Child Sexual Exploitation Leadership Seminar Thursday 10th September 2015 10:30-13:00

Welcome & Introduction Christine Davies CBE Independent Chair Sutton LSCB

Overview Findings and lessons from the inquiry into CSE in Rotherham, and messages on the impact of multi-agency approaches to tackling CSE in Oxfordshire. Steve Ashley, Independent Chair Rotherham LSCB Workshop – taking your leadership requirements for CSE forward Summary of leadership issues for Sutton Lunch

Child Sexual Exploitation: The lessons from Rotherham and Oxfordshire Stephen Ashley

Agenda Background What went wrong? What do we know now? Key issues What are the warning signs? Are you doing all that you can? The consequence of failure Summary

Background A history of child sexual exploitation Jay reported 1400 victims In Oxford 370 identified An event precipitates the breakdown The murder of Child S - Laura Wilson murdered in October 2010 Operation Bullfinch in Oxford The Serious Case Review The Jay and Casey reports Ofsted Single agency inspections There is inevitably a long history of CSE often stretching over two decades There are often very large numbers of victims – figures are normally disputed but in the end the first estimates tend to be accurate or lower than the final figure There is normally a major event that launches the case in to the public domain The serious case review will be a long time after the event but will bring the subject back into the public arena There will be independent reports and inspections that are outside your control

What went wrong in Rotherham? Poor professional standards Political correctness Failure to listen and engage with children and communities Poor leadership Reputation before children Inertia Political stagnation Political issues don’t get huge attention but actually set the tone These seem obvious but it is only now that the extreme nature of these issues is recognised There is no one individual to blame (though people tried!) People forget that this was an issue in the public domain – Newspaper article in 2003 – Blanked out picture with headline “Is this Britain's youngest mother?”

What went wrong in Oxford? Lack of understanding of the problem Poor day to day processes Weak operational response No overview or governance

The critical questions DO YOU THINK THAT PROFESSIONALS IN ROTHERHAM AND OXFORD JUST DIDN’T CARE? WHY DID THEY MISS WHAT SEEMS SO OBVIOUS? WOULD I HAVE DONE BETTER?

What do we know now? Papering over the cracks Lack of interaction between partners Reassurance rather than assurance An absence of governance A different view of ‘normal’ A council in silos Its not about money Self delusion!

Key issues Blame the victims – Intelligence/information gathering “precocious and difficult” in Oxford “making lifestyle choices” in Rotherham Intelligence/information gathering Disruption tactics Cohesive partnership working Leadership Governance Honesty

The warning signs Professionals flag concern but are ignored Parents/community groups are asking for help Poor practice across services e.g. taxi licensing No policies or structures to deal with specific issue of CSE No one talks about CSE or…..”its not an issue here”! Issue not raised at LSCB or council scrutiny panels Little mention of CSE in Community Safety Partnership or Health and Wellbeing Board The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment does not refer to CSE Partners do not engage in CSE training

Are you doing what you can? Intelligence Audits Performance management Structures Communication Training Honesty Joined up services Priorities Investigations Joint teams ‘experts’ LSCB Disruption

The consequences of failure Lost children – generations of problems e.g. Child E Reputation Paying the price Personal feelings The media frenzy Its too late once it has happened!

Summary CSE is a continuing problem Structural change Cultural change Governance Assurance Honesty and openness Moving from performance statistics to quality Preparation for the future

Questions?

Stephen Ashley stephen@chantmarleconsultancy. co Stephen Ashley stephen@chantmarleconsultancy.co.uk 07824 634209 01772 615583

Workshop What will you do to ensure that there is an effective coordination of CSE responses on the ground? Decide up to 3 leadership actions to be completed by end March 2016

Lunch & Close