Constitution

Title Purpose Objectives Functions Membership Chair and Vice Chair Arrangements Quoracy Representation Accountability Financial Provision

Structure Business Planning Group Evaluation and Effectiveness Workstream Learning and Development Workstream Communication Workstream Serious Case Review Workstream Child Death Review Panel Working Together and Themed Practice Workstreams Review of Constitution Responsibilities of Board Members Expectations of Board Members

 

1. Title

The Board shall be known as the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board, hereafter known as the KSCB or the Board.

2. Purpose

The Children Act 2004 requires each Local Authority to establish a Local Safeguarding Children Boards involving local key partners as listed in section 13(3) of the Act. The Act further requires these (Board) partners co-operate in the establishment and operation of the Board.

Safeguarding requires:- "All agencies working with children, young people and their families take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks to children are minimised" and "where there are concerns about children and young people's welfare, all agencies take all appropriate action to address those concerns working to agreed policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies" Joint Chief Inspectors Report "Safeguarding Children" - Social Services Inspectorate et al 2002.

This document (The Constitution) details the arrangements by which Board partners will undertake their roles and responsibilities as identified within legislation and guidance.

3. Objectives

3.1 The core objectives of the KSCB are set out in Section 14 (1) of the Children Act 2004 as follows:

• to coordinate what is done by each person or body represented on the Board for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the area of the authority
• to ensure what is done by each person or body for that purpose

3.2 It has a particular focus on the staying safe outcome and seeks to ensure all children and young people in Kirklees are protected from physical or mental injury or abuse, neglect, maltreatment, sexual abuse or exploitation or harm caused by witnessing violence or abuse of another.

3.3 The core objective of the KSCB is to co-ordinate work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to ensure the effectiveness of that work.

4. Functions

4.1 The core functions of the Board are set out in the Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 2005. The objectives of the KSCB will be pursued through the following functions:-

(i) Developing policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. These will identify actions to be taken where there are concerns about a child's safety or welfare including agreed inter-agency procedures for section 47 enquiries and protocols on key issues of concern such as children abused through prostitution, living in domestic violence etc

(ii) Determining and maintaining clear thresholds and processes and an understanding of these across Board members and local partners to ensure effective joint working and efficient use of resources.

(iii) Ensuring that single and multi-agency training is provided on safeguarding and promoting welfare and that this meets the required standard and is appropriate to the needs of relevant staff.

4.2 Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of Board members and the Local Authority in undertaking their duties under section 11 Children Act 2004 or section 175 or 117 of the Education Act 2002. This requires Board members have in place effective arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. These include:-

• Senior Management Commitment
• Statement of responsibility
• Clear lines of accountability
• Service development
• Staff training
• Safer recruitment
• Effective inter agency working
• Information Sharing
• Working with individual children
• Monitoring and inspection arrangements

4.3 Participate in planning and commissioning of children's services to ensure that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is a primary consideration. This will include contributing to the Children and Young People Plan and establishing an effective relationship with the Local Public Service Board.

4.4 Communicating within Kirklees the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and raise awareness of how this can be achieved. This will include wherever possible consulting with children and young people and families ensuring their views are taken into account in planning and delivering services.

4.5 Collecting and analysing information about the deaths of children within Kirklees and for ensuring that there is a co-ordinated response to an unexpected death of a child.

4.6 Undertaking Serious Case Reviews where a child has died or has been seriously harmed in circumstances where abuse or neglect is known or suspected and advising on lessons that can be learned.

4.7 Co-operating with neighbouring children's services authorities and their Board partners.

4.8 Ensuring effective co-ordination and implementation of measures to strengthen private fostering notification arrangements.

4.9 Co-operating with local Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

4.10 The Board may engage in other activities as identified and agreed as part of wider Children's Trust planning and by Board members.

4.11 The Board will produce a three year Business Plan that fits within the framework and priorities of the Children and Young People Plan.

4.12 The Board will produce an annual report that will set out the Board's work plan for that year and review the work of the previous year.

