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 is chaired by the strategic director of children's services. 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 Southwark safeguarding children board 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. Link to our sub groups and task groups page for more details.

The board publishes an annual business plan setting out its priorities and planned work for the year. 

Current developments

The Board is in the process of appointing an independent chair in line with the recommendations of The Protection of Children in England:A progress Report, The Lord Laming March 2009.

The structure and governance of the Board are also being reviewed to ensure that it works effectivly to safeguard children in Southwark.  

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. This group meets twice a year. For contact details of these people, download the Southwark safeguarding children board advice leaflet.

Board staff

The work of the Board is managed by the Board business manager who is supported by an  adminsitrative team and a training and project coordinator.

Services we offer

We have pages detailing training available in safeguarding children and advice on running a safe youth organisation.  We also have specific advice and useful links for voluntary organisations.

For further advice, contact us.

Annual Stakeholders' Conference

Every January, the SSCB holds its Annual Stakeholders' Conference.  Details can be found on our Annual Stakeholders' Conference page.