Invitees:

Susan Cooper Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing;

Cllr Phil White, Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help;

Jacqueline Davies, Head of Adult Social Care;

Laura Kinsey, Head of Children’s Social Care;

Elizabeth Walton James, Group Manager Safeguarding and Quality Assurance;

Terri Warrilow, Adult Safeguarding and Quality Manager;

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing presented a report updating the Committee with information on Safeguarding, Regional Safeguarding Boards, Bridgend Corporate Safeguarding Policy, Child Sexual Exploitation, Deprivation of Liberty Standards, Domestic Abuse and Human Trafficking and Anti-slavery. She explained that Safeguarding was everyone’s business and it extended beyond the social services directorate.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing identified the main categories of abuse, the number of safeguarding referrals and the highest recorded category of abuse in 2017/2018 which was neglect followed by physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse and financial abuse.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing updated the committee on MASH, DOLS, adult practice reviews, child practice reviews, governance and Regional Safeguarding Boards. She explained that the question, how do we know that the people of Bridgend are safe, had to be asked. The Partnership Board had recently met to share ideas and scrutinise the Bridgend area in particular. There was a Corporate Safeguarding Policy and also a group of safeguarding champions. 

A Member asked where the authority was with prevention and in particular, the anti-slavery issue. The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing replied that the challenge was to establish a greater awareness of safeguarding issues and an understanding of thresholds. There were less people in managed care so people needed to know how to keep safe and, how to recognise the early signs. The MASH was an early intervention and advice service where different bodies could respond together quickly before issues escalated. The Head of Adult Social Care said there was a greater awareness with both staff and people in the community understanding what signs to look for and what to do. There had been presentations on both anti-slavery and CSE but more training was required.

DI Anthony Evans explained that there were specialist departments within the police which had spread into the communities and training and presentations were available online.

A Member referred to the police and fire service references within the report and asked to what extent the ambulance service was involved. The Head of Children’s Social Care explained that the ambulance service was on the Safeguarding Board and staff had access to training.

A Member asked if the number of Safeguarding Referrals and the number that met the threshold for Adult Protection Procedures were in line with the average for Wales. The Adult Safeguarding and Quality Manager confirmed that this was in line with the average. She added there was a good working relationship with partners and every referral had a response.

A Member asked for a definition of the thresholds. The Adult Safeguarding and Quality Manager agreed to send a definition in line with the legislation, to Members.  

A Member asked if there had been any changes to the way domestic abuse cases were reported and if the figures were accurate. DI Anthony Evans confirmed that the numbers were accurate and subject to a risk assessment. Each incident was investigated and a classification recorded. There were also ongoing risk assessments and they were all reviewed periodically. 

A Member asked what progress had been made regarding the move to Cwm Taff. The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing explained that it was a busy time and she had been in 3 meetings with Cwm Taff and 2 with Western Bay in the previous week. A transition board had been set up and Bridgend had representation on it. They had had one meeting to date and work streams were being looked at for TUPE, HR, IT and partnerships. They were concentrating on disaggregation, partnerships and what had to happen before 1 April 2020. The nature of business would remain the same however the infrastructure was important.

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help explained that the authority was in a unique position at the moment and that the transition was separate from transformation. Extra resources were necessary and negotiations were underway at the moment. There would be a fair and equitable distribution between health and social care.

A member asked if work undertaken now would continue under Cwm Taff.  She was advised that it would fall under a different Safeguarding Board but would continue as it was. DI Anthony Evans added that Bridgend did not have the same problems as Cardiff and Swansea and that Bridgend had been proactive in prevention and the drugs team in particular had been very successful.  

A Member complimented staff on the report and the range of invitees at the meeting and thanked them all for taking the time to attend and for their contributions to the report and discussions at the meeting.  He stated there was a corporate responsibility in relation to Safeguarding ranging from a child being picked up by a taxi to carers and sports activities. He asked how we could be sure corporate vigilance and focus was in place so that people were being protected. The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing explained that the safeguarding agenda had risen over the last few years and was now a regular item on the corporate management agenda. Corporate champions were raising awareness and for the fire service, police and a whole range of partners, this was a regular item on the agenda.

