Issue - meetings

That the Committee accept the report as information in relation to Child Protection and Safeguarding for the period 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012.

The Director of Community Services and Operations Manager Youth Justice Service and Young Peoples Drug and Alcohol Team introduced a report to provide Members with information in relation to Child Protection and Safeguarding within the county boundaries.

            The report informed Members of key statistical and performance related information about children for whom the Authority had significant safeguarding responsibilities and covered the period from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012.  The Operations Manager highlighted the Appendices to the report which provided detailed information on the management and performance data about safeguarding, reports analysing child protection case conference feedback and reports analysing staff availability and unmet need. 

            Councillor S. Jones commented on the time that children had spent on the child protection register and asked how many follow up visits were made to a child that had been removed from the register.

            The Service Manager for Childrens Fieldwork Service explained that once a child had been removed from the register, the case would remain open for a period of time and their case would be reviewed by an allocated Social Worker.

            The Chair commented on referrals received from members of the public and the Service Manager confirmed that referrals are receiving from members of the public and that meetings with the Police are also held daily.

            In response to a question on the increase in child protection referrals between April and June 2012, the Operations Manager explained that this had been due to a referral for a large sibling group.          

RESOLVED:

That the Committee accept the report as information in relation to Child Protection and Safeguarding for the period 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012.