Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee recommends the approval of the proposed structure for the Regional Safeguarding Children’s Board to be known as the North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board;

(b)       That the Committee recommends that the temporary host authority (Conwy) be confirmed until a permanent arrangement is confirmed for April 2015; and

(c)        That the Committee supports the recommendation that the minutes of the Regional Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Safeguarding Delivery Groups be shared with the Leader and the Cabinet Member Social Services, and Chair of the Social & Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and that regular, initially twice yearly, update reports on the work of the Board be provided to Cabinet and the  Social & Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee by the Chief Officer (Social Services).  

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced a report to seek Members views on the implementation of regional and local arrangements for safeguarding children.  He provided background information and advised that from September 2014 the North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board (NWSCB) would be formally constituted, and with a strong commitment towards a local presence, the Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCBs) would  cease and be re-convened as safeguarding delivery groups  based on sub-regional locations.  The Chief Officer commented on the benefits of the re-structure and explained that the proposed new model enhanced the Authority’s and its allied partners commitment to children’s safeguarding and ensuring that children were kept safe.

Councillor Hilary McGuill asked who would be undertaking serious case reviews under the proposed new model and how members of the public could make a referral.  The Chief Officer advised that serious case reviews had been renamed child practice reviews and would be undertaken by a regional sub group.  He confirmed that members of the public would continue to be able to make referrals to the new NWSCB.  The Chief Officer agreed to circulate details of the membership of the new Board as soon as available.  

In response to the queries and observations made by Councillor Cindy Hinds concerning the ‘post-card’ system the Chief Officer agreed to provide further information to the Committee on the system. 

Resolved:

 (a)      That the Committee recommends the approval of the proposed structure for the Regional Safeguarding Children’s Board to be known as the North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board;

(b)       That the Committee recommends that the temporary host authority (Conwy) be confirmed until a permanent arrangement is confirmed for April 2015; and

(c)        That the Committee supports the recommendation that the minutes of the Regional Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Safeguarding Delivery Groups be shared with the Leader and the Cabinet Member Social Services, and Chair of the Social & Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and that regular, initially twice yearly, update reports on the work of the Board be provided to Cabinet and the  Social & Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee by the Chief Officer (Social Services).