Elected members
Safeguarding children in London: the role of councillors after the Munro Review
This joint London Councils / London SCB event, held on 15 June 2011, was an opportunity for London's elected members to look in detail at the findings of the Munro Review of Child Protection and consider the implications for local services. Attended by more than 50 members, including Leaders, Lead Members and backbench / opposition councillors, the session featured a number of presentations followed by a lively discussion, which will be written up into a formal report shortly. In the meantime, the agenda and presentations from the seminar are available to download from the links below:
Agenda - Safeguarding children in London: the role of councillors after the Munro Review
Jacky Tiotto - The Munro Review of Child Protection: key messages
Cheryl Coppell - London context and the role of elected members
Frankie Sulke - Sector-led improvement for children's services in London
Resources for elected members
In March 2009, the London Councils' Leaders Committee signed off a number of recommendations to strengthen safeguarding in London. Following from this, the Capital Ambition Programme Board approved a programme of work and funding of £400k aimed at strengthening London’s overall resilience in safeguarding and child protection. Two of these projects were identified for completion by summer 2009:
- Safeguarding Development Programme for Lead Members
- The Protection of Children in England: Leaders’ Responsibilities
Following consultation, these papers were endorsed by the London Councils’ Children and Young People’s Forum (Lead Members for Children’s Services) and the London Councils’ Leaders Committee. Both papers were signed off by the London Board on 29th July 2009 and are attached below:
London Safeguarding Development Programme for Lead Members
The Protection of Children in England: Leaders’ Responsibilities
These documents are issued as guidance for those LSCBs which may find them useful. Their use is not compulsory. They complement statutory guidance from government published on 9th July 2009:
London Safeguarding Development Programme for Lead Members
This programme was put in place to enable and support Lead Members for Children’s Services in executing their safeguarding responsibilities. Eight sessions have been held since November 2009 for a total of 65 elected Members, including Lead Members for Children’s Services, Council Leaders and Chairs of Scrutiny. Three of these sessions have been held since the May 2010 elections, which saw 18 new lead Members coming into portfolio across London.
Sessions were usually chaired by a Lead Member, with key inputs from senior safeguarding practitioners from the London boroughs, including LSCB Chairs and Assistant Directors for Children’s Social Care.
Sample programme - Member safeguarding induction/refresher
For any questions about the Member development programme please contact Ian Dean on 020 7934 9714 or ian.dean@londoncouncils.gov.uk
