Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Multi-agency safeguarding partnerships started in 2019, aimed at joining up local NHS, policing, and local...
Conclusion
Multi-agency safeguarding partnerships started in 2019, aimed at joining up local NHS, policing, and local authority services to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area.25 In May 2022, three years after they started, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel found the new partnerships were “not yet fit for purpose everywhere” and were more fractured and fragmented than they should be, with weak links between the leadership and the front line.26 Previously in 2021, Sir Alan Wood found multi-agency safeguarding arrangements varied in the extent to which non- statutory partners, and particularly schools and other educational bodies, were engaging 16 Q 91; C&AG’s Report, para 5 17 Qq 17, 90 18 Qq 90, 94 19 Qq 20–21, 89 20 Q 22 21 C&AG’s Report para 16 22 Q 89 23 C&AG’s Report para 17 24 SVA0024 25 C&AG’s Report, paras 4, 2.11 26 Q 105 12 Support for vulnerable adolescents in safeguarding arrangements.27 When asked why education was not a statutory partner, the Department for Education told us that schools have a statutory duty to cooperate fully with the statutory partners, that schools take this incredibly seriously and are very active and responsive. The Department for Education told us it is actively considering schools be named as the fourth safeguarding partner following the recommendation from the independent review of children’s social care.28 But the Department for Education told us there is work to do, in response to recent reviews to look at how to strengthen the local safeguarding arrangements.29
Government Response Summary
The government published 'Stable Homes, Built on Love', an implementation strategy and consultation in February 2023, setting out commitments to ensure all agencies play a full role in protecting children. It is also rolling out responses to recommendations from reviews, including support from national facilitators, and amending guidance to strengthen multi-agency leadership.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3: PAC conclusion: Critical local multi-agency safeguarding partnerships are still not working well enough, which risks those vulnerable adolescents that need support and help falling through the gaps. 3: PAC recommendation: Government should set out within six months how it plans to improve the way multi-agency safeguarding partnerships work. 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 The government is committed to strengthening local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. Stable Homes, Built on Love: implementation strategy and consultation published in February 2023 set out commitments to ensure that all agencies play a full role in protecting and promoting the welfare of children and young people. 3.3 Following the publication of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel national review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, and the Independent Review for Children’s Social Care, Ministers from the Department for Education, Home Office and Department for Health and Social Care wrote to all local authorities, police and health authorities (the three safeguarding partners) to put out a call to action to take forward the important recommendations. 3.4 The DfE has already started rolling out its response to these recommendations. In November 2022, the new cross-government Child Protection Ministerial Group was established. It is supported by the newly formed Multi-Agency Safeguarding Partner Performance Board made up of senior officials across government. 3.5 The DfE has developed a support offer to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements so that agencies work together more effectively. The department has extended a national offer of support to safeguarding partners led by health, police and local authority National Facilitators. Alongside this, the Panel are developing a support offer to maximise the impact of learning from safeguarding reviews, a pilot of which will begin in Spring 2023. 3.6 The DfE will further strengthen multi-agency leadership by amending guidance to safeguarding partners. This will ensure leaders with the right level of authority are making key decisions and effectively overseeing the system. The department will also explore how the role of education can be strengthened, including consulting on whether or how it should become a safeguarding partner. The department will also build on its support offer to safeguarding partners once their roles and responsibilities have been clarified next year in Working Together. 3.7 The department will continue to monitor safeguarding partners through single agency inspections and through joint targeted area inspections. This government is prepared to intervene where arrangements are not fit for purpose.