Newcastle Area Child Protection Committee

Newcastle upon Tyne Local Safeguarding Children Board

Annual Report 2005/06

www.newcastle.gov.uk/lscb

Contents Page no

1 Chair’s Introduction…………………………………………….………2 National Context………………………………………………………. 3 Newcastle Local Safeguarding Children Board……………………….3 LSCB members……………………………………………………………4 LSCB Structure………………………………………………………... 5

Objectives achieved during 2005……………………………………. 6

Lessons learned from serious case reviews……………………… 13

Facts and figures 2005………………………………………………15

Income and expenditure 2005………………………………………20

Appendix 1…………………………………………………………….21

2 Chair’s Introduction to the Annual Report

The Annual Report reflects the work of the Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) between April 2005 and December 2005 before the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) replaced it on the 06.12.05.

Safeguarding Children is a shared responsibility and the success of meeting many of our objectives for 2005 is due to the dedication and commitment of former ACPC members and work undertaken by a number of staff from across all member agencies.

As Chairperson of the Area Child Protection Committee I would like to express appreciation to former ACPC members for their commitment and dedication over the 10 years plus that it was operating.

The Local Safeguarding Children Board will continue to build upon the good work of the ACPC and outlines its priorities and objectives in the accompanying LSCB Business Plan for 2006-2009.

All reports and documents referred to in the report can be obtained via the LSCB website www.newcastle.gov.uk/lscb, email, CD. Printed copies are available on request to those services that do not have access to a computer or the internet.

All children and young people regardless of age, disability, gender, race or sexuality are considered within the work of the LSCB.

Ruth Rogan (former ACPC Chairperson)

3 NationalNational Contextcontext Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children requires effective co- operation. Focus is needed on both the universal services which every child uses and on more targeted services for those with additional needs. Every Child Matters: Change for Children (2004) sets out the national framework for local change programmes to build services around the needs of children and young people so that we maximise opportunity and minimise risk. The Children Act 2004 provides the statutory framework to support the transformation of children’s services.

NewcastleNewcastle LocalLocal SafeguardingSafeguarding ChildrenChildren BoardBoard (LSCB)(LSCB)

Newcastle LSCB is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how organisations will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and for ensuring the effectiveness of what they do. Its work crosses the boundaries between the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors and builds upon the best practice achieved by the ACPC. It is proactive in driving forward the duty of all partner agencies in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

The work of the LSCB fits within the wider context of Children’s Trust arrangements that aim to improve the overall well being (i.e. five outcomes) for all children. Whilst the work of the LSCB contributes to the wider goals of improving the well being of all children, it has a particular focus on aspects of the ‘staying safe’ outcome.

The core objectives of the LSCB are to co-ordinate what is done by each person or body represented on the Board for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Newcastle; and to ensure the effectiveness of what the member organisations do individually and together. The LSCB is accountable to the Executive Director of Children’s Services (EDCS), who is accountable to the Children’s Services Authority in ensuring the effectiveness of what is done by the Board partners to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

4 LSCB Members

Chairperson Catherine Fitt Executive Director of Children Services Members Ruth Rogan (Vice Chairperson) Head of Children Services Marian Howett Head of Education & Libraries Veronica Grant Children’s Safeguarding Standards Manager Chris Machell Chief Superintendent Area Commander Rod Stapley Manager Youth Offending Team Jane Mackintosh Assistant Chief Officer, Northumbria Probation- Margaret Harvey CAFCASS Anne Holt Northern Region Strategic Health Authority Mauya Cushlow Primary Care Trust Melanie Hornett Newcastle Hospitals Trust Gary O’Hare Newcastle, North Tyneside & Northumberland Hospital Trust

Alison Steel Designated Doctor Paula Askell Designated Nurse Sara Morgan – Evans Connexions Sue Kirkley LSCB Co-ordinator Jill Baxter Legal Services Isobel Porter NSPCC

Chairs and leads of LSCB Committees & groups Policy & Procedure Committee Sara Morgan-Evans, Connexions Quality & Performance Committee Veronica Grant, Children’s Services Review Committee Veronica Grant, Children’s Services Training Committee Paula Askell, Health Faith Settings Group Steve Tait, NSPCC AIM Steering Group Sue Kirkley, LSCB Co-ordinator Multi-agency Trafficking Group Paul Woodhead, Save the Children

5 Structure

Newcastle Local Safeguarding Children Board

Policy and Quality and Review Training Procedure Performance Committee Committee Committee Committee (Serious Cases (Strategic & & Child Injury Trainers Group) & Death)

PPIGs – Policy & Practice Improvement Groups PPIGs

6 Objectives achieved during 2005

Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) established: Newcastle’s LSCB was formally launched in December 2005. This was a half day event with contributions from the Lead Member for Children’s Services, Executive Director of Children’s Services and a number of young people from the Youth Voice Project, who are commended for their splendid presentation and ideas for involving young people in work to combat bullying and discrimination.

