A SAFEGUARDING partnership in Cheshire East has apologised after a damning report revealed 'fundamental' weaknesses had left vulnerable children at risk.

A recent inspection took place of the Safeguarding Children Partnership - which includes Cheshire East Council, Cheshire Police and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside - to assess how the agencies work together to help and protect children.

In their report, inspectors from Ofsted, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Care Quality Commission found the partnership 'did not understand the extent and impact of the failure to protect children at risk of, or are victims of, criminal and sexual exploitation'.

The report also revealed the partner agencies took on board feedback from the inspection and were determined to make changes and improve its services.

In a joint statement, a spokesman for the Cheshire East Safeguarding Children Partneship said: "We fully accept all the inspectors’ recommendations and are truly sorry there were gaps in our work to protect these children and young people.

"Criminal exploitation has a devastating impact on children, young people, their families, and local communities and our job is to support the whole family to help to keep them safe.

"Following the inspection, we acted immediately and are working hard to make sure that this vulnerable group of children are supported and protected.

"Improvements have already been implemented and we are working together to build on our strengths and address all the areas for improvement as a matter of urgency.   

"Inspectors highlighted the commitment and dedication of staff across all agencies and that they know the young people well.

"We’d like to thank everyone who works tirelessly to support children, young people, and their families, to protect them and keep them safe.

"We are ambitious for our children and young people in Cheshire East.

"Through working together across our partnership, we are committed to an open dialogue, brave thinking and action that supports children here to be safe, happy, and healthy."

Key findings from the report

Weaknesses

  • Insufficient scrutiny of the day-to-day experiences of these vulnerable children, with too much focus on process;
  • The lack of a multi-agency training strategy around child exploitation means that many staff do not have the required skills to consistently help and protect exploited and missing children;
  • Urgent action is required to understand and address the underlying complexities and continuing risks to exploited and missing children across all agencies and services, as too many children remain in situations of risk and harm.

Strengths

  • Frontline staff across all agencies make strenuous efforts to work together to help children and their families;
  • Recognition of work in the community by youth justice staff, youth workers and police officers as well as safeguarding support for schools; and
  • Intensive support for exploited children and their family members, including mental health, sexual health and substance misuse services.

The report said: "Until this inspection, strategic multi-agency partners did not understand the extent and impact of the failure to protect children and drive forward plans for those who are at risk of, or are victims of, criminal and sexual exploitation.

"Notwithstanding the tangible commitment and ambition of all partners to improving services, there is insufficient senior leadership analysis of the underlying complexities or understanding of the day-to-day experiences of these vulnerable children.

"These are serious and fundamental weaknesses, leaving some children in situations of unassessed risk and harm.

"Multi-agency action plans are ineffective. Evaluation is not based on a systematic analysis of the impact of frontline work across services; instead, there is too much focus on process.

"Leaders have identified areas for development, but changes have not been implemented quickly enough. The pace of change for exploited children is too slow.

"Urgent action is required to understand and address the underlying complexities and continuing risks to exploited and missing children across all agencies and services, as too many children remain in situations of risk and harm."