Agencies effective at dealing with Shropshire children in need or at risk, report finds

Agencies including Shropshire Council, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and West Mercia Police provide an effective response when concerns are raised about children who may be in need or at risk of significant harm, a government inspection has found.

The inspection of the ‘multi-agency response to sexual abuse in the family in Shropshire’ was carried out between 19 and 23 November 2018 by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), HMI Constabulary and Fire & Rescue services (HMICFRS) and HMI Probation.

It included an evaluation of the multi-agency ‘Compass’ service, which receives referrals about children who may be in need or at risk.

In their report [published today, 15 January 2019] inspectors outline their findings about the effectiveness of partnership working and about the work of individual agencies in Shropshire.

They find that partnership arrangements in Shropshire are ‘well established and effective’, and identify ‘strong and mature partnership working’ across the agencies, and a ‘robust commitment’ to shared learning and improvement.

They say that Compass services are ‘well established, with experienced, confident and competent social work staff and managers who recognise issues of child sexual abuse along with other safeguarding issues, and respond sensitively’.

The report also finds that:

• Multi-agency arrangements for children who are at risk of or experiencing sexual exploitation and who go missing are a strength.
• Multi-agency public protection arrangements are well established and effective.
• Health professionals share relevant and timely information when raising concerns about children, including unborn children.
• The West Mercia Police-commissioned Paediatric Sexual Assault Service (PSAS) is a comprehensive resource for Shropshire children and young people who have been sexually assaulted.
• The Child Sexual Exploitation Panel is a valued multi-agency forum for health professionals to share information and contribute to risk management plans, and is contributing to improvements in safeguarding practice.
• The Safeguarding Children Board continues to be effective in monitoring and evaluating the work of statutory partners.
• Schools are valued partners in the multi-agency partnership for Shropshire. This is reinforced by the active schools safeguarding group.

Referring to the key individual agencies, the report finds that:

• Effective leadership and a whole council-approach has ensured that that Shropshire Council has continued to strengthen services for vulnerable children.
• Shropshire CCG senior leaders show strong commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable children
• Police leaders are committed to the partnership and have prioritised the protection of children who are vulnerable and at risk of child sexual abuse.

Nick Bardsley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services, said:

“We welcome the findings of this inspection, which recognises the effectiveness of the important work that Shropshire Council and our partners carry out to help keep children safe. It’s especially pleasing inspectors have recognised that, since been rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted in 2017, Shropshire Council has continued to strengthen services for our vulnerable chidren. This demonstrates our determination to continually improve and to provide the best possible support to our children and families.”

Dr Julian Povey, Chair of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:

“This report reflects the very successful partnership working between the CCG, the council, and the police and lays a very firm foundation for supporting those who are most at risk and vulnerable in our community.”

Shropshire Superintendent Mo Lansdale from West Mercia Police, said:

“It is encouraging the inspectors have recognised we are committed to working in partnership with other agencies to protect children who are vulnerable and at risk of child sexual abuse. This will remain a priority for us as we continue to do all we can to protect people from harm.”

Inspectors did find that some areas of multi-agency working and professional practice could be further strengthened and improved, but recognised that most of these areas are already the focus of strategic plans to improve outcomes for children.

The findings from this inspection will contribute to the ongoing improvement work for Shropshire and Telford NHS Trust and the Shropshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing services.

Further information

As part of the inspection, inspectors also:

• took an in-depth look at the effectiveness of services for a small group of children and young people who have suffered, or are at risk of, child sexual abuse in the family environment.
• considered and evaluated the effectiveness of the multi-agency leadership and management of this work, including the role played by the local safeguarding children board.