Improving the multi-agency response
We’re urging the government to show leadership, address serious problems within the child protection system throughout England and use the Health and Care Bill to strengthen the response to child abuse.
In its current form the Bill will put children in danger due to proposed changes to NHS structures. This could destabilise multi-agency safeguarding partnerships by disrupting working relationships, resulting in a loss of experienced staff.
Recent reports from child safeguarding experts, including Sir Alan Wood, have called for better leadership and information sharing in multi-agency safeguarding partnerships to strengthen the local response to abuse.
Multi-agency safeguarding partnerships are led by health bodies, local authorities and the police. They’re engaged with education leaders and other organisations that do vital work to protect children from harm.
GPs, nurses and health visitors are in a prime position to identify safeguarding concerns. They’re often the only eyes and ears in the community that can spot signs of abuse before young children go to school. We fear the changes to the NHS could further weaken safeguarding partnerships that already need urgent improvement.
The Health and Care Bill will scrap existing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and create Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) which will be legally responsible for safeguarding children across large geographical areas.