SSCB Interim Business Plan

Foreword from the Chair

Salford Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) was established in April 2006 to comply with the requirements of The Children Act (2004) and in line with what is set out in the Statutory Guidance, Working Together To Safeguard Children (2006).

In line with national recommendations, arrangements were put in place to appoint an Independent Chair of SSCB and I took up the role in April 2009.

Nationally, Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have faced a number of challenges since April 2006, including the growing demands being made of them, capacity issues and the exacting requirements of Serious Case Reviews and monitoring the implementation of the ensuing detailed action plans. Salford’s experience has been no different.

In November 2008, a core group of SSCB met to consider the priorities for SSCB in the year ahead. These were accepted by SSCB in December 2008 and centred on establishing a robust monitoring and reviewing process for the work of SSCB, establishing a framework for engagement, and creating a culture of providing appropriate information to keep children and young people safe.

We continue to address these priorities through the objectives and key actions in the attached Interim Business Plan, which will take us through to March 2010. The process is underway and a Development Day has been arranged for January 2010, when priorities will be agreed and the Business Planning process for 2010-2012 started.

The Performance Management Sub Group is currently working on a multi agency dataset which will enable relevant performance data to be gathered, compared and utilised to measure the effectiveness of safeguarding in Salford.

In addition, a current key priority is the review of SSCB, its membership, the work of its Executive Committee and the need to enhance the SSCB’s capacity to become more strategic and effectively execute its enhanced scrutiny function.

Gill Rigg
Independent Chair
Salford safeguarding Children Board