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Group Reviewing & Implementation Practice Standards Terms of Reference

Aims and Functions

To ensure a systematic means of quality assuring the child protection work being undertaken by the agencies of the LSCB – including the Children & Young Persons Plan 2006 – 2010 Performance Indicators.

Membership

Members to be invited to all meetings and send a substitute of appropriate seniority if unable to attend. To be quorate all meetings should be attended by representatives from at least three different agencies.

Principles

The Group Reviewing & Implementing Practice Standards is committed to ways of working which are inclusive, open, accountable and informed.

The membership reflects the variety of groups involved in the planning, commissioning and delivery of children and young people's services in Kingston and may be updated from time to time.

The Group Reviewing & Implementing Practice Standards will consider how to effectively involve children, young people and their parents/carers in the design and delivery of services.

Chair/Vice Chair

This group should be chaired by a senior representative of a member agency other than the Directorate of Learning & Children's Services. This role is undertaken by the Named Nurse for Child Protection, Kingston PCT.

The Vice Chair should be appointed from among the membership on a rotating basis and serve for one year.

Relationship with the LSCB and Trust Board

The Group Reviewing & Implementing Practice Standards will receive commissions from and report directly to the LSCB.

Note:
Guidance from the DfES makes it clear that activities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children sit within the wider context of arrangements to improve outcomes for children. However, the LSCB is not a commissioning workstream relating to the Trust Board. It is a statutory body, which sits alongside the Board, but is independent from it.

The LSCB has a particular statutory role in evaluation and scrutinising the effectiveness of the arrangements made by all agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children living in Kingston and advising the Trust Board in this respect. In order to assess the effectiveness of local safeguarding activity and challenge as required, the LSCB will require a degree of independence and a clear and distinct identity.

Frequency of Meetings

Meetings should be held at least every eight weeks and should be scheduled to facilitate maximum attendance.

If a member of the group misses three consecutive meetings the Chair will write to the agency concerned requesting a different representative attends the meetings. There is an expectation that members' attendance at meetings will be at least 90%. Information about attendance at the LSCB and Sub Group meetings will be included in the Annual Report.

Ways of Working

Agendas to be circulated at least five working days in advance and Minutes within three weeks of each meeting.

Criteria for the selection of cases and practice issues for review by this group will be developed and agreed by the LSCB.

Minutes of the meetings will be circulated to all members of the Policy & Practice Implementation Sub Group, the Training Strategy and Implementation Sub Group, the Domestic Violence Strategy and Implementation Sub Group, the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Chair of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership.

Accountability

All agencies are accountable for making the Group Reviewing & Implementing Practice Standards work and for their contribution to this group. It is expected that all members will have delegated responsibility and be of sufficient seniority to speak on behalf of their agencies.

Group Reviewing & Implementation Practice Standards Terms of Reference