5. Membership

5.1 The Board shall be composed of senior officers nominated by each member agency. Members representing individual agencies must have sufficient delegated authority to effectively represent their agency and to make decisions on their agency's behalf. They must have access to those responsible for making the decision for which they do not have delegated authority. The following agencies and organisations must ensure appropriate membership:

• Kirklees Metropolitan Council
• West Yorkshire Police
• West Yorkshire Probation Board
• Kirklees Primary Care Trust
• South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust
• Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Trust
• Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Youth Offending Team
• Connexions
• CAFCASS
• NSPCC
• Safeguarding Children Voluntary Action Network

5.2 The following will be members in an advisory capacity:

• KSCB manager
• Legal services

6. Chair and Vice Chair

6.1 The chair of KSCB will be the Director of Children's Services or an independent person who will be responsible for ensuring the Board works effectively and independently.

6.2 The vice chair shall be nominated and appointed by the KSCB and shall not be a representative of the same agency as that of the chair

6.3 The vice chair shall be appointed for a period of three years, after which time the KSCB shall seek alternative nominations.

7. Arrangements

7.1 KSCB will meet every three months. Additional meetings may be convened if required by the Chair.

8. Quoracy

8.1 A quorum of the KSCB shall be eight members representing four separate agencies, always including the chair or vice chair. If at any time there is not a quorum present, the meeting shall not proceed.

9. Representation

9.1 Board members will be senior managers who will:

• speak for their organisation
• commit the organisation to policy and practice matters
• hold their organisation to account.

9.2 Members will have a strategic role in relation to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children within their organisation.

9.3 Members will undertake their responsibilities in accordance with the statement of roles and responsibilities and will sign the membership agreement.

9.4 Agencies must ensure that members have appropriate resources to undertake their role and responsibilities.

10. Accountability

10.1 The Board will have a separate identity and be independent from children's services. The Board will form a view of the quality of local activity, challenge organisations when necessary and have an independent voice.

10.2 The Board will be consulted on issues that affect safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the development of the Children & Young People Plan.

10.3 The Safeguarding Children Board will present a report to the LPSB every six months including the Board's annual report and the LPSB will present a report to the KSCB every six months outlining overall progress with the Stay Safe Outcome of the Children and Young People Plan.

11. Financial Provision

11.1 To be effective, significant input of time, commitment and resources are needed from member agencies.

11.2 The KSCB member agencies will contribute annually at an agreed level, having regard to the differing size, resources and responsibilities of each agency.

11.3 The financial year will run from 1^st April to the 31^st March each year.

11.4 Kirklees Metropolitan Council will administer the budget on behalf of the Board.

11.5 The Safeguarding Manager will have the authority to act as the Board's budget holder for the authorisation of payments.

11.6 Members may in addition be required to provide resources such as staffing and accommodation.

12. Structure

12.1 The KSCB will set up a number of workstreams or groups to support the work of the Board these will consist of:-

12.2. Business Planning Group

Terms of Reference

12.2.1 It is the role of the Business Planning Group to ensure the effective delivery of the work of the KSCB.

12.2.2 The Business Planning Group will ensure the KSCB is engaged with the strategic planning of all children in Kirklees by ensuring appropriate mechanisms for communication with the Local Public Service Boards and other Business Planning processes.

12.2.3 The Business Planning Group will:

• Develop and monitor the Business Plan.
• Produce 6 monthly updates on the Business plan in December and March to be received by the Board; an Annual Report will be produced for June.
• Prepare an annual report highlighting work plan progress and any problems workstreams may have encountered with implementing actions.
• Monitor the budget.
• Monitor local and national developments and make recommendations on required actions.
• Manage the relationships between the workstreams.
• Commission focused working groups from West Yorkshire Procedures Group.
• Receive and comment on reports from the workstream chairs who must provide an update highlighting work plan progress and any problems encountered with implementing actions.
• Maintain strategic links with Local Public Service Boards and other business planning processes. 

Membership

12.2.4 The Business Planning Group is a small group of Board members and will include a representative from:

• Children and Young People Service
• Health
• Probation
• Police
• 1 other agency
• Safeguarding Children Manger

12.2.5 The Business Planning Group will undertake the day to day business of the Board. Each member will represent one or more workstreams by providing a link through the workstream chair

12.3 Evaluation & Effectiveness Workstream

12.3.1 Terms of Reference

• Contribute to and work in accordance to the Board's Business Plan.
• Provide update reports to the Business Planning Group highlighting work plan progress and any problems encountered with implementing actions.
• Monitor member agencies effectiveness in terms of their work to safeguard and promote welfare of children and young people.
• Establish a framework of benchmarks, standards and indicators against which agencies can self evaluate, audit and report.
• Monitor compliance to the Section11 requirements of the Children Act 2004.
• Evaluate management and performance information and ensure that diversity is integral.
• Achieve consistently high standards in safeguarding through evaluation and promoting continuous improvement.

