Improvements to Service
The role of NHS Haringey and Great Ormond Street Hospital in the tragic death of Baby P has been widely publicised. Since the death, substantial work has been, and continues to be done on Child Protection. The 3 year plan of work is informed by the Joint Area Review Action Plan.
The JAR action plan was developed and agreed by all agencies in Haringey, and represents a strong commitment to achieve the highest standard of child protection in the future. This post will be central to reaching that standard.
Specific improvements
Local Safeguarding Children Board: The LSCB has been revitalised with an independent chair and senior representation from participating agencies. Key joint practice and training issues have been identified, and the role of the LSCB in providing authoritative challenge across the system is accepted and underpins the implementation of the JAR Action Plan.
More front line staff: Additional investment has been agreed to fund more doctors to work in the community service, and more health visitors and other staff for the health visiting service, including re-banding the health visitors, ie paying them more, to make their roles easier to recruit to. It is a challenging climate to recruit new staff but we are making progress.
A more sustainable service in child protection assessments: We recognised the difficulties in sustaining the child protection medical assessment work which used to be based at St Ann’s Hospital. We moved this to the designated child protection unit at the North Middlesex University Hospital which has more appropriate, purpose built accommodation and rapid access to tests and investigations for children where there is suspected or actual abuse. This transfer was completed in May 2008, the earliest date possible and has helped make the service stronger and more sustainable.
Strengthening practice and communication: A substantial work programme is underway to strengthen the quality of practice, and ensure that improvements are sustained. Staff are involved in, and committed to the process, and we are already noticing improvements in attendance and participation in key meetings, interagency communication, and the use of systems that have been put in place to enable staff to rapidly escalate concerns.
Better training: There is an increased emphasis on the comprehensive provision of high quality training for staff working with children and families. Specific staff groups are also receiving additional training as outlined in the action plan. This includes a whole borough approach to the further development of clinical and child protection supervision skills both in supervisors and supervisees as well as, for example, training in specialist areas such as Domestic Violence and its impact on children. Newly qualified staff undertaking front line child protection work will have an initial period of mentoring, training and development from a more senior colleague before taking on management of complex families where there are child protection concerns. Child and Family Clinical Psychologists are working within the Health Visiting service to further develop assessment and evidence based interventions and skills and provide expert psychological supervision to staff working with complex families.
Commitment to partnership: We do not under-estimate the scale of the task we are undertaking in putting in place fundamental changes that are needed. But we know what needs to be done, we know where we are going, and most importantly the Council and partners, including NHS Haringey and Great Ormond Street Hospital, share an overriding commitment and passion, to deliver the improvements needed so that children are safe in Haringey.