Establish and develop strong links with the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP): The LSCB has assumed responsibility for the ‘Stay Safe’ element of the Every Child Matters Outcome Framework and is a member of the CYPSP Outcome Accountability Group. Governance and accountability are areas that are still being discussed and will inform the LSCB Constitution. The LSCB has contributed to the statutory Children and Young People’s Plan for 2006-09 and is contributing to the Children’s Transformation Programme overall e.g. Children’s Workforce Reform, Children’s Trust Arrangements.

Participation of children and young people: During August 2005 workers from six organisations in the city collaborated to ensure that a comprehensive piece of work was undertaken to inform the Strategic Partnership about children and young people’s priorities. These were identified through a comprehensive review of existing information about what matters to children and young people followed by a series of workshop sessions agreeing on a draft list of priorities. A report entitled “What matters to us” outlines the results of what children and young people’s views are about the priorities in their lives. The LSCB will ensure that children and young people’s priorities for staying safe are integral to the LSCB Business Plan for 2006.

Safeguarding children of problem drug users: The LSCB has joint lead for developing and driving forward the strategy for safeguarding children of problem drug users. A Hidden Harm Network has been established, with members from both

7 adult and children’s services providers. An action plan for the City has been written and will inform the work of the LSCB for 2006. Safeguarding children from BME and faith communities: A sub group of the Newcastle ACPC was established to consider safeguarding children in faith settings. The focus of the group is to engage with faith leaders and communities to raise awareness of the need to safeguard children through having a greater understanding of procedures and good practice standards. The group is led by the NSPCC and has representatives from Newcastle Social Services, the Police, and the Church of England. The group has also recently made links with Newcastle Council of Faiths (CORRzb), which was launched in November 2005 and brings together members of Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim Sikh and Zoroastrian religions. The Council hopes to bring harmony between people of different faiths by celebrating the contributions faith communities make to society.

The LSCB contributes to the work of the Newcastle Multi-agency Trafficking Group, which is led by Save the Children. The purpose of the group is to undertake education and raise awareness, involve organisations in planning and decision making, support the development of regional and local strategies and provide a forum for information exchange between statutory and non-governmental organisations. The LSCB will support a small-scale study undertaken by EPCAT UK in Newcastle during February and May 2006. The objectives will determine the levels of awareness Social Services has of child trafficking, examine reporting procedures and how identified cases had been dealt with in Newcastle, and how agencies work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

The LSCB is also supporting a research study that is being undertaken by the Children’s Society. The study is exploring the safeguarding needs of African refugee children in Newcastle, which is due to be complete by May 2006. Findings from the research will be disseminated in June 2006 and will inform the work of the LSCB.

Safeguarding children from the effects of domestic abuse & violence: The LSCB is a member of the Newcastle Domestic Violence Forum and has been instrumental in its development and progress to a domestic abuse partnership, and

8 the development of the citywide domestic violence strategy. During 2006 the LSCB will lead on co-ordinating work around the development of services for children and young people affected by domestic violence.1

Bichard Inquiry Report - recommendation 12 & LASSL (2004)21: Following the publication of the Bichard Report in June 2004 the LSCB produced an action plan to key recommendations were implemented. The LSCB developed a joint inter-agency protocol, which clarifies when it is appropriate to report offences of a sexual nature to the police via Social Services based on the guidance offered in the report and Working Together (1999). It draws upon the criteria suggested by Bichard and will assist those working with young people to identify where relationships may be abusive and whether the young person involved may require an assessment of need leading to the provision of protection or additional services. The protocol is available in the Good Practice section of the LSCB website.

