Welcome to the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board

 

As the Independent Chair of the LSCB I am clear about my personal and professional duty to safeguard children.

 

Since the increase of public awareness following a number of tragic cases of child abuse in the UK, there has never been a better climate to focus our work on supporting, preventing harm to and protecting all of Lambeth’s children. We each have a personal and professional responsibility to ensure children are kept safe from harm and abuse. Children rely on us to make sure they are happy and cared for and to help them grow up to make the most of their lives.

The work of the LSCB is essential in this task, and has lead responsibility for coordinating and scrutinising the effectiveness of what is done. Although much progress has been already made to improve the way that children are safeguarded in Lambeth, much is still needed to ensure that every child in Lambeth is kept safe and reaches his or her own full potential.

The LSCB depends on everyone, whether professionals or volunteers, parents or members of the public having an understanding of their own personal or professional responsibility to safeguard children and being vigilant and proactive in carrying it out.

Thank you for your support,


David Sanders

Independent Chair of the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board

E Safety Guidance for Parents, Children and Professionals

The LSCB is pleased to publish its comprehensive guidance for parents, young people and professionals on staying safe online. E- safety is how we minimise risk and keep children and young people safe whilts using the internet and mobile phone technology.

The Board is therefore encouraging the community, (in particualar, children, young people, parents, carers and foster carers), schools, colleges, alternative education provisions and early years settings, our stakeholders, partners, business and voluntary and faith groups to adopt the principles of this strategy and policy. 

E - Safety Guidance

 

Gangs Protocol Launched

A new protocol to help agencies know how to refer young people who are at risk from involvement in street ganags has been launched. In brief the protocol advises staff to make their referral to the preventative Young and Safe project who will provide all the support required and pass the case to Social Care if and when it becomes necessary. The protocol can be downloaded here. 

Launch of the LSCB Public Campaign 2011 ‘Keeping our Children Happy & Safe’

 

March 2011 is the first month of the public campaign called, “Keeping our Children Happy & Safe”, sponsored by the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). 

A series of articles and real life stories will be published on the LSCB website and through various local media in order to raise public awareness on a range of child protection issues that might affect children and young people living in Lambeth. 

The first topic on the campaign agenda for March 2011 is ‘Looking after someone else’s child – private fostering’.  Read the first true story about a young girl named Anna and her fostering arrangement by clicking on the pink link or on the Lambeth Life (issue 112 - 15th March 2011).   

 

Future stories will include:

Please visit this website to read the future real life stories and learn more about the LSCB work and how to protect children. Also, you can contact Vivienne White at vwhite@lambeth.gov.uk to learn more about private fostering and about the LSCB Public Campaign Keeping our Children Happy & Safe.

  

- what are the dangers for children and young people involved in gangs?

- how can violence at home affect children’s happiness and wellbeing?

- what can be done if one or both parents abuse alcohol or drugs?

- how can you choose safe summer activities for children?

- where can you find help if children are being bullied?

- how can you choose a safe nursery, school or sport club?

- what can be done to cure or prevent childhood obesity?

- how can we prevent children accidents in the home and in the street?

 

Recruitment of a lay member to the LSCB

Do you want to help keep children safe in Lambeth?

 

The Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board is recruiting a Lambeth resident to become lay member of the board.   

 

This is a great opportunity to help the Board make sure that Lambeth agencies are safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people across the borough effectively. 

 

The board is looking for someone who has some knowledge of local child safety issues; can help it make better links with local community groups and can challenge it to make its policies and procedures more accessible to the public. 

 

Lay members will operate as full members of the board attending six half day meetings per year and a small number of working groups.  Appointments are for two years, subject to yearly review.  Induction training and travel expenses will be provided if needed. 

 

For more information please contact Vivienne White at vwhite@lambeth.gov.uk or 0207 926 7068. 

 

Applications can be made on the Lambeth Jobs and Careers website at: www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/JobsCareers.   

Annual Report is now Published

The LSCB Annual Report has now been Published.

The Annual Report is a statutory requirement and the purpose is for the LSCB to report back on the health of safeguarding locally. The full report can be downloaded here.

The Executive Summary, which is written for parents, young people and other members of the community can be downloaded here

 

Recruitment of two lay members to the LSCB

The Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) is recruiting two Lambeth residents to become lay members of the board.This is a great opportunity to help the Board make sure that Lambeth agencies are safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people across the borough effectively.
The board is looking for someone who has some knowledge of local child safety issues; can help it make better links with local community groups and can challenge it to make its policies and procedures more accessible to the public.
Lay members will operate as full members of the board attending six half day meetings per year and a small number of working groups. Appointments are for two years, subject to yearly review. Induction training and travel expenses will be provided if needed.More information is available by contacting Vivienne White on 0207 926 7068.

More info..

Applications can be made on the Lambeth Jobs and Careers
website at www.lambeth.gov.uk/jobs

Launch of the Substance Misuse Protocol

On 24th May 2010 the Substance Misuse Protocol was launched at Brixton Town Hall. Around a hundred staff across children and adults services attended to hear a talk from Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for Lambeth Addictions, Dr Michael J kelleher, and Fran Holgate, Area Director for Compass. The new protocol sets out good joint working arrangements between adult and children's services to provide early intervention and support for the whole family.

New Key Statutory Guidance on Safeguarding Published: Working Together 2010

The DCSF has released the new version of Working Together 2010 which up dates the Working Together 2006 version in the light of Lord Laming's report on safeguarding "The Protection of Children: a Progress Report 2009".

All staff working with children should now refer to this updated guidance in conjunction with the London Child Protection Procedures 2007.   

The new Working Together 2010 can be downloaded here (or on the policy page) 

Sir Roger Singleton, the Government's Chief Advisor on Child Safety also published his first annual report to Parliament on the 17th March 2010. Sir Roger based his report on a series of visits and interviews with staff in various Local Authorities, including Lambeth.

The Government's Chief Advisor's report to Parliament on Safeguarding can be downloaded here.