Issue - meetings

The Support and Safeguarding Service was launched on the 2nd October 2017, alongside a new single front door to Wiltshire Families and Children’s Service, marking the completion of phase 1 of the Children’s Services Integration Project. 

A report was presented to this committee on 14th March 2017 outlined the service aims and objectives, following this an update was requested following the completion of phase 1. A report is included in this agenda for the Children’s Select Committee which provides an overview of the first 6 months of operation.

The committee is asked to discuss and comment on the update regarding the progress made to date and to consider requesting a further progress update in six months’ time (marking 12 months since launch of the new service).

Consideration was given to a report by the Director, Family & Children’s Services, which provided an update on the transformation of the Children & Families Service. 

It was noted that the Support & Safeguarding Service was launched on 2 October 2017, alongside a new single point of entry to Wiltshire Children & Families Service, thus marking the completion of phase 1 of the Children’s Services Integration Project. The report thus provided an overview of the first six months of operation as requested by this Committee in March 2017.

The service aims and objectives were outlined in a report considered by this Committee on 14 March 2017 and it was noted that the Early Help Service and Safeguarding and Assessment Service and their associated teams, including the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub – MASH were directly affected by Phase 1 of the project.  The principle aim was to be able to intervene early, when this was necessary, with a family focused approach and minimising the number of officers working with a family and avoiding duplication.    Co-location with other services and partners had been pursued persistently over the previous months resulting in greater integrated working with domestic abuse, drug and alcohol and child and adolescent mental health teams.  This had resulted in more flexible and prompter working with families.

It was explained that mechanisms for performance management had been maintained and extended to cover this support activity. This included, amongst other things, fortnightly Performance and Outcomes Group meetings, Support & Safeguarding Managers meetings, Annual Service Reviews and a new overarching whole service Performance and Outcomes Board.

During discussion, Members welcomed the changes that had been made so far but did express some concern at the functioning of the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs which appeared to be not functioning efficiently in some areas.  It was explained that there were 19 of these Hubs strategically placed around Wiltshire and it was true that some were more successful than others at present.  

Resolved:

(1)          To note the progress made by the Family and Children’s Transformation Project as outlined in the report.

(2)          To request a further progress update in six months to mark one year since the launch of the new service and to include an update on the functioning of MASH.