The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “W”) which provides an update to the report presented to the Executive on 20^th September 2016 and subsequently to the District’s Area Committees regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It particularly focuses on the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE and how it is used by BSCB and partners in work to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

Recommended –

(1)       The Executive is invited to endorse that the 9 Point Strategic      Response to CSE be reviewed and replaced with a new Strategic Response to CSE.

(2)       That a referral is made to the Community safety Partnership to   ask this group to consider the allocation of a funding pot via the Safeguarding Children Board to ensure that this work continues     to be a partnership safety priority.

(3)       The Executive shall receive a further update on the progress of             the 9 Point strategic Response to CSE in 12 month’s time.

            That subsequent reports will be provided to Area Committees.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Mark Griffin - 01274 434361)

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “W”) which provided an update to the report presented to the Executive on 20^th September 2016 and subsequently to the district’s Area Committees regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE).  It particularly focused on the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE and how it is used by Bradford Safeguarding Children’s Board and partners in work to drive improvements across the district’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

A number of partners were present at the meeting including a representative from West Yorkshire Police, Barnardos, Bradford Safeguarding Board and the Council’s Assistant Director Performance, Commissioning and Partnerships, with responsibility for Safeguarding.

The Strategic Director stated that this was the fourth report that had been considered by the Executive on safeguarding arrangements, he highlighted that this week also happened to be safeguarding week, raising awareness around the issue of CSE.

The Strategic Director added that how we as a district responded to the issue of CSE was crucial, and that the report gave an indication of the journey that had been taken, which showed that the response to addressing CSE was improving year on year.  However he stressed that there was no room for complacency and partners were fully engaged in tackling the issue.

A representative from West Yorkshire Police was present and stated that the force was working hard to prevent incidents of CSE, support victims and bringing about successful prosecutions.  In trying to achieve these objectives he stressed that effective partnership working was key, together with work on increasing awareness with a view to improving the reporting of the issue.  Work in the community and cyber awareness had yielded positive results with a corresponding increase in the number of referrals to the hub. He cited the on going work with the night time economy, which again had  resulted in a significant shift in addressing the issue of CSE.

A representative from Barnardos also cited the wok they had done with partners on the night time economy in raising awareness, together with work in the community  and working directly with children who were at risk from CSE.  Working with parents to provide support to their children was also alluded to.

The BSCB Manager stated that CSE remained at the forefront of the work of the Board and that cyber strategy was being looked at as a key piece of work.

The Assistant Director stated that CSE remained high on the agenda and it was being prioritised across the work of the Council and that communication was key in getting messages across.

During the discussion Members acknowledged the excellent work done by the hub as well as the dedication of the Police in bringing successful prosecutions, adding that the on going work instilled confidence that children were being protected.

In response to a question on the work being undertaken in schools around CSE, the Strategic Director confirmed that CSE was an important component of the work being done in schools, and that a play around CSE had been rolled out and that schools were aware of their responsibilities around this issue.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder stated that the report before Members was extensive which showed the innovative programme in place to tackle CSE in the district and that this innovative work had bee replicated elsewhere in the country.  She added that during Safeguarding Week it was important to get the key messages out there and that safeguarding was everyone’s responsibility.

Resolved –

(1)       That the proposal to review and replace the 9 Point Strategic      Response to CSE with a new Strategic Response to CSE be   endorsed.

(2)       That a referral be made to the Community Safety Partnership to             ask this group to consider the allocation of a funding pot via the        Safeguarding Children’s Board to ensure that this work continues           to be a partnership safety priority.

(3)       The Executive shall receive a further update on the progress of             the 9 Point strategic Response to CSE in 12 month’s time and that          subsequent reports will be provided to all Area Committees.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Children’s Services

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Mark Griffin - 01274 434361)