Membership

12.3.2 This workstream will comprise of Board members or representatives nominated by Board members who have sufficient knowledge and skills to set, monitor and audit quality standards and who have these responsibilities within their organisation.

12.3.3 Membership must include the Manager of Child Protection & Review, and as a minimum representatives from Children and Young People Service, Police, Health, Probation and the Safeguarding Manager.

12.3.4 This group will be chaired by a Board member or a senior manager nominated on their behalf.

12.4 Learning and Development Workstream

12.4.1 Terms of Reference

• Contribute to and work in accordance with the Board's Business Plan.
• Provide update reports to the Business Planning Group highlighting work plan progress and problems encountered with implementing actions.
• Identify inter-agency child protection training and learning needs of professionals within member agencies.
• Develop a training strategy and programme to meet these needs. Programmes will be included within an annual training plan. The training programme developed should be in accordance with local priorities, national standards and legislation.
• Assist in the development, delivery and commissioning of a wide range of training events. Ensure that equality and diversity issues are an integral part of all learning and development activities.
• Evaluate training to ensure that identified objectives are an integral part of all training and development activities. Evaluate the impact of training on individual and service development. Review and update training programmes in the light of research and practice experience.
• Determine the budget to undertake the training plan.
• Provide an annual report to the Board.

Membership

12.4.2 The workstream shall be composed of representatives from the member agencies who have a responsibility for training within their agency.

12.4.3 As a minimum these will include the Named Nurses, the KSCB Learning and Development Officers, Police, Children's Social Care, Early Years, Learning and the Voluntary Sector.

12.4.4 This workstream will be chaired by a Board member or a senior manager nominated on their behalf.

12.5 Communication Workstream

12.5.1 Terms of Reference

• Contribute to and work in accordance with the Board's Business Plan.
• Provide update reports to BPG highlighting work plan progress and problems encountered with implementing actions.
• Raise awareness of the need to safeguard children and promote their welfare by ensuring that all people living and working in Kirklees understand how the arrangements for safeguarding work and how they can contribute to these objectives.
• Develop a communication, marketing and media strategy in line with freedom of information.
• Ensure effective communication of the safeguarding responsibilities to the public and professional community.
• Ensure children and young people know whom they contact when they have concerns about their own safety and welfare.
• Consult with children, young people, parents and carers, ensuring their views and opinions are taken into account when planning and delivering safeguarding and welfare services and that mechanisms are in place for feeding back information and answers to them.
• Offer guidance on wider strategic links, and communicate the progress of the Business plan.

Membership

12.5.2 This workstream will comprise of representatives nominated by Board members who have sufficient knowledge and skills to develop a communication, marketing and media strategy communicating safeguarding responsibilities to the public and professional community including children and young people. The Safeguarding Children Board Administrator will be a member of this group.

12.5.3 This workstream will be chaired by a Board member or a senior manager nominated on their behalf.

12.6 Serious Case Review Workstream

12.6.1 Terms of Reference

• Contribute to and work in accordance with the Board's Business Plan.
• Provide update reports to the Business Planning Group highlighting work plan progress and problems encountered with implementing actions.
• To be responsible for fulfilling the statutory duty of Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board in respect of Serious Case Reviews, and to commission Serious Case Reviews.
• Monitor implementation of recommendations from Serious Case Reviews.
• To ensure that any lessons from cases are understood and acted upon.
• To consider recommendations from major national reviews and implement any necessary recommendations and to produce briefing papers for the Board identifying practice and procedural implications.
• To work closely with Evaluation & Effectiveness, Training and Development and Themed Practice Workstreams to ensure that Serious Case Review recommendations are fully implemented and agencies are able to evidence that lessons are learnt.

Membership

12.6.2 The workstream shall be composed of members of the Board which will include as a minimum the Designated Doctor, Designated Nurse, Safeguarding Manager, Police and a representative from Children's Social Care.

