1. SSCB Multi-Agency Practitioner Forum 20th November 2013
Safina Nadeem
Equalities Officer

2. Why is it important ?
Legal framework e.g. Equalities Act 2010 , Human Rights, Children's Act 1989 & 2004
• Organisational policy
• HCPC code of practice (Health and care professions council)
• Minimum Care Standards
Inspections
• Serious case reviews- lessons learnt
It’s the right thing to do!

3. Why is it important to Safeguarding
The changing demographics of Salford combined with what we know of the cultural practices of those emerging communities means that there is a growing number of 0-18 year olds that are vulnerable and need safeguarding for a variety of reasons

4. Cultural Practices and Safeguarding the most Vulnerable
Forced Marriage
Female Genital Mutilation
Witch Craft & Spirit Possession
Child Trafficking
Unaccompanied Children

5. Areas for improvement
In order to improve the quality of help and protection given to children and young people, the local authority and its partners should take the following action.
Ensure the views of children and young people subject to child protection and safeguarding services are systematically sought and used to develop services
Ensure that systematic consideration of equality and diversity is established with the work of Salford Safeguarding Children Board
OFSTED Inspection (November 2012)

6. What are the Board doing?
Cultural Competence Training
Equality & Diversity Awareness in Safeguarding
Safeguarding Children with Disabilities training
Community Impact Assessment Sessions
Development of ‘Equalities Challenge Panel’

7. Serious case review –Salford
One of the key line of enquiries
Whether all agencies and professionals gave due and proper consideration to all
diversity issues, including ethnicity, religion, language, disability and cultural issues in the delivery of services

8. Key issues identified in the SCR
“issues of ethnicity are not being considered as seriously as they should be. Nor are they recorded accurately or systematically”
“Although the family had a complex ethnic make up many of the agencies involved with the family were either unaware of this dimension or had failed to record ethnicity accurately in their documentation. This contributed at least in part to issues of “identity” never being satisfactorily addressed”
Although the family had a complex ethnic make up, many of the agencies involved with the family were either unaware of this dimension or had failed to record ethnicity accurately in their documentation. This contributed at least in part to issues of “identity” never being satisfactorily addressed

9. Recommendations from SCR
Children’s services prioritise training on ethnicity, and cultural diversity to assist workers in achieving good quality, appropriate assessments
An annual report of the community’s diversity needs should be produced
The LSCB should ensure that all children’s records and assessment documentation, including the Common Assessment Framework has a record of ethnicity and that there evidence that issues of ethnicity and diversity are considered appropriately.

10. 9 Protected Characteristics
Age
Race
Disability
Equality Strands
Marriage & Civil Partnerships
Sexual Orientation
Religion & Belief
Gender
Gender Re-assignment
Pregnancy & Maternity

11. Equalities Challenge Panel
Representation from Yemeni community, LGBT, Disability , SRFT, Equalities and Cohesion Team, SSCB

12. Examples of work Safeguarding in Madrassas
Working with the BME Network
Parenting Courses
Somali Community

13. Challenges Ensuring work is all joined up Sharing good practice
How best practice is captured?

14. Over to you!
What are your experiences in work around E&D at present and what are some of the challenges?
What do you see the role of the Equality Challenge Panel as? How do you think you can benefit from it?