#019/2011 Local Safeguarding Children Boards are not demonstrating their impact on children’s lives

Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are not demonstrating effectively how they are improving outcomes for children and young people in Wales.

The joint inspection report published today by five inspectorates (Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation) found that LSCBs lack focus on improving outcomes for children and are not fulfilling their statutory responsibilities. Consequently, LSCBs are unable to demonstrate the impact of their work on improving the lives of children.

Speaking on behalf of the five inspectorates, Imelda Richardson, Chief Inspector CSSIW said: “The inspection identified key factors which impacted on the effectiveness of LSCBs: leadership should be more effective; they need to develop strategic direction and there is limited evidence as to how they are engaging with children, young people, parents, carers and wider communities. The report outlines a number of areas to develop effective multi-agency working that will improve safeguarding for children and young people in Wales.”

LSCBs were established in 2006 under the Children Act 2004 and have a lead role in safeguarding and protecting children and young people. Board membership includes local authority social services education services, local health boards, NHS trusts, police services, probation services and youth offending teams.

A copy of the report will be published on the CSSIW website
http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/publications/ourfindings/allwales/2011/lscb/?lang=en

ENDS

Notes to editors

  1. The inspection was carried between November 2010 and March 2011.
  2. Out of the 19 LSCBs operating in Wales the inspectorates visited seven, one for each health region
  3. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary is an independent inspectorate, inspecting policing in the public interest, and rigorously examines the effectiveness of police forces and authorities to tackle crime and terrorism, improve criminal justice and raise confidence. HMIC inspects and regulates all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with other major policing bodies such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the British Transport Police and HMRC.
  4. Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) encourages the improvement of social care, early years and social services by regulating, inspecting, reviewing and providing professional advice to Ministers and policy makers. We carry out our functions on behalf of Welsh Ministers, and although we are part of the Public Services and Local Government Delivery Directorate within the Welsh Assembly Government, there are a number of safeguards in place to ensure our operational independence. Our Vision and Values are geared towards ensuring that service users’ experiences are at the heart of our work. Our duty is to assure the citizens of Wales of the quality and safety of social care services through our inspections. The responsibility for improving services rests with those who commission and deliver them within the requirements of the legislation and government policy. CSSIW inspections provide accountability for the public and learning for stakeholders through exemplars and sustained service improvements.
    For further information please visit our website www.wales.gov.uk/cssiw
  5. Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. Our aim is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales. We do this by providing an independent, high-quality inspection and advice service. Our vision is to be recognised through the expertise of our staff as an authoritative voice on learning in Wales. We are independent from, but funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998).
    For further information please visit our website www.estyn.gov.uk
  6. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) is the independent inspectorate and regulator of all healthcare in Wales. HIW’s primary focus is on:
    • Making a significant contribution to improving the safety and quality of healthcare services in Wales.
    • Improving citizens’ experience of healthcare in Wales whether as a patient, service user, carer, relative or employee.
    • Strengthening the voice of patients and the public in the way health services are reviewed.
    • Ensuring that timely, useful, accessible and relevant information about the safety and quality of healthcare in Wales is made available to all
      For further information please visit our website www.hiw.org.uk
  7. HM Inspectorate of Probation is an independent inspectorate, funded by the Ministry of Justice, and reporting directly to the Secretary of State on the effectiveness of work with individual offenders, children and young people aimed at reducing reoffending and protecting the public.