Warwickshire News Mine

Published by the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA), the report “How does Every Child Matter to your Council?” has highlighted Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board as an example of best practice.

Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board was set up by the county council to bring together councils, agencies and services that work with children to protect them from harm. The board works proactively to prevent harm and promote the welfare of children in the county. The county council formed the board under the Children Act of 2004. The 2004 act was brought in following the tragic death of Victoria Climbië at the hands of her carers.

The IDeA report has been sent to every council in the country and aims to encourage other councils to follow the lead set by Warwickshire County Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Warwick District Council, Stratford District Council and other partners to ensure that all children and young people have the opportunities they need to thrive.

Chris Hallett, who chairs Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: “I am delighted that we have been recognised in this way. Our scheme followed a meeting of Warwickshire’s county, district and borough councils where we agreed that working together would ensure effective procedures to protect children and promote their welfare.”

He added: “We recognised very early that the policies and staff training needed to safeguard children do not vary widely between councils, and working on this together has saved a lot of duplication. As a result there is now easier access to best practice and training opportunities.”

A spokesman for the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government said: “The Warwickshire initiative demonstrates how local councils spotted the need for a service, and acted effectively to meet it. There are plenty of good examples across the country of novel ways to help children and families, but we saw this as one of the 11 best examples for this publication. Other councils will no doubt be following the Warwickshire lead.”

Councils in Warwickshire are determined to build on the achievements of the Safeguarding Children scheme and their joint work will continue.

Link to WCC