A report presenting the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership (BWSCP) Annual Report 2024/25.

The Committee were provided with information on the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024/2025.  The BWSCP Annual report provided a summary of activity for the work and progress undertaken by the multi-agency partnership to promote the safeguarding and wellbeing of children in Reading, West Berkshire, and Wokingham.

The Committee noted that the Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 (WTSC23) provided the statutory guidance for all safeguarding children partnerships in England. From March 2019, the safeguarding partners across the west of Berkshire (Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham) had joined to become the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership (BWSCP). BWSCP was the key statutory partnership whose role was to co-ordinate the partners safeguarding services; act as a strategic leadership group in supporting and engaging others; and implement local and national learning including from serious child safeguarding incidents.

It was noted that five new Priority areas had been established: Safeguarding & Support for Children and Young People from Intra Familial Harm, Safeguarding & Support for Children and Young People from Extra Familial Harm, Safeguarding & Support for Children and Young People from Domestic Abuse, Safeguarding & Support for Children Not in School, Safeguarding & Support for Pre-School Children, Reducing Neglect.

It was also noted that an options appraisal in relation to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in response to the findings of the Joint Target Area Inspection had been undertaken.  Following consideration by lead safeguarding partners a decision had been made to move to single local authority safeguarding arrangements. Therefore, a Reading Safeguarding Children’s Partnership would be established to replace the Berkshire West Children’s Safeguarding Partnership. It was noted that timelines and details were to be approved at an extraordinary meeting with lead safeguarding partners. It was noted that this work would also feed into the work of the Children’s Services Improvement Board.

Resolved – That the report be noted.