| The Business and Function of the TSCB |
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Tameside Safeguarding Children Board – terms of reference1. TSCB – Function & Purpose Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children requires effective co-ordination in all local authority areas. For this reason the Children Act 2004 required Local Authorities to each establish a Local Safeguarding Children Board for their area. Chapter 3 of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) details the role, functions and responsibilities of Local Safeguarding Children Boards. Tameside Safeguarding Children Board (TSCB) is therefore a statutory body with powers defined in the Children Act 2004 and, in the context of the Strategic partnership arrangements in Tameside, TSCB will take all necessary steps to exercise its statutory role effectively. This is summed up as a role of scrutiny and challenge especially with reference to the ‘Staying Safe’ outcome of the government’s Every Child Matters policy. The core objectives of the LSCB are set out in s14(1) of the Children Act 2004 as follows:
The Tameside Safeguarding Children Board will meet these objectives by:-
2. TSCB – Scope of the role The scope of the SCB role includes safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in three broad areas of activity:
3. TSCB – Accountability & Membership Responsibilities TSCB has a pivotal role in co-ordinating and ensuring the effectiveness of local individuals’ and organisations’ work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, but is not accountable for their operational work. Guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) makes clear that the Director of Children’s Services (DCS) (Tameside MBC) will be held to account for the effective working of the safeguarding children board by their Chief Executive and challenged where appropriate by their Lead Member. The Chief Executive of Tameside Council is responsible for ensuring that DCSs are performing their duties effectively including ensuring that the relationship between the TSCB and the Tameside Children’s Trust is working effectively. Each Board Member retains their own existing lines of accountability for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children within the organisation. TSCB does not have a power to direct other organisations. However Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2010 sets out how the individual members of the TSCB have a duty as members to contribute to the effective work of the TSCB. This can be, for example, in making the TSCB’s assessment of performance as objective as possible, and in recommending or deciding upon the necessary steps to put right any problems. This should take precedence, if necessary, over their role as a representative of their organisation. This terms of reference is the written statement of the roles and responsibilities of members. In 2007, the government published Statutory guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 and this sets out the basis for this duty. Additionally the government guidance The Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Member for Children’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services (2009) says that the LSCB will be responsible for challenging every member of the Children’s Trust Board on their success in ensuring that children and young people are kept safe. Chair and Vice-Chair Appointments of the Chair and Vice-Chair shall be reviewed biennially by the Board, or earlier if members agree. It is the responsibility of the Local Authority, after consultation with Board members, to appoint the Chair. Where the Chair is not a senior officer from the Local Authority, they will be accountable to the Local Authority via the Director Children’s Services for the effectiveness of their work as the Board Chair. The Chair will have a crucial role in making certain the Board functions effectively and independently. They should act objectively and distinguish the role of Chair from any ‘day job’, recording any potential conflicts of interest. The Vice-Chair of ‘The Board’ will be appointed after consultation with Board members. The Vice-Chair will deputise for the Chair in their absence. Members All agencies should recognise the importance of securing effective co-operation by nominating an appropriately senior officer to serve the Board. For the strategic Board this should be an officer at 1st or 2nd tier and for the Executive at 2nd or 3rd tier Nominations for membership of the Board should be made in writing, to the Chair of the Board. Membership of the Board will be reviewed every two years. Individual members of constituent agencies may be replaced by their agency during the course of the two year cycle. Written notice should be sent to the Chair of the Board. There is no limit to how long a named individual may represent his/her agency on the Board. An additional member from a constituent agency may be approved by a meeting of the Board. In exceptional circumstances if a member is unable to attend a particular meeting, their named deputy may attend in their place. Whenever possible the Chair should be advised of the reason for the substitution before the meeting. 4. Decision making The Board, in all situations, will seek to reach decisions by consensus as this best reflects and encourages the underlying principles of inter-agency practice. In situations where a consensus cannot be reached, each member shall have a vote. Where the vote is split, the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. No decisions shall be taken at a meeting unless one half plus one of the Board membership is present at the meeting. 5. Resources To function effectively the Board has to be supported by its member agencies with an adequate and reliable resource to achieve the objectives identified in the Board’s Annual Business Plan. The resources to support the Board will be agreed locally between members, with a shared responsibility for providing the resources to support the work of the Board. It will be the duty of the members to determine the Annual Budget. Financial resources for the Board should be committed in advance into a pooled budget, in line with the financial year. Each January contributing member agencies will be required to confirm their contribution for the following financial year. Where a specific contribution has been established, each subsequent contribution should be uplifted in line with inflation. This does not prevent the Board from seeking increases over and above the rate of inflation from members in order to deliver on its business plan. The pooled budget will be held in a separate account and administered by Local Authority Children’s Services, Finance Section. Budget reports will be made available quarterly to the Board. Decisions regarding the deployment of the Board’s budget and resources shall be agreed in broad terms by Board members and in line with the Annual Business Plan and outlined at the start of the financial year. Day to day decisions regarding expenditure shall be devolved to the TSCB Development Manager in consultation with his/her line manger. Members will commit to undertake an annual resource audit, which will identify and collate the financial and ‘in kind’ contributions from each organisation to the successful functioning of the Board. 