Feature - Safeguarding boards: On the safeguarding frontline

- Jane Bee, Safeguarding children development officer, Gloucestershire County Council

The surprise visit of two elderly fishermen to a child protection promotional event is one of Jane Bee's favourite memories as an executive member of the safeguarding children's board.

"These two old guys came in from a fishing club," says Bee. They wanted to know what to do if told anything of concern from young anglers. I was delighted. It really showed how child protection messages are getting out there."

Promoting child protection training and helping organisations tackle allegations of abuse against staff are among Bee's main roles on the Gloucestershire board. A main challenge in this work, says Bee, is ensuring organisations follow national guidelines, which state that all abuse allegations should be on staff records, even if unfounded.

"Having an unfounded allegation on your record is not something to worry about. But it is difficult persuading people that it actually protects the member of staff as it clearly spells out their innocence," she says.

Among those recently convinced of this was a school staff member who took pictures on an outing for a display. One was of an undressed child.

Following a parental complaint, the matter was investigated. The staff member's motives were found to be innocent, but the complaint and ruling were placed on file.

"The member of staff wasn't happy at first," explains Bee, "but we talked it over and they now see that it removes any potential misunderstanding, giving greater clarity to the situation."

Bee is also chair of the education sub-committee and works a lot in schools, but adds: "Child protection is something for everyone, not just schools. I hope more people like those fishermen show up at future events."

- Nuala Livesey, Child protection nurse, across Gloucestershire's three health trusts

"It will help grieving families and the wider community, making the area safer for children," nurse Nuala Livesey says confidently about Gloucestershire's safeguarding board's first child death overview panel.

Board executive member Livesey is closely involved in the development of the panel, which will investigate unexpected child deaths. The government has said that, from April, all safeguarding boards have to put in place a child death overview panel for their local area.

In Gloucestershire, it is anticipated that around 30 deaths a year will be analysed at monthly meetings. The panel will look at reasons behind deaths and the lessons to be learned. Members will be in close contact with bereaved families, "hopefully helping them make some sense of it all," says Livesey.

Questions Livesey and her colleagues are looking at include how far the panel should go in investigating deaths. Can it call expert witnesses? How often should it meet? Who should sit on the board?

Powers could be quite wide, she says, with site visits and ability to call expert witnesses planned. It will also make recommendations for change. As Gloucestershire's lead child protection nurse working across all three of the county's health trusts, Livesey is likely to be among the first panel members.

But it is not just this new panel that is keeping Livesey busy. As a member of the board's health sub-committee, she must ensure child safety remains a priority.

"There has been a lot of change, but we have worked hard to make sure child safety is still at the forefront of people's minds, supporting strong protocols and engaging with staff," she adds.

- Paul Summersby, Acting assistant director, NCH

"Communication can be a problem," admits Paul Summersby, who represents more than 400 charities on Gloucestershire's local safeguarding children's board. "Some of the organisations comprise just a couple of people, so it is important that there is a clear dialogue with the safeguarding board," he says.

As the executive board's voluntary sector representative, his role was created to provide exactly that link, to make sure all charities have access to child protection training, organisational support and advice.

Since the board's creation, the situation has already improved, says Summersby. An email alert system on legal, policy and regulatory changes has been created. Charities are invited to roadshows and free training is offered. Further e-training products are in development.

"The work of charities is extremely varied and they need help in a number of ways. For example, just this month I've been contacted by a gay and lesbian group worried about the wording of a particular protocol and by a drama group getting into therapeutic work where children are more likely to talk openly," he reveals.

As well as specific advice from the board, Summersby says charities in the county also benefit from the broader, strategic support it offers. This has included Criminal Record Bureau check guidance and developing child protection protocols.

"Capacity is an issue because of the small size of many of the organisations. This strategic support around areas such as governance and protocols is something they really need," he says.

"It's been a good board from a charities point of view, as it helps us stay connected," he adds.

- Victoria Penaliggon, Cafcass representative

The plight of children caught up in domestic violence is a major concern for Victoria Penaliggon. She represents the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass). "Again and again, domestic violence comes up in cases coming through the courts. It's one of our biggest challenges," she says.

Latest figures for England and Wales are shocking; a quarter of child contact applications in court involve a domestic violence allegation. More than 3,500 children and their mothers currently live in a refuge; half are under the age of five.

In the battle against domestic violence, Penaliggon says Gloucestershire's safeguarding children board plays a crucial role. "For something like domestic violence, this is where our monitoring comes into its own. We really check the figures, find out who the victims are, how children can be best kept safe and how far the problem is growing."

The board also signposts victims and professionals to local support groups such as Gloucestershire Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project.

Penaliggon is on the executive committee, but is modest about her role with the board: "I'm not on any of the sub-committees, which is where all the hard work gets done," she says.

She also refuses to discuss individual cases, preferring to restrict herself to broader, more strategic descriptions of the board's work.

"That's because it is about strategic focus," she explains. "For example, the board has protocols offering common rules. These cover areas such as what to do when told about abuse. It gives us confidence to know that many agencies across the county can offer support and that they follow the same rule book."

- Simon Atkinson, Chief inspector and head of child protection unit, Gloucestershire police

Foster parent Eunice Spry's 20-year reign of terror left Gloucestershire stunned. Starved, tortured and beaten, the catalogue of abuse against children in her care prompted the judge, who sentenced her last year to 14 years in prison, to label it the worst case of its kind he had ever heard.

Chief inspector Atkinson is determined such cruelty will never be repeated. As a member of the local safeguarding board's executive board and serious cases sub-committee, he has spent much of the past year picking apart the Spry case to ensure such extreme abuse is spotted earlier.

"It's been really worthwhile and we've learnt so much. What can all of us working with children do to improve? What training is needed? These were questions we had to ask," says Atkinson.

Sub-committee recommendations seek to include dentists and opticians in child protection training, as well as making unannounced home visits to parents where there is a risk of abuse.

Atkinson is also on the board's training sub-committee, where his work has included drafting a child protection training programme for police. This is being rolled out among 400 officers this year and shows how the board's "ability to galvanise all agencies" can ensure such initiatives are pushed through.

"The police had its way of doing things, as did health and social care, but the board means we can get past any differences and work together."

- Kate Robertson, Connexions representative

"It can all happen so fast. Your life gets turned upside down and suddenly your safety is at risk," explains Kate Robertson, on the moment a child confides in a children's professional about an allegation of abuse.

This is the situation one of her team is in after being told by a child about violence in their home. Because of child protection training across Connexions, the adviser knew to contact the police and social work team immediately.

The welfare of the child is paramount in such a situation, but what about the personal adviser? Robertson's colleague had concerns about possible reprisal attacks after informing the police. She might also have to give evidence in court.

"It is important that professionals who uncover abuse are also supported. This is where the multi-agency approach of the board is so important," says Robertson.

For her colleague, support included safety assurances from the police. Gloucestershire County Council's children's services team has also been on hand to help. Robertson adds that this support is important even for the most experienced child protection professional.

Other examples of the board's work include the development of vulnerable group protocols, covering issues affecting looked-after children and children with disabilities.

- Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board's decision-making hub is its executive board, which meets every other month. There are also seven specialist sub-committees. The executive board is made up of senior figures who are involved in children's services, including the members who are featured in this article.