Free information index ----- Original Message -----
Dear Mr Mortimer, Please find below a response to your Freedom of Information request on behalf of Blaenau Gwent: (a) Question the council authority, council officer and the name of that officer, who decides on what information on child neglect and abuse is collected & held by your council; (a) Response As stated in a previous response Blaenau Gwent as a local authority is fully compliant with procedures set out in the All Wales Child Protection Procedures (AWCPP). Further the Authority collates information regarding the numbers of children on its child protection register and the category of registration e.g. neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or physical abuse. The Authority reports this information to local councillors and this information is also in the public domain. The Head of Children’s Services is Mrs Tanya Evans. (b) Question the means by which that person is held to account by a member of the public for their performance in discharging that public function; (b) Response When a child is subject to a child protection plan there are set statutory requirements the local authority are measured by regarding its safeguarding functions. This information is reported to Welsh Government as required. The information is also available to the public through the publication of the Authority’s Annual Report. (c) Question The council authority, the council officer and the name of that officer, responsible for your child protection policies; (c) Response Blaenau Gwent Children’s Services works within a Pan Gwent agreement under the South East Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board (SEWSCB). The SEWSCB has a number of sub groups that support its statutory functions e.g. the Policies and Procedures sub group. The remit of this group is to ensure current policies are reviewed and updated accordingly and that new local, regional and national policies are consulted on and disseminated as appropriate. The Chair of the SEWSCB is Mr. Simon Burch. In additional there is an All Wales Policy and Procedures (AWCPP) group that review and update the All Wales Child Protection Procedures. (d) Question the means by which that person is held to account by a member of the public for their performance in discharging that public function; (d) Response The SEWSCB is subject to inspection by CSSIW (e) Question how the function in (c) is properly discharged and held accountable for policies which would best effectively protect children from abuse if the person referred to in (a) does not collect any information on child abuse perpetratration?" (e) Response The Authority is subject to an annual audit held under Section 28 of the Children’s Act 1989. This is a statutory function and this audit would identify areas of good practice and areas where improvements need to be made which includes compliance with policy and procedures. Response to other Information requested: - The Authority retains information on perpetrators of abuse in accordance with safeguarding polices. For example, if a child’s name is subject to a child protection plan or a child in need plan then relationships are created inside and outside of the household this would include alleged perpetrators. In addition the Children’s Services Safeguarding Manager also represents the department at safeguarding forums such as MAPP meetings and MARAC meetings. The information discussed at these meeting is also stored on the department secure data base and used for safeguarding children purposes. With regard to Working Together 2013, The L/A works within guidance set out in Safeguarding Children: Working Together Under The Children Act 2004 in discharging its safeguarding functions, along with legislation as set out in The Children Act 1989, 2004, 2006 & 2008. Regards Andrea James ----- Original Message -----
Dear Mr Mortimer The Authority does not keep a list of people who have abused children. The Authority holds information pertinent to its cases whichever arena they are in i.e. Child in Need and so on, and do not collect it outside the normal investigations that would be made in accordance with out statutory duties. Regards Ros ----- Original Message -----
Dear Mr Mortimer Information is held on Schedule 1 offenders in accordance to statutory requirements. Regards Ros Morgan ----- Original Message -----
Dear Mr Mortimer Please find response to your request. Blaenau Gwent CBC, as a Local Authority, is subject to All Wales Child Protection Procedures and the function operates as part of a multi-disciplinary process involving organisations such as the Local Safeguarding Children's Board. Blaenau Gwent works within a Pan-Gwent agreement under the South East Wales Safeguarding Children Board which operates across the whole South East Wales region. Accountability within the local authority is through a management structure e.g. Departmental Managers, Senior Management Team, Corporate Management Team and scrutiny is conducted by Elected Members and/or Scrutiny Committees. The Head of Children's Services, Social Services, is Tanya Evans. Regards Ros Morgan ----- Original Message -----
Dear Mr Mortimer With regard to your request
below, please find details of gender and 13 x Female - Emotional Abuse However, in respect of familial
relationship this information is not I trust this meets your request to your satisfaction. Regards Ros Morgan http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/ Who do local authorities protect children from? 28th December 2013 |