Agenda item

The Chair welcomed John Harris, Independent Chair from the Doncaster Safeguarding Children’s Board (DSCB), Rosie Faulkner, Manager of the DSCB, Suzannah Cookson, Head of Quality for Children and Designated Nurse for Safeguarding and Looked After Children Nurse, (Vice Chair) Superintendent Neil Thomas from the South Yorkshire Police, Rianna Nelson,  Director of Children’s Commissioning at DMBC, Anne Chester-Walsh, Head of Service at the Doncaster Children’s Service Trust (DCST) and Jim Foy Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) at the DCST to the meeting. 

It was explained that the purpose of the item was to provide an updated assessment of the response to child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Doncaster.  Members were reminded that since the initial report had been brought to the Panel in December 2014, there had been an OFSTED review of the DSCB, published in November 2015 which found that there had been ‘good coordination by agencies in order to tackle child sexual exploitation in Doncaster……a child sexual exploitation sub-group and work stream chaired by a Police Superintendent coordinates well the operational partnership working’.

The Panel held discussions which included the following areas:

Faith and Culture Sub-Group – It was reported that the Faith and Culture Sub-Group has led the work to link with wider communities. It was outlined that most faith culture groups worked with individual communities such as the Polish community.  Members were informed that the sub-group had made good progress in identifying and engaging with a broad range of Faith groups and providing training and advice on a range of safeguarding issues including safe guarding policies and safer recruitment. It was added that training had been provided in some communities on CSE and further training was planned. It was added that there was an intention to expand the work with black, ethnic and minority ethnic groups, targeting those not linked in through faith groups.  Members were informed that further work was looking to be undertaken with the deaf community, children schooled at home and the Roma Slovak population.  It was commented that engaging with such groups could be challenging and that engaging with individuals who were viewed as being influential proved particularly useful.

Training – Concern was raised by the Panel regarding the development of specific training programmes with faith and community groups.  Members were informed that there were no barriers to the training being undertaken but just that there hadn’t been the time and capacity to do it.  Members were assured that this was now been looked at as a priority.

Data – In terms of the data, members were informed that this was complex area as the data came from a range of different places and collected in different ways.  Members were informed that there was no intelligence or data gaps but that the challenge was bringing the information together and using it to present one clear picture.  Members were informed that there was a lack of a single IT collection point and that IT issues were being reconciled to find an appropriate solution.  It was further explained that it was challenging to identify the headline information to go in the report to be able to draw out an overall analysis of impact (an issue experienced with other safeguarding boards).

Local Problem Profile – Members were informed that there was no local organised criminality dealing in CSE at this time.  It was explained that a national initiative was being created to develop local problem profiles. Members were told about THRIVE meetings where the Police were enabling information to be shared effectively with partners to ensure that vulnerable children and young people were supported and that offender behaviour was disrupted.  Members were informed that Doncaster was unique in the way it was working with partners and that it had proved to be very positive.

Outreach Work – Members were informed that outreach work had taken place at venues where young people were likely to congregate and steps taken to discuss this issue with them in those settings.  It was explained that with outreach work, it was a case of distributing leaflets and making initial contacts with young people, with the view that this might build up to more of a discussion.  Members were informed that social media was one of the biggest issues that was faced in prevention and keeping young people safe.  Members were informed that in its recent review, Ofsted had commended the contact that had been made with bed and breakfasts.

Communication Plan – Members expressed their concern that there was no communication lead in post.  Members were assured that this area was still moving forward and that there will be a final version of the communication plan in place within the next four weeks.  It was agreed that a link to the published version on the website would be circulated to the Panel.

LGBT – The Panel was informed that there was no work being currently undertaken to specifically engage with LGBT groups although the new communications plan would help raise awareness. 

Future Progress – It was explained to Members that the work being undertaken and progress made against actions identified in the action plan were all part of a ‘journey’ to improve the work being taken forward to tackle children sexual exploitation in Doncaster.  It was noted that only a small number of LSCBs had received a rating from OFSTED that was better than that for the host local authority – and Doncaster was one of those LSCBs.