7 Minute Briefing – Annual review of the Children’s Multi-Agency Resilience and Safeguarding Arrangements 2023/24
1. Background
North Lincolnshire Children’s MARS Board hold a range of scrutiny events across different themes as part of our Scrutiny and Assurance Framework. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) guidance highlights the need for Independent Scrutiny of the Safeguarding Partnership.
The scrutiny of the Children’s MARS arrangements in North Lincolnshire is a comprehensive process, completed annually, involving multiple stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people.
2. Purpose
Independent Scrutiny provides assurance into the effectiveness of the local arrangements for safeguarding children, and ensures that the relevant guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, is being followed.
It also identifies any areas of key strengths, good practice and areas for consideration by the Children’s Multi-Agency Resilience and Safeguarding Board.
3. Summary of Report
The Independent Scrutiny Officer completing the report highlighted:
• The Children’s MARS Board sets the tone and culture across the partnership. Respectful challenge is accepted as normal and constructive and is intended to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families.
• The difference between the levels, from the Children’s MARS Board to the multi-agency front line is understood, and creative approaches are used to communicate across agencies and levels
• It was clear throughout scrutiny that many changes required for the new Working Together 2023 protocol had already been embedded in practice, however, the key officers and members of the Children’s MARS Board were not complacent and highly aware that there was further work and actions required to fully implement Working Together 2023 by December 2024
• The Children’s MARS Board arrangements in North Lincolnshire are designed to be inclusive and comprehensive, ensuring that they are owned by the wider workforce and not confined within the partnership
4. Areas for Consideration
The Independent Scrutiny Officer suggested the following for consideration:
• Tool to improve functionality of cMARS website
• Review the provision of data to the Board and Subgroups that provide insights into trends, patterns, and performance metrics
• The S175 and S157 audit may be strengthened by adding questions that relate to the Shine a Light areas of focus which include Domestic Violence
• Consider strengthening the presence of the education sector
• Consider a member and deputy of the voluntary, charity, social enterprise (VCSE) be represented at Children’s MARS strategic discussions
• Complete the young person-led initiative to provide a visual safety sticker that a service, shop or public house is a safe place to seek support from in the community
• Establish a cross-board joint meeting of all Strategic and Partnership Groups and Boards to discuss duplication
• VCSE offer and how the relationship with the VCSE should be revisited and reignited
• Gain full assurance as to the quality of early help planning, practice and reviewing, conduct a systems-wide Early Help Review using areas of focus identified
• Challenge at the Chair level if necessary and escalate concerns about the date, agenda and chairing arrangements for the Cross-Board Development Session with some urgency
• Consider reflections from schools that further training and development are required to support children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse or violence
• Children’s social care to be mindful when there are staffing changes to ensure new social workers or support workers are familiar with the young person’s life story
• Provide training opportunities to key members of the workforce who may be requested to provide information to both any Rapid Review and to a Lead Reviewer in cases that meet the criteria for a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review
5. Next Steps
Embed the 13 considerations from the report into an implementation document and disseminate to the appropriate lead. Updates and progress to be overseen by the cMARS Board.
6. Independent Scrutiny Officer Summary
“The Children’s MARS Board sets the tone and culture across the partnership. Respectful challenge is accepted as normal and constructive and is intended to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families. The difference between the levels, from the Children’s MARS Board to the multi-agency front line is understood, and creative approaches are used to communicate across agencies and levels. The move to locate teams within communities offers an increased opportunity to understand the lived experience of children and families and to make a positive impact on their safety and well-being.”