Agenda item

Invitees:

Finn Madell – Head of Corporate Safeguarding

Mary Ryan – Head of Adult Services

Natalie Poyner – Head of Children Services

The Head of Corporate Safeguarding gave an overview of the report. 

Questions: 

The committee asked how training was delivered. 

•       The Head of Corporate Safeguarding explained that the training is done primarily through E-Learning, with some school staff having completed face-to-face training sessions. The desire to reintroduce face to face training was noted, however they highlighted the focus should be on what the individual learners need.

•       The Head of Adult Services also mentioned the difficulty in getting staff away to go to all day training conferences.

The committee was pleased to see that the Service Area had made significant progress which reflected previous comments and recommendations. The committee noted that the number of referrals had gone up by 14% in 3 years.

•       The Head of Adult Services explained that while that number was true, 50% of referrals were sent to early intervention, and the number used to be higher. The Head of Adult Services then explained that in Adult Services there was an 80/20 split that were sent to early intervention and noted that carer needs are much higher.

The committee asked whether funding has been received from the Welsh Government for children leaving care.

•       The Head of Children’s Services advised that funding was received in July 2022, and advised that that Citizens Advice also sit within the office to support the Young Person Adviser to make sure that money is being spent as it should be.

The committee felt that more specific data was needed throughout the report to contextualise information given, such as percentages, so members could have a clearer picture of comparison. The committee also asked if it would be possible to find out from within the percentages how much of the figures are the same child being safeguarded multiple times, and how many are single incidents for children.

The committee asked whether a question that had been raised previously regarding objective training was addressed, and whether this was satisfactory focusing on how many hours they have completed, and whether it is enough. The committee member also noted that the number of those who have done the security training was given but not the percentage.

•       The Head of Adult Services advised that every 3 years registered staff must reregister, however unregistered staff are encouraged to do the training. 

•       The committee member also asked whether staff training was up to date regardless of high turnover. 

•       The Head of Adult Services confirmed that they were.

The committee wished to thank the service areas for their work and noted that this specific area of work is extremely difficult.

The Chair thanked the officers for their attendance. 

Conclusions: 

•       The Committee welcomed the report and thanked Officers for their hard work. Members wanted it recognised that they appreciate that this specific area of work is extremely difficult. 

•       The Committee were pleased to note that the Service Area listened to the comments and recommendations that were made in last year’s meeting and made the appropriate amendments.

•       The Committee felt that more specific data was needed throughout the report to contextualise information given, such as percentages so Members can have a clearer picture of comparison. Members also queried if it could be possible to find out in the percentages of how many children in the figures are the same child being safeguarded, and how many are single incident children. 

•       The Committee asked that the area of focus regarding whether “the structure for theNewport Safeguarding Unit Structure and Individual Teams Key Priority Plans is appropriate to meet the Council’s responsibilities for safeguarding matters” be

removed as it was outside of the Committee’s expertise. (This is more so an action for Scrutiny to not include in future cover reports however the Committee wanted it noted).

•       The Committee asked for an update regarding training progress be given to committee including more specific data to contextualise any information given, such as percentages to how many staff members have completed the training. Members also queried if it would be possible to have update on figures such as training and referrals received, on a half yearly basis