Publication of new multi-agency safeguarding arrangements for Plymouth and Torbay children and young people.
New arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Plymouth and Torbay are published today.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (WTG 18) is the statutory guidance that transfers strategic local safeguarding arrangements from Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB) to three new safeguarding partners, namely the Local Authority, Clinical Commissioning Groups and Police.
These safeguarding partners have a shared and equal duty to determine local arrangements to work with each other, and with nominated relevant agencies, to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people in their area.
WTG18 permits local safeguarding arrangements to cover two or more local authorities. It has been agreed that the safeguarding partners can perform effectively and efficiently across Plymouth and Torbay, delivering local arrangements in a joined up way which meets the key priority of safeguarding and protecting children and young people.
The existing LSCBs in Plymouth and Torbay shall be replaced with one Joint Strategic Partnership covering both geographical areas. The safeguarding partners have equal and joint leadership responsibility for these new arrangements. The safeguarding partners for Plymouth and Torbay are:
This new Joint Strategic Partnership will mean that children and young people get the right response at the right time, with improved arrangements focusing upon outcomes and continuous improvement. The safeguarding partners will continue to ensure that the voice of children and young people is at the centre of strategic work and operational safeguarding practice.
By extending geographical sight the safeguarding partners aspire to deliver arrangements where excellent practice becomes the norm, strong links and joint working are fostered, and develop a skilled, knowledgeable and confident workforce working across local authority, sector and geographical areas. These arrangements are designed to put Plymouth and Torbay children young people and families at its centre and shall engage all children and young people by using improved systems and forums. It will harness, share and build upon the frontline expertise across Plymouth and Torbay to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
The arrangements shall:
The current Independent Chair role will be replaced with a single Independent Quality Assurance role that has oversight for reviewing and improving safeguarding practice. This role shall ensure the Joint Strategic Partnership enhances the identification of learning and embeds outcomes into practice across Plymouth and Torbay.
Transition into the new arrangements are underway with the new Joint Strategic Partnership coming into effect on 29 September 2019.
Director of Children’s Services for Plymouth and Torbay, Alison Botham said: “By creating a joint partnership between the three key agencies we are going to be able to work more effectively to ensure the delivery of effective, consistent and sustained safeguarding and promotion of welfare of children and young people across Torbay and Plymouth. The partnership arrangement will mean that children and young people get the right response at the right time.”
Full details of the new arrangements can be found above.
