Multi- Agency Early Help and Neglect Strategic Group
MA Early Help and Neglect Partnership Strategic Group
Purpose
The primary purpose of this group is two-fold:
- To implement key priority actions in order to improve Liverpool’s response to neglect and reduce the impact of neglect.
- To embed a strong early help response across the partnership which addresses concerns as soon as they emerge and prevents escalation.
Aim
The aim is to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families through the delivering effective early interventions by:
- The use of evidence based profiles of need
- A clear awareness and understanding of neglect and the thresholds for intervention
- Improved recognition and early identification of neglect and other factors that could result in children suffering from harm
- The development of confident and skilled workforce who can effectively recognise, assess and respond to concerns.
- Implementing a quality assurance framework that informs improved practice
Key indicators
The aim is to:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the partnership response in preventing and addressing neglect through an effective early help response.
- Evidence improved outcomes for children and their families as a result of the activity of the group.
- Increase/improve early identification where there is evidence of early neglect and other emerging issues (Early Help Assessment and GCP screening tool as a proxy indicator).
- Reduce in the number of referrals to Children’s Social Care post single assessment.
- Reduce re-referrals to Children’s Social Care.
- Reduce the number of children on child protection plans, registered under the category of neglect.
- Reduce the number of re-registrations under the category of neglect through a effective step down process.
Role/Responsibility
The role of the group is to:
- Ensure collective and accountable leadership in order to achieve the aim and objectives of the Multi-agency Early Help and Neglect Strategies.
- Ensure a shared commitment to the development and delivery of the Neglect Delivery Plan
- To develop a shared learning approach to inform future planning;
- To make recommendations to senior leaders regarding future service design, development and procurement based on the evidence and learning;
- To ensure all decisions are based on best available evidence;
- To ensure effective joint working and establish a consistent approach in the identification and assessment and the quality of engagement with children and families where children are experiencing neglect.
- To ensure the effective implementation of the Graded Care Profile 2
Membership
- Assistant Director – Early Help (LCC)
- Named Nurse Children in Care & Targeted Services Young People. Safeguarding Lead EH & Neglect MCT
- Service Manager, Children Advice & Support Service - CASS (LCC)
- Service Manager, Early Help (LCC)
- Designated Nurse for Safeguarding
- Public Health Practitioner
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust
- Safeguarding Lead for Vulnerable Communities MCT
- Operational Manager CYP, Merseycare
- Head of Service for CYP
- LSCP Education Engagement Officer
- Project Lead GCP/SOS (reporting)
- LSCP Quality Assurance and Performance Officer (reporting)
- Support Officer GCP/SOS (reporting)
- EH Intelligence & Improvement (reporting)
- Service Manager (NSPCC)
Meeting Arrangement
- The Group will meet every quarter
- Topics for the agenda will be determined by members of the group as well as local and national policy.
- The Chairperson will be responsible for agreeing meeting dates and the agenda.
- Papers will be circulated in advance of each meeting
- Non - members will be invited by the Chairperson to attend a meeting if this is considered appropriate.
- Every effort will be made by group members to attend meetings. Substitutes will be the exception rather than the norm.
- Secretariat support with be organised by the Chairperson.