Chapter One
Roles and Responsibilities of the Local Safeguarding Children Board
In this section:
IntroductionAims and objectives of the LSCB
LSCB Relationship with the local children’s trust arrangements
The role of LSCB members
Structure
Financing and staffing
Work of LSCB
Individual agencies
Monitoring and inspection
Introduction
1.1 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how relevant organisations will co-operate to safeguard children and promote the welfare of children in our locality.
1.2 For the purpose of these procedures, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment or harm;
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
- Undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully
1.3 The core business of the LSCB will, therefore, ensure that the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children is carried out in such a way as to improve all five Every Child Matters outcomes, with a focus on aspects of the Staying Safe outcome.
1.4 The LSCB is an inter-agency forum for developing, monitoring and reviewing inter-agency child protection work. It is made up of senior officers and professionals from all of the main authorities and agencies involved in safeguarding children.
Each agency has a key specific role.
Aims and Objectives of the LSCB
1.5 The agreed aims of the LSCB are:
- To safeguard and promote the welfare of children by securing the effective collaboration of all agencies so they are protected from harm.
- To undertake a wider remit, including preventative work only when the core business is secure.
1.6 The core objectives of the LSCB are set out in section 14(1) of the Children Act 2004 as follows:
- To co-ordinate what is done by each person or body represented on the Board for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the area of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
- To ensure effectiveness of what is done by organisations and individuals to safeguard children.
LSCB Relationship with the local children’s trust arrangements
1.7 Within the context of the trust arrangements, the LSCB must retain an independent voice in judging and challenging the quality of local provision.
1.8 The LSCB and its activities are part of the wider context of children’s trust arrangements. The LSCB contributes to the goals of improving children’s trust arrangements and to the goals of improving children’s welfare. The Board’s role is to ensure the effectiveness of the arrangements made by agencies and the wider partnership to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
1.9 The LSCB should be consulted by the partnerships on issues which affect how children are safeguarded and will be a formal consultee during the development of Children and Young Persons’ Plans (CYPPs)
The Role of LSCB Members
1.10 The individual members of the LSCB have a duty to contribute to the effective work of the LSCB, for example, in making the LSCB’s assessment of performance as objective as possible and in recommending or deciding upon, the necessary steps to put right any problems. This should take precedence over their role as a representative of their organisation.
Structure
1.11 The LSCB, under the oversight of the Directors of Children and Young People Services, will consult with Chief Officers of other partner organisations as required. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland LSCB covers the three local authorities. The structure is set out in the following diagram:
1.12 This structure will:
- Be independently chaired
- Ensure effective links to the Directors of Children and Young People’s Services
- Ensure that all agencies can discharge their responsibilities for safeguarding appropriately and effectively
- Ensure that the LSCB is efficiently and effectively administered
- Ensure publication of a business plan to achieve LSCB objectives
Financing and Staffing
1.13 The budget and contribution by member organisations has been agreed locally. It provides for a policy officer, audit officer, training co-ordinator and admin support. They can be found at:
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Local Safeguarding
Children Board
Suite 4
Bridge Park Plaza
Bridge Park Road
Thurmaston
Leicester
LE4
8ZW
Tel: 0116 260 0004
Fax: 0116 264 5838
Work of LSCB
1.14 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland LSCB has a clear business plan, including measurable objectives. The annual report reviews work in the previous year and progress against its objectives.
1.15 There is a range of Subcommittees, each chaired by a Board member and comprising staff and managers from relevant agencies. These are:
- Development Subcommittee
- Training Subcommittee
- Communications Subcommittee
- Quality Assurance Subcommittee
- Leicester Serious Case Review Subcommittee
- Leicestershire and Rutland Serious Case Review Subcommittee
1.16 The LSCB may establish other working groups to carry out specific time-limited tasks as required.
Individual Agencies
1.17 The roles of individual agencies are as set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Monitoring and Inspection
1.18 Individual agencies are assessed through their own inspection arrangements. As part of their remit, these must consider the effectiveness of the agency’s role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The LSCB will draw upon their work and contribute to these processes.
1.19 To avoid unnecessary duplication of work, the LSCB will ensure that its monitoring role complements and contributes to the work of both the children’s trust arrangements and inspectorates.
1.20 The effectiveness of the LSCB itself forms part of the judgment of the inspectorates, particularly through the Joint Area Review of Children’s Services (JAR).
1.21 The LSCB has the responsibility to ensure that each agency carries out its safeguarding responsibility effectively. The LSCB has appropriate processes in place to address concerns.