12.6.3 This group will be chaired by a Board member.

12.7 Child Death Review Panel

12.7.1 Terms of Reference

• Contribute to and work in accordance with the Board's Business Plan.
• Provide update reports to the Business Planning Group highlighting work plan progress and problems encountered with implementing actions.
• Collect and collate agreed minimum data set and, where relevant, seeking information from professionals and family members.
• Evaluate the routinely collected data on the deaths of all children, and identify lessons to be learnt or issues of concern with a particular focus on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
• Where necessary evaluate specific cases in depth.
• Monitor the appropriateness of the responses of professionals to an unexpected death of a child, reviewing the reports produced by the rapid response team on each unexpected death of a child.
• Refer any deaths where, on evaluating the available information, the Panel considers there may be grounds to undertake further enquiries, investigations or a Serious Case Review to the Chair of the Board and explore why this had not previously been recognised.
• Identify any public health issues and consider, with the Director of Public Health, how best to address these and their implications for both the provision of services and for training.

12.7.2 The Panel shall be composed of Board members or nominated representatives and will include as a minimum the Director of Public Health or Senior Representative, Coroner's Officer, Consultant Paediatrician (Unexpected Deaths), Children's Social Care, Police, Designated Nurse, Midwifery or Children's Lead for Dewsbury and Huddersfield Acute Trusts, Safeguarding Children Manager and the Child Death Review Coordinator

12.7.3 This Panel will be chaired by a Board member or a senior manager nominated on their behalf.

12.8 Working Together and Themed Practice Workstreams

(Voluntary Groups, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health and Substance Misuse)

12.8.1 Terms of Reference

• Contribute to and work in accordance with the Board's Business Plan.
• Provide update reports to the Business Planning Group highlighting work plan progress and problems encountered with implementing actions.
• Provide a consultation forum to ensure that safeguarding children is embedded within the practice areas of the workstreams.
• Ensure safeguarding and child protection practice in Kirklees accords with the Working Together Guidance and that all new policies and procedures are implemented locally.
• Audit and evaluate how well services work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, for example through practice audits within the standards as defined by the Evaluation & Effectiveness Workstream.
• Undertake practice development activities with support of the Learning and Development Officer.
• To identify training requirements and ensure these are communicated to the Learning and Development Workstream.

12.8.2 These workstreams shall be composed of managers nominated by each of the member agencies and any other relevant local agency or organisation that relates to the themed workstream.

12.8.3 The Themed Workstreams will nominate a Chair from within the Group.

12.8.4 The Working Together Workstream will be chaired by a Board member or a senior manager nominated on their behalf. The chair of the Workstream will be responsible for liaising with the Chairs of the Themed Workstreams and reporting to the Business Planning Group.

12.8.5 The KSCB may determine other working groups on a short-term basis to carry our specific tasks.

13. Review of constitution

13.1 The KSCB constitution will be reviewed annually by the Business Planning Group and any suggested amendments will be put to the next KSCB meeting.

14. Responsibilities of Board Members

14.1 It is each member's responsibility and duty to contribute to steering the strategic direction of the Board and to ensure implementation of both the Working Together Guidance and Standard 5 of the National Service Framework.

14.2 The Board is responsible for co-ordinating local agencies' arrangements and has a collective responsibility for ensuring that all agencies working with children in Kirklees undertake their safeguarding duties and responsibilities:

• To focus agency activity on delivering improved outcomes for children in the priorities outlined in the Children and Young People Plan.
• To ensure the delivery of safeguarding arrangements through the implementation of the Business Plan.

15. Expectations of Kirklees Safeguarding Board Members

15.1 Board Members will:

• Be the named safeguarding champion for their agency for all matters relating to the Safeguarding Children Board.
• Take a lead role for safeguarding children within the representing agency/professional grouping and lead on work as required by the Board.
• Ensure that Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 is complied with within their agency.
• All members will share the responsibility of ensuring that the Board's Business Plan is delivered.
• Chair a workstream or identify a senior manager within your organisation who has the skill and abilities to chair such a meeting.
• Ensure appropriate representation on the workstreams as appropriate to your organisation.
• Be responsible for the agency budget contribution to the KSCB and ensure that the allocated agency resources, financial and human, are utilised to meet the Board's objectives and any shortfalls are brought to the attention of the Board and agency.
• Act as a channel of communication between their agency and the Board.
• Attend and support Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board promotional and other events.
• Contribute to and examine regular updates, data and analysis on individual agency and joint agency safeguarding children performance indicators.
• Ensure as part of the Serious Case Review process that management reviews are completed fully within the set timescales.

15.2 Board Members will be required to sign a membership agreement agreeing to comply with the KSCB membership expectations

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