Agenda item

Report of the Acting Director of Children and Adults Services

The Acting Director of Children and Adults Services submitted a report (previously circulated), together with the Annual Report 2019/20 of the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership (DSP) (also previously circulated).

The submitted report outlined the requirement for the DSP to produce an Annual Report to account for the Partnerships achievements over the previous year and to make an assessment of the effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements within the local area, and the Independent Chair, Ann Baxter, attended the meeting and provided an overview of the key messages and challenges faced.

Members were informed that the Annual Report was the first produced by the Partnership under the new safeguarding arrangements, and outlined what the Partnership had done over the period 2019/20.

Members entered into discussion on how the Partnership monitored the effectiveness of training and personal development, how the Partnership’s Learning and Development Group identified best practice and how it worked in partnership with other organisations, the recognition of partners to the importance of embedded and effective multiagency working, the management of large volumes of enquiries and referrals, and the potential for increased domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic, however it was highlighted that there was no evidence that this was the case in Darlington.

Further discussion ensued on the locations of abuse and the areas of risk. Members felt that it would be useful to see the number of cases being dealt with, rather than percentages, in future reports, and the Independent Chair agreed to take this forward.

Members expressed disappointment that volunteer support had been vastly reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, which potentially reduced sight on vulnerable residents, and discussed providing the appropriate environment for safeguarding.

RESOLVED – That the DSP Annual Report for 2019/20 be noted.