New safety partners move in to protect young

ROCHDALE’S leading safeguarding organisation has been replaced by a new agency, to bring the borough into line with recent national reforms.

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 and Working Together 2018 set out the requirement for the establishment of new multi-agency safeguarding arrangements covering each local authority area.

As such, the old Safeguarding Children Board (RBSCB) has been replaced by the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Partnership (RBSCP).

The national reforms followed a review of local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) which recommended they be replaced by a stronger partnership arrangement of three statutory partners – police, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities.

The new partnership builds on the work of the RBSCB and secures future arrangements for safeguarding and improving outcomes for children and young people.

Many of the functions of the Board will remain including publishing safeguarding policies and procedures, organising free, multi-agency training and reviewing serious and significant incidents involving children. Arrangements for independent scrutiny of the effectiveness of local safeguarding remain a priority and these will be enhanced further.

Safeguarding Adviser Amanda Clarke has been appointed as the independent Chair of the newly created Partnership and brings a wealth of experience to Rochdale.

Amanda said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed as Chair of the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Partnership and I’m looking forward to working with partners and the local community in my new role.”

The process to report concerns about a child remain the same.

If you are worried about a child, please get in touch with the Early Help and Safeguarding Hub, on 0300 303 0440 (Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 4.45pm), 0300 303 8875 (out of office hours) or email: ehash@rochdale. gov.uk