Licensing Act 2003: The Licensing Act 2003 was approved by Parliament in July 2003. The overall aim of the Act is to modernise the legislation governing the sale and supply of alcohol and public entertainment licensing. The ‘Responsible Authority’ for the protection of children from harm objective within the Act is Newcastle Local Safeguarding Children Board. The LSCB and the Licensing Authority have agreed a joint protocol for how the LSCB will deal with license applications, which includes guidance for applicants to assist them to consider the safety issues for children.

From April 2005 to date there have been over 500 applications received by the LSCB. These have been processed in accordance with the joint protocol. An example of good practice achieved through joint working has been in relation to under 18s club nights. Anecdotal information received from youth workers and young people indicated that whilst frequenting these venues young people were sometimes engaged in risky behaviour. Follow up through applications enabled the LSCB, with the assistance of Di Robertson, Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service Manager, to engage the clubs in discussions around providing safer environments. This has included ensuring staff have CRB checks, have received

1 Vision for services for children and young people affected by domestic violence (October 2005)

9 suitable training, proof of ID cards, club safeguarding policy and good practice guidelines. Work with the clubs is ongoing.

Common Assessment Framework (CAF): Section 10 of the Children Act 2004 establishes a duty on Local Authorities to make arrangements to promote co- operation between agencies in order to improve children’s well-being. The statutory guidance around this duty sets out a framework that identifies the implementation of the CAF as one of the key elements of integrated frontline delivery. It is closely linked to the development of the Lead Professional role. Overall it is part of the move towards better integrated practice for all practitioners working with children, young people and their families. CAF will be implemented across the country between April 2006 and March 2008.

In Newcastle Grainne Fegan has been appointed as the CAF Co-ordinator. A CAF Steering Group and sub working groups on Lead Professional, Implementation and Training have been established and local processes and guidance are being developed. 12 multi-agency briefings occurred during February and March 2006 with further briefings and CAF assessor training during April and May 2006. The LSCB is a member of the CAF Implementation Group and informs the work of the CAF training strategy.

Safeguarding children exploited through prostitution: In 2003 Newcastle ACPC commissioned Barnardo’s to undertake a piece of research to better protect children and young people both at risk of being sexually exploited and currently being sexually exploited through prostitution. The research was conducted between September 2003 and September 2005. A final report and action plan was presented to the LSCB in December 2005 and Council Executive in February 2006. The action plan will inform the LSCB Business Plan for 2006/07. The full report is available on the LSCB website.

Co-operation with neighbouring & regional LSCBs: Between November 2003 and May 2005 the Area Child Protection Committee was involved in a regional project that developed a set of regional procedures and guidance concentrating on 16 key areas for safeguarding children (appendix 1). The ACPC agreed in principle

10 to adopt all of the documents with a view to localising and reviewing them over time. A briefing paper was sent out across all agencies in June 2005 advising staff of the project and the outcome. All procedures are available to staff via the website, CD or printed copy for those organisations or services that do not have access to the Internet. Review and update of the procedures are managed through the LSCB Policy and Procedure Committee. Key member agencies with expertise in a particular procedural area have assumed responsibility for leading on its review.

Following the publication in September 2004 of a report by Baroness Kennedy QC – Sudden Unexpected Death, a regional working group was set up to consider the recommendations. The group lead by Northumbria Police have produced a final document which will inform the development of a local protocol and contribute to the work of the LSCB “Child Death Review Team”, which must be established by the Board by 2008.

Newcastle LSCB is a member of the Regional Trainers Group, ADSS Safeguarding Children Group and the Northumbria Police Safeguarding Group.

Raising public awareness: In July 2005 an advert on “What To Do If You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused” was placed in a Newcastle City Council environmental guide. This was distributed to over 130,000 homes across Newcastle as a means of raising public awareness of collective and individual responsibility for protecting children from harm.

AIM Assessment Framework: Newcastle ACPC implemented the AIM Assessment Framework and Procedures for assessing children and young people who sexually abuse in December 2004. The first evaluation of the assessment model was undertaken in June 2005. The evaluation report was circulated to all ACPC members in August 2005. The key recommendations from the evaluation (appendix 2) are in relation to:  Ownership and accountability  Training  Joined up working with CAMHS

11 A second evaluation is under way. Actions are monitored by the AIM Steering Group and reported to the LSCB Policy & Procedure Committee.

