Agenda item

Agenda item

Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub

Presentation of the Strategic Lead (Complex Safeguarding) and Claire McNicholls, Named Nurse (Safeguarding)

 

To receive a presentation on the Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub Annual Report 2021/2022.

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation of the Strategic Lead (Complex Safeguarding) and Claire McNicholls, Named Nurse (Safeguarding) on the Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub Annual Report 2021/2022.

 

The main points and themes within the presentation included:

 

  • Overview of the Complex Safeguarding Hub;
  • Partnership arrangements;
  • Governance, accountability and assurance arrangements;
  • Performance and outcomes;
  • Impact; and
  • Priorities 2022/2023.

 

Some of the key points and themes that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

 

  • Grooming via social media;
  • Disproportionality in terms of referrals in relation to young people from black and minority backgrounds and that it would be useful to receive an update when more work had been done in relation to this;
  • What support was available for families of children who were being exploited by criminal gangs;
  • Support for child victims with SEND, in particular from the police; and
  • How to increase awareness, for example of the signs to look out for in the exploitation of children and new online threats, including engaging with parents, communities and faith organisations.

 

The Strategic Lead of the Complex Safeguarding Hub explained that the methods used to target children for exploitation were dynamic and that, in particular since the pandemic, exploitation of children had moved online in relation to both child criminal exploitation (CCE) and child sexual exploitation (CSE).  In response to a question about why referrals for CSE were much lower than for CCE, she reported that this kind of exploitation could often be hidden.  She reported that very young children often now had devices, that social media and games were used to target children and that work was taking place to raise awareness about these risks.  She outlined the support available for families whose children were being exploited by criminal gangs, including Early Help, support from a Social Worker and commissioned early intervention support.  

 

Detective Chief Inspector Ian McNabb from GMP informed Members about support which would be available for families in relation to CCE from the not-for-profit organisation Catch22.  He highlighted some of the challenges for the police in dealing with CCE and the need to look at a range of ways to respond to it, including disruption.  In response to the question about children with SEND, he advised that the police had made significant improvements in how it dealt with vulnerable victims and he outlined some of the approaches that could be used, such as finding the best way to communicate with the child, ensuring the child was supported through the process and looking for other evidence.  In response to a Member’s question about “paedophile hunters”, he reported that most cases ended in successful prosecutions, although sometimes these cases did present additional risks for the police in managing the perpetrator and in the prosecution, due to the way the evidence was presented.  He advised that a case-by-case assessment was carried out in these situations.  In response to the question about the use of social media in the exploitation of children, he advised that a lot of work was taking place on this, including at a regional, national and international level.  In response to a question from the Chair about parents who colluded with an abuser, he advised that this would have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, working with partners, with the safety of the child underpinning the approach.  The Strategic Director of Children and Education Services reported that the safeguarding and welfare of children was the first priority and, while wanting to work with parents, if they were not able to safeguard their child, the Council had a statutory duty to intervene.

 

The Executive Member for Children’s Services recognised the importance of raising awareness of safeguarding, including the evolving risks in relation to social media.  He stated that it was important to hear young people’s voices and informed Members about a young people-led safeguarding awareness conference which had been organised by Manchester Safeguarding Partnership.

 

The Strategic Head of Early Help advised that they were utilising some of the successful approaches to community awareness raising which had been used in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking, working with organisations who identified community champions and faith-based leaders.  She reported that they were using social media, targeted radio programmes and local groups, in addition to work with foster carers and schools.  In response to a question from the Chair, she informed the Committee about place-based work taking place in part of the city on early prevention, working with a range of partners. 

 

Claire McNicholls, Named Nurse (Safeguarding) informed the Committee how, in response to CSE referrals decreasing, the Specialist Nurse and Social Worker had visited hospitals across the city to raise awareness, including promoting the risk tool staff could use to identify exploitation.  She also informed Members about the training package on complex safeguarding which had recently been developed.

 

The Strategic Lead of the Complex Safeguarding Hub outlined a range of work to raise awareness and reported that the Hub gathered information on emerging themes and shared this information.

 

Decision

 

To note the report, subject to the above comments.

Supporting documents: