Issue details

Purpose of Report:      To provide an overview of local safeguarding children arrangements.

In a national climate of heightened public awareness and concern about child protection issues the report identifies a significant increase in referrals locally to childrens social care. Work to safely address the consequent pressures on these services is described in the context of a programme of continuous improvement. The role and involvement of partner agencies in this process is also considered. The report will include an update on York’s Local Safeguarding Children Board developments. The report also provides a commentary on corporate parenting developments and describes progress against the strategy to safely reduce the number of children who need to become looked after in York.

Members will be asked to:
-endorse the strategy to address the pressures at the front door of childrens social care
-note the development work to strengthen the Local Safeguarding Children Board
- note the progress of the work to safely reduce the Looked After Population in York

In view of the recent arrival of a newly appointed Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and a new Director of Childrens Services this overview report has been withdrawn and will be reconsidered in the Autumn.