6. Equality and Participation Statement Children from all cultures are subject to abuse and neglect. All children have a right to grow up safe from harm. In order to make sensitive and informed professional judgements about a child’s needs, and parents’ capacity to respond to their child’s needs, it is important that members and practitioners are sensitive to differing family patterns and lifestyles and to child rearing patterns that vary across different racial, ethnic and cultural groups. Fairness and lack of discrimination are central to the work of the TSCB. The TSCB takes very seriously the responsibility to make sure that all safeguarding arrangements and activities do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion/ belief or age. The TSCB commits itself to opposing discrimination in all instances where such considerations have no material bearing on the needs of any particular child, and of actively promoting anti-discriminatory practice in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in Tameside. Members and Practitioners should be aware of the broader social factors that discriminate against black and minority ethnic people. Working in a multi-racial and multi-cultural society requires practitioners and organisations to be committed to equality in meeting the needs of all children and families, and to understand the effects of racial harassment, racial discrimination and institutional racism, as well as cultural misunderstanding or misinterpretation. The Board will actively promote partnership with parents and carers amongst its member agencies. Families have a unique role and importance in the lives of children, and knowledge about their children. Well founded decisions by agencies must draw on that relationship and knowledge wherever possible. 7. TSCB – Strategic Board In pursuit of the function and purpose set out above, the Board and its members will
Membership In order to achieve the above it is necessary to have the 1st or 2nd tier officers from each relevant organisation at Board level as follows: TSCB Independent Chair Executive Director, Clinical Services (TSCB vice chair), Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, Tameside Council Director, TMBC Services for Children & Young People Executive Director, TMBC Community Services Assistant Executive Director, Greater Manchester Probation Service Head Teacher representative Chief Operating Officer, Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Trust Children’s Service Manager, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Director of Operations, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive of Better Choices (Tameside Connexions) Chief Executive, Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition (T3SC) Service Manager, CAFCASS Chief Superintendent, GM Police, Tameside Division Advisers to the board: Designated Nurse Child Protection Designated Doctor Child Protection Assistant Executive Director, Specialist Services and Safeguarding In attendance as required: Development Manager, TSCB Training Organiser, TSCB Administrator, TSCB For each nominated representative a named deputy will also be identified to attend in exceptional circumstances. This will ensure continuity of agency engagement in the work of the TSCB. Responsibilities 1. Set the Vision, Strategy, and Policy Direction for TSCB. 2. Set the Business Plan for TSCB and agree the necessary resource to implement. 3. Report to Tameside Strategic Partnership and Children’s Trust on the business of the TSCB, influence the commissioning of services and providing an Annual Report for public dissemination. 4. Ensure that the ‘Scrutiny & Challenge’ function of the safeguarding children board is effectively discharged. 5. Ensure that the Board has appropriate information to identify strengths and areas for improvement in respect of safeguarding through a robust quality assurance framework and an effective performance management programme. 6. Receive reports from TSCB Executive on the work of the operational implementation groups, ensuring that activity and work plans are consistent with strategic objectives and that barriers to implementation are removed. 7. Receive and agree recommendations from Serious Case Reviews and ensure implementation. Determine issues in relation to Disclosure and Publication of SCR documentation. 8. Decide on matters which the Board should delegate to operational implementation groups for further discussion/advice/resolution. 9. Decide on matters which the Board should refer to other partnerships and agencies in Tameside and beyond. 10. Authorise media communications. 11. Receive recommendations from the Executive about agendas, priorities and progress of objectives. 12. Ensure that the TSCB operates effectively, efficiently and economically. Practical Arrangements The TSCB Board will meet four times per year. The TSCB Board will be chaired by an Independent Chair who will be responsible for the Board agenda in liaison with the TSCB Executive. The TSCB Board will be supported by the Tameside Safeguarding Children Board Administrator. Minutes of the TSCB Board will be presented to Tameside Strategic Partnership. Quoracy The quorum required for decision making of the TSCB Board will consist of:
8. TSCB – Executive Purpose To oversee the delivery of the Boards strategic plans co-ordinating the work of the Implementation Groups (IG) and advising on the on-going agenda for the board in line with TSCB Business Plan . Membership TSCB Independent Chair Named doctor for Pennine Care NHS foundation Trust Named Nurse Child Protection, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust GP representative Named Nurse Child Protection, Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Named Doctor Child Protection, Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Public Health Consultant, Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Associate Director, Provider Services, Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Assistant Executive Director, TMBC Services for Children & Young People Assistant Executive Director, TMBC Services for Adults Assistant Executive Director, TMBC Inclusive Services Service Unit Manager, TMBC Children’s Social Work NSPCC Local Children's Services Manager Project Manager, New Charter Housing Association Head of Service, Tameside Youth Offending Service Acute Services Manager, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Tameside Connexions Manager Superintendent, GM Police Designated Doctor Child Protection Head of Community Safety, TMBC Strengthening Communities Coordinator, TMBC Principal, Tameside College – post-16 sector representative Adviser to the Executive Service Unit Manager, TMBC Safeguarding Unit In attendance as required: Development Manager, TSCB Training Organiser, TSCB Administrator, TSCB For each nominated representative a named deputy will also be identified to attend in exceptional circumstances. This will ensure continuity of agency engagement in the work of the TSCB. Responsibilities:
Operational Arrangements The TSCB Executive will meet every six weeks. The TSCB Executive will be supported by the Tameside Safeguarding Children Board Administrator. Minutes of the Executive will be presented to the Strategic Board with minutes of the IGs. Quoracy The quorum required for decision making of the TSCB Executive Board will consist of:
Additionally, no decisions shall be taken at a meeting unless one half plus one of the Board membership is present at the meeting. 9. TSCB – Implementation Groups Purpose TSCB Implementation Groups (IGs) are standing Groups (formerly known as committees) and will implement Board’s business plan and support the Board in meeting the objectives, purpose and function of TSCB. Operational Arrangements The IGs will meet at least once every three months. However the chair of and the Performance Monitoring & Quality Assurance IG will review the frequency of meeting for those groups with an expectation that this will be increased to meeting at least once every 2 months and possibly more frequently. The IGs will be supported by the TSCB Development Manager, Training Organiser and Administrator. Short Life Working Groups or Task & Finish groups will be mandated by either the TSCB Executive or IGs which will set objectives and timescales for their work. Quoracy The quorum required for decision making of IGs will consist of half the membership plus either the chair or vice chair. Attendance is expected to be at least 80% and will be recorded for the annual report. Accountability The IG’s are accountable through their Chairs to the TSCB Executive. Short Life Working/Task & Finish Groups will be accountable through their Chairs to the TSCB Executive or the relevant Implementation Group. 9a. TSCB – Policy & Procedure IG Purpose Develop policies, procedures, local protocols and guidance relating to specific areas of multi-disciplinary safeguarding practice and disseminate information about the purpose, function and activities of TSCB to a wide audience including practitioners and the general public in Tameside. Membership Chair – Project Manager, New Charter Housing Association; Social Housing representative Designated Nurse Child Protection Development Manager TSCB Consultant Paediatrician Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Trust Detective Inspector GMP Education Welfare Officer TSCB Training Officer Service Unit Manager, TMBC Children’s Social Work Head of Youth Offending Service Service Unit Manager Children's Safeguarding Unit Responsibilities
9b. TSCB – Training & Development IG Purpose To ensure that learning and development are regarded as central to the safeguarding of children in Tameside. This purpose will extend to all practitioners working with children and additionally to members of the general public in Tameside in terms of supporting the TSCB Policy & procedures IG in raising awareness that safeguarding is everyone’s business. Membership Chair – Tameside Connexions Manager TSCB Training Organiser TSCB Development Manager Child Protection Adviser, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Children's Centres Area Manager Named Doctor Child Protection Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Named Nurse Child Protection, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Project Manager, New Charter Housing Association Team Manager, TMBC Children’s Social Care Senior Education Welfare Officer TSCB Training Officer CAMHS Senior Mental Health Practitioner Senior Probation Officer Detective Inspector, GMP Training Organiser, TMBC Children’s Social Care Responsibilities
- Nationally identified priorities - Locally recognised priorities - Training needs analysis
9c. TSCB – Performance Monitoring & Quality Assurance IG PurposeLeading for TSCB on monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of safeguarding activity and making recommendations to the Board on the planning and commissioning of services that impact on the safeguarding of children. Membership Service Unit Manager TMBC Children's Safeguarding Unit TSCB Development Manager Named Nurse Child Protection, Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Detective Inspector, GMP Consultant, Public Health Medicine, Tameside & Glossop NHS PCT Designated Nurse Child Protection Principle Education Welfare Officer Designated Doctor Child Protection Service Unit Manager, TMBC Children’s Social Care Children’s Service Manager, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Responsibilities
9d. TSCB – Child Death Overview Function Purpose The Child Death Overview function is to consider within its scope of enquiry all child deaths which occur in Tameside and the death of any child who is normally resident in Tameside, but whose death occurs outside Tameside. The purpose for doing this is two-fold. First, to ensure that appropriate scrutiny is given to deaths of children as a result of abuse or neglect and in which there are concerns about the way that agencies work together. Second, to identify any patterns in the incidence of child deaths so that TSCB is able to advise member agencies and other strategic partnerships on recommended actions. This function is discharged through a tripartite arrangement with Stockport LSCB and Trafford LSCB, chaired by an independent person. Membership From Tameside the membership is Designated Doctor, Child Protection Service Unit Manager, TMBC Safeguarding Unit Responsibilities (These are informed by regulation 6 Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 2005)
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