Sub-groups
Scrutiny and Challenge Group
Chair: Sue Chandler, Kent County Council (KCC), Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
The primary purpose of the Scrutiny and Challenge Group is to assure the Safeguarding Partners of the efficacy of the safeguarding system and facilitate robust scrutiny and constructive challenge across the partnership. The objectives of the Group is to ensure the functions of the Partnership are effectively discharged by the Safeguarding Partners and relevant agencies as required in the Working Together to Safeguarding Children 2018 guidance.
View Scrutiny and Challenge Group terms of reference (DOCX, 78.3 KB)
Policy and Procedures Group
Chair: Chris Rabey, Detective Inspector, Protection Vulnerable People Command, Kent Police
This is a joint Kent Safeguarding Multi-Agency Partnership and Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership Group, and is responsible for developing local multi-agency policies, procedures and guidance for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and ensuring they are compliant with national requirements. The Group keeps such policies, procedures, and guidance under review, ensuring their timely revision and undertakes the supporting Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs).
View Policy and Procedures Group terms of reference (DOCX, 448.3 KB)
Emerging Themes Group
Chair: Sarah Hammond, Director of KCC Integrated Children's Service (Social Work Lead)
The purpose of this Group is to horizon scan and consider topics and themes which are emerging and will likely impact on safeguarding in the future. The Group will advise the KSCMP Executive Board via the Scrutiny and Challenge Group or by exception reporting directly) on emerging issues and themes identified by the Group and the Partnership's wider structure of sub-groups and relevant agencies. Themes the Group will be focusing on are safeguarding issues and themes for agencies and/or the Partnership that are not ordinally identifiable; nationally identified issues from reviews, high profile cases, inspections and case law; and forthcoming legislative changes.
View Emerging Themes Group terms of reference (DOCX, 69.1 KB)
Education Safeguarding Group
Chair: Sarah Costain, Deputy Headteacher of Five Acre Wood School
The purpose of this Group is to facilitate communication across the education sector, on their statutory safeguarding duties, and compliance with KSCMP policies and procedures. The Group is pivotal in identifying strategic and practice issues from within school, colleges, Early Year settings, and other educational establishments and making recommendations to the KSCMP.
View Education Safeguarding Group terms of reference (PDF, 259.5 KB)
District Council Children's Safeguarding Lead Group
Chair: Alison Broom, Chief Executive of Maidstone Borough Council
The purpose of this Group is to represent the district councils as relevant agencies in the KSCMP arrangements and provide assurance that local safeguarding children issues are raised and addressed at a local level. The Group provides a link between the activity of the district councils safeguarding leads and the KSCMP, as well as sharing examples of good practice.
View District Council Children's Safeguarding Lead Group terms of reference (DOCX, 69.8 KB)
Health Safeguarding Group
Chair: Clare Bright, Associate Director for All Age Safeguarding., Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
This Group seeks assurance to safeguarding and promote the welfare of children across the health community in line with the statutory duty under Section 11 of the Children Act (2004), the Care Act (2014), and NHSE Accountability and Assurance Framework. The Group is supported in fulfilling the health aspects of its safeguarding responsibilities and functions by the Health Reference Group(s). The Group will define the strategic direction in relation to the planning, commissioning and delivery of health services to vulnerable children and adults at risk, in order to achieve a consistent and responsive approach to meeting the needs of all children and specifically those who require safeguarding interventions.
The terms of reference for the Health Safeguarding Group are currently being reviewed.