Looked After Children Strategy: From December 2003 to May 2005 there was an incremental rise of 13.5% in the numbers of children and young people looked after by Newcastle Social Services. In view of the increasing urgency of the situation and the serious financial implications for the Authority, Children’s Services have developed a robust multi-agency strategy to reduce Newcastle’s Looked After Children population to approximately 400 within a year of implementing the strategy (a decrease of approximately 14%) as long as it is on a safe and sustainable basis. The LSCB contributes to the project and its workstreams.

Safeguarding Children Procedures: The LSCB has requested expressions of interest for an individual or organisation to rewrite and replace the current ACPC Procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. These will be updated to reflect early intervention, effective information sharing and the broader role of the LSCB and the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children statutory guidance, which due for publication spring 2006.

Ensuring effectiveness, quality and performance management: Proposal to expand the remit of Social Services Children’s Standards Unit has been agreed. The Unit will integrate with key LSCB organisations to develop quality assurance and performance monitoring across children’s services currently beyond the scope of the Unit, e.g. Education or other sections of the local authority, and Health.

LSCB inter-agency training: A key priority for training in 2005 was to implement the DfES training resource, which is suitable for multi-agency training to meet local needs. This has included materials to support the implementation of What To Do If You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused (2003) and Safeguarding Children - a shared responsibility (2005). The training was adapted and piloted over the year and is now firmly in place alongside various other new and established courses. The full Annual Training Report for 2005 is available on the LSCB website as is the training programme for 2006 and associated fliers and booking forms.

12 Engaging with the voluntary sector: The voluntary sector has recently developed a voluntary sector reference group facilitated by the Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service. The purpose of the group is to enable the voluntary sector to effectively contribute to the work of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership and the LSCB.

13 Lessons learned from serious case reviews

The LSCB must undertake a Serious Case Review when a child dies or is seriously injured and abuse or neglect are known or suspected to be a factor in the death.

Following the death of baby Aaron O’Neill in February 2005, the Area Child

Protection Committee (ACPC) asked an independent expert to undertake a detailed

investigation of the case. The ACPC also took immediate action to develop and

improve existing systems e.g. for identifying and sharing information about

dangerous individuals who moved between vulnerable families.

The independent review was completed on 11th November 2005 and outlined the key

lessons to be learned from the case for all agencies as:

 The analysis of available information  The importance of making an assessment of both parents  Effective communication between professionals  The individual responsibility of professionals to follow up their opinion  The need to see and communicate with or assess the needs of the child  The need to relate research findings to any assessment of risk  The importance of records which make information readily and easily accessible

The Executive Director of Children’s Services and the Local Safeguarding Children Board have accepted these findings in full, and have drawn up an Action Plan that addresses the recommendations and lessons to be learned in great detail.

All agencies are fully committed to implementing the recommendations in the Action

Plan and professionals from all agencies have been briefed.

The LSCB and the Commission for Social Care Inspection will monitor progress.

The Action Plan will only be signed off when full implementation has been achieved.

14 Facts and figures 2005

Number of Children on CPR at 31st March 2005 per 10,000 80 10,000 67 70 59 Rate per 60 55 52 10,000 50 40 44 40 28 26 30 25 24 24 23 20 10 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Year Newcastle National

 The number of children on the Child Protection Register (CPR) per 10,000 at 31st March is declining but remains above the national rate per 10,000

 The number of CPR registrations is similar to that of other Core Cities

There were 241 children subject to child protection registration on 31st March 2005, which is a rate of 44 per 10,000 children (reduced from 52/10,000 in 2003). The rate in 2005 is above the national rate of 23 per 10,000 children but similar to other Core Cities. Parental substance misuse, parental mental health problems and domestic violence are strongly associated with child protection registrations.

6 Mental Health Only Substance Misuse Only 4 Dom estic Violence Only 2 Other

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

15 Total no. on Child Protection Register

350 300 250 2004 200 2005 150 100 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Tyne and Wear CPR Figures December 2005

n 250.0 e r d l

i 200.0 h C

150.0 f o

r 100.0 e b

m 50.0 u

N 0.0 New cast Gateshe North South Sunderla Average le upon ad Tyneside Tyneside nd*

Number of Children on CPR per 1000 3.7 3.4 2.5 2.9 4.0 3.3 Total Number of Children on CPR 202 146 102 96 249 159

