FIFE COUNCIL
Fife Partnership Board
March 24th 2009
Agenda Item No 8
Future Chairing Arrangements – Fife Child Protection Committee
Options Paper
1.0 Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to allow members of the Fife Partnership Executive an
opportunity to consider the options for the future Chairing arrangements of Fife Child
Protection Committee.
2.0 Current Chairing Arrangements
Fife Child Protection Committee is currently chaired by Anne Buchanan, NHS Fife Nurse
Director. Her two year designated term of office is due to end on 30th June 2009.
The Fife Chief Officers’ Public Safety Group is responsible for the appointment of the Chair
in line with the following national and local guidance:
Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection Committees (Scottish
Executive 2005);

Child Protection Governance Arrangements in Fife (Fife Chief Officers’ Public Safety
Group 2008).
Both policy documents describe the role of the Chair in some detail. The local guidance
specifies that the Chair will be appointed from Fife Council, Fife Constabulary or NHS Fife.
2.1 Potential Chairing Arrangements
There are two potential options for future Chairing arrangements; firstly the appointment of
a new Chair from the existing representative services/agencies on the Child Protection
Committee or alternatively by the appointment of an Independent Chair.
In either case the Chair will continue to be supported by a robust CPC Support Team.
This paper will explore the advantages and disadvantages of both models and will highlight
experiences elsewhere in Scotland.
2.2 Option 1 – Appointment from Representative Service/Agency
Across Scotland this is, by far, the most common model currently in use. Historically, the
majority of CPC Chairs were from a social work service background, but after the Child
Protection Audit and Review in 2002, this changed and there are many exceptions to this
now.
Advantages:
Working knowledge of local strategic and operational management arrangements;
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Existing local partnership working across and between services/agencies;
Local knowledge, existing working relationships and consistency;
‘Ownership’ of the Child Protection Committee as a participating service/agency;
No funding required for remuneration of the Chair;
Disadvantages:
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Fixed term of office at 2 years;
Capacity issues and competing demands on the Chair between national and local
commitments, CPC and own service/agency business interests;
Conflicts of interest as Chair and as service/agency representative;
Fixed term of office allows little time for CPD or continuity of leadership;
Objectivity and impartiality may be compromised and questioned;
Relevant skills and aptitude of future potential chairs
2.3 Option 2 – Appointment of an Independent Dedicated Chair
Across Scotland there are currently Independent Chairs in Scottish Borders and
Renfrewshire. Glasgow has recently appointed an Independent Chair, East and Midlothian
are about to appoint and a number of other Child Protection Committees are in the process
of appointing and/or exploring options.
This particular model appears to be gaining popularity, and support and has been
commented on upon positively by HMIe in recent Inspection Reports. Following the Baby P
tragedy in Haringey, the independence and impartiality of the chair of the local
Safeguarding Children’s Board was questioned.
Advantages:
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Accountability and reporting arrangements clear and concise;
Capacity issues much reduced;
Focussed on the role and responsibilities of the Chair and on delivering CPC
business;
Independence from representative services/agencies on the Child Protection
Committee, potential for conflicts of interest much reduced;
Objectivity and Impartiality not as likely to be compromised;
Flexibility in terms of working arrangements;
Being independent provides opportunities for increased scrutiny – i.e chairing of
significant case reviews, challenging organisational self evaluations, service delivery
etc;
Disadvantages::
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Retention of the Independent Chair may be problematic;
Local knowledge/context (depending on Candidate) may be limited;
Authority of the Independent Chair needs universal buy in;
Recruitment, selection and funding costs (see below);
Independent Dedicated Chair - Practical Considerations
Experience from elsewhere, (Scottish Borders, Renfrewshire and potentially now Glasgow,
East Lothian and Midlothian), has identified a number of practical considerations which
need consideration:
Advertisement, Selection and Recruitment – Copies of Advertisements, Job Descriptions
and Person Specifications have been obtained from elsewhere and provide a good starting
basis for our consideration. Fife Council’s existing selection and recruitment procedures
can be utilised as necessary; (Appendix 1)
Contractual Arrangements – Whilst this needs to be agreed and negotiated, a copy of a
Contract has been obtained from elsewhere. Terms, Conditions and Responsibilities need
to be agreed. An Enhanced Disclosure Check would also be required for this post.
Working Arrangements – Whilst this needs to be agreed and negotiated, working
arrangements can be flexible to fit in with the pattern of national and local business
meetings, working at home/remotely can be accommodated, there is a working base
available at the CPC Support Team Office in Auchterderran Centre, a CPC Support Team
and Secretariat already in place and working well.
Remuneration – Whilst this needs to be agreed and negotiated, information from elsewhere
suggests that taking into account agreed contractual and working arrangements, the need
to attend national and local business meetings, network and deliver on the CPC business,
on average somewhere between 5 and 7 working days per month appears to be the norm
at a daily rate of between £200.00 and £250.00 plus travel and subsistence costs.
Example – Max per annum, 7 days per month x 12 months at £250.00 per day =
£21,000.00 plus travel and subsistence. Funding would require to be found from the
existing CPC budget.
Transition – Allowing for all of the above, the best possible time for a transition between the
existing arrangements and a move to an Independent Chair would be between now and the
end of June 2009.
3.0 Conclusions and Recommendations
3.1 The Chief Officers’ Public Safety Group and Fife Partnership Executive Group have
considered this paper and support the move to appoint an independent chair for Fife
Child Protection Committee
3.2 We would recommend that the Fife Partnership Board support and endorse this
decision
George Brechin
Chair
Chief Officers Public Safety Group
Contact:
Address:
Date:
Anne Buchanan – Chair of Fife CPC
Hayfield House, Kirkaldy
4rh March 2009