding Persons" in School had received specific safeguarding training in the last two years. It was believed that this figure should be 100%. In response, it was explained that it was unlikely that the statistics would reach 100% due to reasons outside of the Council's control, such as long-term illness periods or staff on maternity leave, but it was agreed that we should aim for 100%.

 

In response to an observation regarding the responsibilities of the Department's Senior Officers, it was noted that there were two Senior Safeguarding and Quality Managers with one located in the Children's Department and the other in the Adults Department. ⁠It was noted that they were designated officers who had a specific role and were accountable in terms of safeguarding responsibility. It was explained that adults with learning disabilities came under the Adults Department's remit whilst children with disabilities came under the Children's Department.

 

Attention was drawn to the fact that a Police officer used to attend this Committee annually in the past and it was suggested that it would be beneficial to revisit these arrangements. In response, it was noted that there was currently an arrangement for the Police to attend the Area Forums and it would be possible to share information through those Forums.

 

In response to an observation regarding part 4.1.7 of the report and the number of looked-after children and placed with their parents, it was noted that this was part of the strategy and that the Department tried to keep children with their parents as much as possible. It was reported, although the children lived with their parents, a lot of support was provided, it was believed that it was better to try and keep children with their families and in the community when possible.

 

In response to a question about why the number of referrals continued to be 2,000 more than the pre-pandemic figures, it was explained that the impacts of the pandemic were long-term, especially on children and it was difficult to know why and when there would be a reduction in the figures. It was suggested that people may now be more willing to refer because they were more aware of the challenges. It was noted that this was positive but it put a lot of pressure on the workforce.

 

A question was asked on the methods used to promote the new Policy to staff and Councillors. It was reported that there was an intention to host training for staff and Councillors and the Senior Safeguarding and Quality Managers were part of that training and tried to raise awareness amongst staff and Members.

 

In response to a question about clarity regarding the definition of safeguarding and protection, it was explained that safeguarding was part of everyone's role in the community and the Council, namely, to ensure that vulnerable people were safe. It was noted that safeguarding was the responsibility of the Councillors and Council staff. It was explained that protection was a specific responsibility of the Police and the Social Services e.g. to intervene if someone was harmed or faced a substantial risk. It was noted that there were laws and an intense policy about protection.

 

To conclude, it was confirmed that the report, including the observations of the Care Scrutiny Committee, would be presented to the Full Council at its meeting in July. The Committee was thanked for their observations.

 

RESOLVED

 

To accept the report and note the observations.