Report finds progress being made on keeping children in Shropshire safe

The report shows more children and families are receiving help at an earlier stage, and there has also been a reduction in children within the child protection system.

But the report, which has been prepared ahead of tomorrow's Shropshire Council health and wellbeing board meeting, shows the number of looked after children in the county has increased.

It reveals, following a Serious Case Review published in November 2015, Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board has strengthened the county's response to neglect to make sure that it is fit for purpose.

Children’s social care have improved the "step down" process with children stepping down from child protection to child in need for a minimum of 12 weeks.

The report states: "Evidence suggests that Shropshire agencies are generally effective in keeping children safe across Shropshire, and that more children and families are receiving help at an earlier stage.

"We have seen a significant reduction in the number of referrals to children’s social care as a result of ensuring that children and families receive early help to meet their needs. Overall, there is also a reduction in children within the child protection system.

"However, numbers of looked after children have increased by 3.9 per cent, partly due to the emerging challenges of accommodating unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

"Further development in strengthening families through early help services should assist with keeping children safe and improving their wellbeing without recourse to child protection and looked after processes.

"Performance measurement has demonstrated improvements in practice as a result of multi-agency audits and learning. An identified area for improvement and challenge to partner agencies is improved data collection and analysis."

The report says the board has begun to respond to findings from the Wood review into Local Safeguarding Children Board's and the new legislation of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

"The SSCB Strategic Governance Group has begun to consider new local safeguarding arrangements, primarily with a review of the effectiveness of the SSCB Business Unit. The review has sought to streamline processes within both the LSCB and Adults Safeguarding Board Business Units by joining both units to maximise efficiencies and create more joined up working across safeguarding issues," the report adds.

Tomorrow's meeting will take place in Shirehall in Shrewsbury at 9.30am.

At the meeting a presentation will also be given on a review into maternity services in the county,