Agenda item

Report of the Independent Chair of The City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Board.

Members received a report of the Independent Chair of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Board (CHSCB) and noted that the Annual Report for 2017/18 was currently embargoed, subject to finalisation and publication to the CHSCB web site.  The Town Clerk had emailed the draft to Members separately, noting this caveat. 

The Chair highlighted the key points from the report and Members noted that the data would evidence confident and competent staff; a very  pro-active safeguarding provision and exemplary early interventions.  Members also noted that the team were doing excellent work with partners on suicide prevention.  The Chair thanked the City of London Corporation for funding the Safeguarding Children Conference, which had focussed on contextualising safeguarding issues.  There were further commendations for strong leadership, which encouraged professional curiosity and promoted challenge.  Members were reminded of the City Corporation’s 2016 Outstanding Ofsted rating for leadership and there was strong evidence of this continuing.

The Independent Chair explained that the Board was carrying 3 vacancies but recruitment had been suspended pending deliberations as to the structure of the new Board.  Members noted that, as the current Board was working very well, there were no plans to alter its structure any more than was necessary. Members would receive a report to their next meeting as to how this might be accomplished. 

RESOLVED, that – the draft report be noted, subject to receipt of the final version which would be published on the CHSCB website.