Core Cities CPR Figures December 2005

1200.0

1000.0 n e r d

l 800.0 i h C

o 600.0

m 400.0 u N 200.0

0.0 New c Birmin Bristol Liverp Manc Nottin Sheffi Avera Leeds astle gham UA ool hester gham eld ge

Number of Children on CPR per 1000 3.7 3.8 3.5 1.9 2.2 3.1 4.2 3.2 Total Number of Children on CPR 202 962 277 290 217 292 238 354

16 Audit Commission Nearest Neighbours CPR Figures December 2005

250.0 n e r d

l 200.0 i h C f o 150.0 r e b m 100.0 u N 50.0

0.0 Ne Bri Co De Ga Kin Liv Mid Not Ply Por Sal Sa Sh So Wo Av w c sto ve rby tes gst erp dle tin mo ts for nd effi uth lve era

Number of Children per 1000 on CPR 3.7 3.8 3.0 4.6 3.4 4.5 2.2 4.9 4.2 3.3 3.5 2.7 1.9 2.7 3.5 Total Number of Children on CPR 202 277 211 247 146 261 217 165 238 172 138 126 131 122 190

Numbers on the Child Protection register have safely reduced in Newcastle over the last two years as a result of de-registration of children and young people who were both Looked After and on the Child Protection Register and outcome focused planning and review.

Newcastle has above average numbers for Tyne and Wear, Core Cities and Audit Commission Figures.

Categories of Registration at 31st December 2005

Categories of Registration (%)

E m o t i o n a l S e x u a l 1 3 % 6 % P h y s i c a l 1 6 %

N e g l e c t 6 5 %

Neglect accounts for 62% of Child Protection Registrations and the majority of children between the ages of 0-10yrs who have to be Looked After by the Local

17 Authority. In 2006 the LSCB will lead on work to develop a strategy to reduce the prevalence of neglect in Newcastle.

No. of Re-registrations

10 2004 5 2005

The number of re-registrations in 2005 has not been of concern to the ACPC or LSCB. Re-registration of a number of children in one family can inflate the numbers drastically. Re-registrations are scrutinised by the Children’s Safeguarding Standards Unit.

Categories of re-registrations 04/05

9 Physical 23 Emotional Sexual 10 Neglect

Neglect as the main category for registration accounts for 49% of re-registrations.

18 No. on Child Protection Register for more than 2 years

10 2004

5 2005

The number of children and young people on the CP Register for more than 2 years in 2005 has not been of concern to the ACPC or LSCB. Individual cases are scrutinised by the Children’s Safeguarding Standards Unit.

Reviews within tim es cale (%)

1 0 2 1 0 0 9 8 9 6 9 4 9 2 9 0

2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 6

100% of Child Protection Reviews were held in timescale for 2005

19 Income and expenditure 2005

Cash contributions

Agency Amount % of budget

Carry forward balance £8,951.91 11.24%

Social Services £21,000 26.36%

Primary Care Trust £21,000 26.36%

Education £21,000 26.36%

Police £1,700 2.13%

CAFCASS £500 0.63%

Probation £500 0.63%

Connexions £5,000 6.28%

Total £79,651.91 100%

Expenditure

Management costs

- T&D Officer £ 46,420.22 62.04% - Overheads - +Admin support

Training & Dev £ 12,000.00 16.60%

Business plan £15,431.69 21.35%

Total £ 73,851.91 90.73%

Under spend (C/F) £5,800.00 9.27%

20 Appendix 1 Regional Procedures List

DOCUMENT NAME

1. Sudden Unexpected Child Death: The Kennedy Protocol

2. Missing Children and Young People and Pregnant Women

3. Cross Boundary Procedures

4. Allegations against Staff, Carers and Volunteers

5. Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced

6. Child Protection and Public Protection

7. Domestic Violence: Perpetrator Programmes and Associated Women’s Services: Principles and Minimum Standards of Practice

8. Deliberate Self-Harm and Suicide: Safeguarding Children and Young People

9. Sexual Exploitation, or Risk of Sexual Exploitation, through Prostitution: Safeguarding Children and Young People

10. Forced Marriage: Safeguarding Children and Young People

11. Shaken Baby Syndrome (Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury): Safeguarding Children and Young People

12. Domestic Abuse: Safeguarding Children and Young People

13. Child Abuse and the Internet: Safeguarding Children and Young People

14. Safeguarding Children and Young People from Abroad

15. Working with Children and Young People who Sexually Abuse

16. Safeguarding the Unborn Baby