Brighton & Hove LSCB have recently undergone a review by Ofsted and we are very pleased to announce that they have judged the arrangements we have in place to evaluate the effectiveness of what is done by the local authority and board partners to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as good
Our chair, Graham Bartlett, has taken this opportunity to thank our Board Members, Advisors and Subcommittee representatives both for taking the time to explain what we do to the inspectors, and for their lively and engaging challenges at Board and Subcommittee meetings. He extended his gratitude to all our partners for their commitment to keeping children safe and says:
“There’s always room for improvement when it comes to keeping children safe and it’s vital for the city that there is an independent body that co-ordinates the work and makes sure it is to the right standard.
“The LSCB does a lot of important work identifying areas that could be improved in the interests of children and helping different agencies to achieve those improvements, especially by working together and communicating information more effectively.
“A lot of what we do goes on behind the scenes, so I’m delighted that the quality of our work has been publicly recognised in this way.”
Executive Summary:
The LSCB has rapidly developed over the last two years from a local-authority-dominated board to a transparent, learning-focused multi-agency LSCB. The LSCB effectively monitors and influences improvements in frontline multi-agency safeguarding practice.
The LSCB undertakes its statutory responsibilities carefully and thoroughly. Its members recognise that not all elements of multi-agency safeguarding practice are yet of a consistently good standard, but there is a clear understanding of where further improvements are required. For example, the LSCB is aware of gaps in service responses to children who go missing. It has provided suitable challenge but has not yet been assured that the necessary improvements are in place.
The LSCB should build a better understanding of the effectiveness of early help services. Additionally, the board should further scrutinise numbers of repeat referrals and child protection plans.
The LSCB routinely scrutinises data in relation to children becoming looked after, although it needs to give more focus to looked after children living outside the authority area and improve its understanding of why thresholds for care or accommodation are reached.
The LSCB has strong leadership and effective governance arrangements, featuring senior managers from partner agencies chairing the majority of its sub-groups. The board now has a strong multi-agency influence and expertise for its oversight and evaluation of practice, providing an increasingly informed and diverse picture of particularly vulnerable groups of children and young people in the city.
The LSCB is outward-looking and ambitious to accelerate its momentum and influence as an improvement and change agency in the city. It has a strong presence in schools, the voluntary and private sector and in the city’s health economy. The LSCB is demonstrably open to the suggestions and challenge of lay members and imaginatively seeks out feedback from children and young people on both how safe they feel and how the LSCB can incorporate their ideas in influencing its priorities and service development.
Read the rest of the report on the LSCB here or visit Ofsted’s website reports.ofsted.gov.uk/local-authorities/brighton-and-hove
Has needs met within universal provision. May need limited intervention within the setting to avoid needs arising.
Has additional needs identified within the setting that can be met within identified resources through a single agency response and partnership working.
Has multiple needs requiring a multi-agency coordinated response.
Has a high level of unmet & complex needs, or is in need of protection.