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help added that regular checks had to be put in place and was now part of the procurement process. This was a corporate responsibility and was regularly considered.

A Member asked if the different agencies were aware of a recent incident in Bridgend that was detailed in paragraph 4.23 of the report. Members were advised that the agencies were aware of the residents involved in the incident and when the review was complete the findings would be circulated to Members and available in the public domain. Ward Members would be advised before the release to allow then time to prepare for any enquiries.

A Member asked if there was a correlation between LAC, CSE and children on the at risk register. He also asked what Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) looked like in Bridgend. DI Anthony Evans confirmed there was a link between vulnerable groups. An established process had been put in place and there were experts working with foster parents etc. There was also a CSE strategy and periodic reviews. He was not confident that the CSE position was known in Bridgend but processes were in place to deal with it. There was a task force which had received international accolades and the service was proud of what had been achieved.  The Head of Children’s Social Care added that the risk was heightened when a child went missing. Numbers had recently gone down from 37 to 5 individuals being monitored by agencies via the CSE protocol. 

Members were pleased to hear how successful the Assia Suite was with over 1220 referrals last year. This was the domestic abuse provision based in the civic offices for the past year.

A Member asked if training was given to teachers to help them recognise children that were potential CSE victims. DI Anthony Evans explained that the police attended schools and offered training sessions to help people recognise the signs and report concerns. The Governing bodies were also given the training. Year 8 pupils were given the training as part of the curriculum and the training was well received by the pupils.

Members asked to receive information on the training that had been offered to licensed taxi drivers, including details on the take up of the training offered.  Officers confirmed they would share this with members.

A Member asked for further information regarding the trend compared to previous years and for the information in the report on the categories of abuse recorded for Adults at Risk, to be broken down into ward specific referrals. He also asked if there were any areas they should be concerned about. The Adult Safeguarding and Quality Manager explained that the statistics were categorised by WG and looked at age ranges and categories of abuse. They did not look at wards but there was nothing to stop that happening if required. 

Members asked for Safeguarding to remain on the Forward Work Programme but stated that the Committee should receive all relevant updates as they arose. 

Members recommended further training sessions be held on Child Sexual Exploitation and Anti-Slavery as members elected in the new administration had not yet received training in this area. They also recommended that when procuring new contracts such as school transport that safeguarding training should be made mandatory as part of the contract.

Members welcomed the support and training offered by the Western Bay Safeguarding Children’s Board and recommended the training be extended to offender management and offered to organisations such as the probation service.

A Member asked how many children had entered the care system and were placed on the at risk register that had been a victim of Child Sexual Exploitation

Recommendations

Members stated that it was good to see a range of invitees at the meeting and thanked them all for taking the time to attend and for their contributions to the report and discussions at the meeting.  Members were also pleased to hear how successful the Assia Suite had been, the domestic abuse provision based in the civic offices which had been in use over the past year.

Members recommended further training sessions be held on Child Sexual Exploitation and Anti-Slavery as members elected in the new administration had not yet received training in this area.

Members recommended that when procuring new contracts such as school transport that safeguarding training should be made mandatory as part of the contract.

Members welcomed the support and training offered by the Western Bay Safeguarding Children’s Board and recommended the training be extended to offender management and offered to organisations such as the probation service.

Further Information

Members asked to receive further information on the criteria threshold for Adult Protection Services.

Members asked to receive the information on the training that had been offered to licensed taxi drivers, including details on the take up of the training offered. 

Members asked how many children had entered the care system and were placed on the at risk register, had been a victim of Child Sexual Exploitation

Members asked for Safeguarding to remain on the Forward Work Programme but stated that the Committee should receive all relevant updates as they arose. 

Members asked for the information in the report on the categories of abuse recorded for Adults at Risk to be broken down into ward specific referrals.  

Members asked to receive the report, when available on the Concise Child Practice Review that BCBC were currently undertaking as detailed in Paragraph 4.23 of the report.