Although a formal committee of Brighton & Hove City Council, the Health & Wellbeing Board has a remit which includes matters relating to the Sussex Integrated Care Board (NHS Sussex), the Local Safeguarding Boards/Partnerships for Children and Adults and Healthwatch.

Title: Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2022-23
Date of Meeting: 05 March 2024
Report of: The Independent Scrutineer and Chair of BHSCP
Contact:  Giles Rossington, Policy, Partnerships & Scrutiny Team Manager/Sarah Smart, LSCP Business Manager	Tel: 01273 295514
Email: giles.rossington@brighton-hove.gov.uk sarah.smart@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Wards Affected: All
FOR GENERAL RELEASE
Executive Summary Health & Wellbeing Boards (HWB) are required to receive for information the annual reports of local children’s and adult safeguarding partnerships. This report presents the annual update from the Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (BHSCP).

1. Decisions, recommendations and any options

1.1 That the Board notes the information contained in this report and its appendix (BHSCP Annual Report 2022-23)

2. Relevant information

2.1     The Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP) is independently chaired and consists of three key agencies who collectively hold statutory responsibilities for keeping children and young people safe: the Local Authority (through Families, Children and Learning), Health (through NHS Sussex ICB) and Sussex Police.

2.2       The BHSCP’s objectives are to:

· Co-ordinate local work undertaken by all agencies and individuals to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

· Ensure the effectiveness of that work.

2.3       Chris Robson, BHSCP’s independent scrutineer, chairs the Partnership and is responsible for considering how effectively the local safeguarding arrangements are working for children and families as well as for practitioners, and how well the safeguarding partners are providing strong leadership.

2.4      Health & Wellbeing Boards are required to receive for information and discussion annual reports/updates from the relevant local safeguarding children’s partnership. The BHSCP Annual Report 2022-23 is included as Appendix 1 to this report.

3. Important considerations and implications

Legal:

3.1 The Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP) is a statutory body. Under statutory guidance Working Together 2023 the three safeguarding partners (being the Council, Health and Sussex police as defined under the Children Act 2004 as amended by the Children and Social Work Act, 2017) should agree on ways to co-ordinate their safeguarding services, act as a strategic leadership group in supporting and engaging others, and implement local and national learning, including from serious child safeguarding incidents.  The three ‘key safeguarding partners’ collectively hold statutory responsibilities for safeguarding in the city.

3.2 As described in the body of this report Health & Wellbeing Boards (HWB) are required to receive for information the annual reports of local children’s and adult safeguarding partnerships. The report is for noting only.

Lawyer consulted: Natasha Watson                                 Date: 26/02/23

Finance:

3.3 There are no financial implications as a result of the recommendations of this report.

Finance Officer consulted: David Ellis Date: 13/2/24

Equalities:

3.4 Information on how the BHSCP focuses on equalities issues are detailed in the BHSCP Annual Report (Appendix 1)

Sustainability:

3.5 None identified in this report to note.

Health, social care, children’s services and public health:

3.6 The BHSCP membership includes representatives from social care, children’s services and health. The BHSCP Annual Update (Appendix 1) includes more information on all of these areas

Supporting documents and information

            Appendix1: BHSCP Annual Report 2022-23