Child Trafficking
The role of the
Local Safeguarding Children Board
(LSCB)
in combating
Child Trafficking
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Paul Hewitt - London Borough of Hounslow,
Chair of Child Trafficking subgroup –
London Safeguarding Board
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Local Safeguarding Children Boards
(LSCB)
Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB’s) – established by
Children Act 2004
LSCB’s have a crucial role in monitoring the effectiveness of partner
agencies – Eileen Munro 2011
LSCB’s must support partner agencies to adapt their practice and
become more effective in safeguarding children
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Responsibilities and Duties
The main responsibilities of the LSCB (Section 14 Children Act 2004)
are to:
Co-ordinate, and quality assure the safeguarding children activities of
member agencies
Munro states that Local Safeguarding Children Boards are:
“Well placed to identify emerging problems through learning from
practice and to oversee efforts to improve services in response”.
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Role and Function
LSCB’s must:
• Provide advice and guidance to partner agencies in relation to policies
and procedures and practice.
• Provide organisations with the opportunity to attend training courses on
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
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LSCB Framework
LSCB’s provide:
A framework for countering child trafficking within each locality
P – Polices, Procedures and Practice
I – Infrastructure
E – Education and Training
S – Standards – Scrutiny and Evaluation
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Policies, Procedures & Practice
The LSCB has a particular responsibility to ensure that Policies,
Procedures and Practice are integrated in relation to vulnerable
groups of children (e.g. trafficked children)
Trafficking Toolkit and Assessment Processes for managing risk in
relation to child trafficking to be implemented and overseen by LSCB
Protection plans in place for those children in danger as a result of
being trafficked.
(London Child Protection Procedures [Part B]
Safeguarding Children at Risk of Exploitation through being trafficked).
http://www.londoncp.co.uk/consultation/sg_trafficked_ch.html
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Infrastructure & Governance
LSCB’s bring partner agencies together to work collaboratively around
safeguarding matters
Sub Groups:
Every LSCB will have a multi-agency group to address vulnerable groups such
as those at risk of trafficking, going missing or sexual exploitation.
Main Board Meetings:
Having this infrastructure in place to hold together agencies in their
commitment to vulnerable children is crucial in combating trafficking
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Education and Training
Every LSCB will have a responsibility to provide multi-agency training
on key safeguarding issues. (Working Together training).
The most effective training in relation to child trafficking is not just
awareness raising; but multi-agency training with professionals
coming together to learn about children at risk of being trafficked
and the sharing of information.
Supplemented by e-learning modules on child trafficking to raise
awareness across the whole of the children’s workforce
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Standards, Quality Assurance
& Evaluation
LCSB’s have a responsibility to monitor and evaluate performance
information relating to the key activities.
In relation to child trafficking ensuring that:
National Referral Mechanism [NRM] referrals are consistently made
and quality assured is a key standard for improving outomes for
trafficked children.
The collation and evaluation of data around child trafficking is
particularly important for service planning, and strategic mapping of
trends and patterns of abuse related to organised trafficking.
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Questions & Answers
- Over to you.
For further details please contact paul.hewitt@hounslow.gov.uk
Mobile: 07814 296 365
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