Southwark Safeguarding Children Board  The Children Act 2004 says that every area must have a local safeguarding children board to lead and plan work to protect children.
Protecting young Southwark
The aim of the board is to make sure that children in Southwark are kept safe from harm and abuse. Its job is to coordinate the work of everyone working with children and parents so that they protect children effectively. For more information, see national guidance on local safeguarding children boards.
The work of the board
- Agreeing local policies and procedures that set out what workers should do if they suspect or know that a child is being harmed
- Helping workers and volunteers and those having contact with children to gain the skills and knowledge they need to keep children safe and run safe organisations by arranging training and providing information
- Carrying out monitoring and regular audits to check that services are effective
- Working to prevent abuse by learning lessons where abuse has taken place and putting changes into practice
- Making sure services meet the needs of local people by finding out the views of parents, carers and young people
- Involving the whole community, including faith groups, in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children through publicity and community consultation
Members of the board
The Southwark safeguarding children board (SSCB) is chaired by the strategic director of children's services Romi Bowen. Members include managers from the statutory agencies providing services to children such as education, health and social care, the police and representatives from community, voluntary sector and faith groups.
The structure of the board
- The SSCB executive meets each term
- The main board meets five times a year
- There are a number of sub groups and task groups
Sub groups and task groups
The board has a number of sub groups who do more detailed work in specialist areas and report back to the main board
- Standards are responsible for procedures, auditing and monitoring
- Practice are responsible for developing good inter agency practice
- Training are responsible for the SSCB training programme and advising agencies on the training needs of their workers
- Communications are responsible for publicity and informing workers, parents and young people about children's safeguarding
- Human resources work to ensure safe recruitment and supervision of staff and volunteers
The board publishes an annual business plan (pdf 189 kb) setting out its priorities and planned work for the year.
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There are also task groups working to develop best practice in work to support vulnerable parents and change the behaviour of young people who harm others.
All the main agencies working with children have workers who specialise in advising colleagues on safeguarding children. They are known as named or designated workers (pdf 880kb). This group meets twice a year.
Board staff
The board has a training and a development coordinator and an administrative team to support their work.
Services we offer
We have pages detailing training available in safeguarding children and advice on running a safe organisation. We also have specific advice and useful links for voluntary organisations.
For further advice, contact us at sscb@southwark.gov.uk.
Annual Stakeholders' Conference
Every January, the SSCB holds its Annual Stakeholders' Conference. Details on the 2008 conference and the date for 2009 can be found on our Annual Stakeholders' Conference page.
Contact
Southwark safeguarding children board (SSCB)
Tel: 020 7525 3306
Fax: 020 7525 3328
sscb@southwark.gov.uk
Mabel Goldwin House
49 Grange Walk
London
SE1 3DY
Last updated April 3 2008 |