First multi-agency child protection inspection criticises health services

Following a joint targeted area inspection (JTAI) by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP), the way health services in South Tyneside deal with abuse and neglect was highlighted as an area of concern.

A judgment letter published today reveals that inspectors found a "lack of robust management oversight of the quality of safeguarding practice" at South Tyneside Foundation Trust.

"There is a lack of effective management oversight within health services to ensure that all health professionals routinely and effectively assess risks to children," the letter states.

It added that health authority and clinical commissioning group commissioners, and senior managers in South Tyneside Foundation Trust "do not have a sufficiently robust understanding of what is happening to assess and manage risk in frontline services inspected".

The inspection, which included a "deep dive" focus on responses to child sexual exploitation (CSE), and those missing from home, care or education, also raised concerns about the lack of standardised risk assessments across sexual health, school nursing and the accident and emergency department.

"This means that vulnerabilities, for example to child sexual exploitation, are not always fully considered," the letter states.

In two cases, sexual health services were found not to have shared relevant information with children's social care despite being involved with both young people. The issues with health services have been made subject to an immediate action plan.

Meanwhile, health services, police and schools were all criticised for the quality of initial "front door" contact with young people that resulted in risk and need not being adequately identified.