Agenda and minutes

Verbal item

The board was chaired by the deputy chair, Fiona Taylor. The chair opened the meeting and apologies were made. The board welcomed Mark Long, Stephen Clayman, Jonathan Woodhams, Laurence Piemonte and Kevin Makambe as new representatives.

The chair asked for partners to sign up to the information sharing agreement. The MPS are developing a new template for information sharing agreements which will be circulated to localise and implement.

Members of the Board are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.

No declarations of interest to note.

The minutes from June CSP board were reviewed by members and confirmed as correct. The chair requested all outstanding actions to be completed and updates provided to Jade Hodgson

Rescue and Response is a PAN London MOPAC funded programme investigating county lines across London. The local profile for Barking and Dagenham sets out the demographics, counties where there are identified links and current findings on individuals. The year one strategic assessment into rescue and response has been completed. The research identified the following for Barking and Dagenham;

• 89 individuals linked to county lines with 7 more “potential” links. Of the 96 in total 11 have been referred to Rescue and Response.
• Ages range between 14 to 48 years, 57% of the total cohort are within the 15-19 years age range and 92% are male.
• Linked to 20 counties, the most common are Norfolk (Norwich and Great Yarmouth), Essex (Colchester) and Hampshire (Portsmouth).
• The PT gang and Becton Boys were identified as the most influential gangs in relation to county lines and criminal exploitation.
• The only identified county line name is “Mason Lane” connected to the PT gang.
• Becontree estate is the central location where 24 individuals are linked.
• Ranked 24 out of 32 boroughs for rescue and response (June 2018- June 2019).

The strategic assessment identified;

• The majority identified are between 12-24 years, 70% of the cohort are aged 15-18 years.
• The total number individuals in London linked to county lines is 4,013, Barking and Dagenham have 101 to date (Jan 2018- March 2019).
• Referrals predominantly come from the MPS however work is underway with parents through the MPS, YOS and gangs’ unit to highlight signs of exploitation Councillor Worby advised this is also being done via faith forums.
• Rescue and Response are at capacity with a 2 month waiting list

Fiona Taylor opened to members and asked the board to give thought on how the findings will inform partnership work. Greg Tillett noted that Probation Services (NPS) have made 11 referrals, when referrals are made to the service it would be useful to understand what steps were taken for learning. Lucy Satchell-Day questioned whether there is understanding of the 89 identified and their wider families. It was advised that we do have a local profiling of those individuals and work is being done to apply and link in services for wrap around support.

Stephen Clayman asked rescue and response to clarify whether there is enough information sharing between partners to learn from cases and referrals. Rescue and response advised information sharing has been positive also noting that Barking and Dagenham have a high number of young people identified however a low referral rate. Angie Fuller advised that when young people are identified, wrap around support is put in place to ensure young people are supported so there is not always need for additional support from rescue and response. The process is working well for young people however work needs to be done around young adults. CRC advised a single point of contact can be agreed.

ACTION: Jade Hodgson to send rescue and response presentation and strategic assessment to board members.  (Action Completed)

ACTION: Lucy Satchell-Day to link in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This item is restricted due to sensitive information

Sonia Drozd updated members on the progress of the DHR panel into the case of KP. The action plan has been delayed as perpetrator accepted to be interviewed by the DHR chair. The aim was to gain valuable insight to the murder for learning on how this could have been prevented however the perpetrator has denied the murder and accused his daughters of lying.  The board agreed to have the DHR chair to present the action plan in Decembers board meeting. 

Contextual safeguarding looks at the wider context around an individual including where people live, neighbourhoods, peer relationships and is an approach in which Barking, and Dagenham are adopting.

The presentation into contextual safeguarding highlighted the following points;

• December 2018 the Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) tasked the development of the exploitation approach.
• The borough’s Multi-agency Sexual Exploitation Panel transformed into the Contextual Safeguarding Exploitation Strategic Group.
• Childrens care developed an exploitation team co-located with the YOS.
• January 2019 the council were one of four successful bids for a 3 year pilot working with the University of Bedfordshire to develop a contextual safeguarding approach.
• April 2019 partners shaped the approach incorporating gangs, youth violence, peer or peer abuse.
• July 2019 bids were submitted to Young Londoners Fund (YLF) and Youth Endowerment Fund (YEF) around the contextual safeguarding approach. The YEF was unsuccessful however YLF has reached the second round. The bid works with voluntary and community sector, outreach work and upskilling those in the community who work with children and young people on the ground.
• “PINE what works” are conducting a formal review to evaluate the YARM.
• The exploitation approach looks at, educating children and young people around risks, building resilience, supporting the wellbeing of children and young people, providing support to schools and parents, creating safe locations, providing early help and raining and improving knowledge in the wider workforce and upskilling those working with children and young people.
• The approach has been delivered to the LSCB, CSP and scheduled at the SAB in October. The chair requested for this to be presented to cabinet.

LBBD commissioned a thematic review looking at exclusions and transitions through a  pilot with 3 schools (Monteagle, Richard Albion and Thomas Arnold). The key headlines from the review were;

·  The school approach and contextual safeguarding was welcomed.

·  The prevalent reason for exclusions is persistent disruptive behaviours including violence towards others and teachers.

·  Schools understand young people’s needs but experience delays around MASH and childrens care and support

·  ComSol was applauded but requires work around referrals and processes.

·  The YARM and YARM assessment was commended by secondary schools but identified need to explore this for primary schools.

·  ACE’s identified were violence, poverty, domestic violence, inconsistent parenting, absent fathers, social care involvement substance misuse and housing

·  Aim to track year 6s into secondary for longitudinal study to see how many remain in school following an intervention.

Step Up Stay Safe developed by LBBD focuses on addressing exclusions and serious violence through an offer of interventions from universal, targeted, intensive to specialist support over five themes.

1. Tiered intervention offer (Led by Angie Fuller)
2. Council and partners (Led by Andy Opie)
3. Schools (Led by Sharon White)
4. Parental and community engagement (Led by Comms and ComSol)
5. Young voices (Led by Erik Stein)

The programme continues to develop by commissioning voluntary, community and professional sectors and aims to improve support for parents and carers. Data shows that exclusions within secondary schools are increasing and schools are seeing more involvement in youth violence. From this, work needs to be done to support schools and parents to keep young people in education. This work leads on a “Lost Hours” campaign to show what offers are available for children and young people after school to reduce levels of offending. LBBD legal team supported on the search, screen and confiscation programme which involved schools who felt there wasn’t an issue of serious violence within their schools.

The chair asked how pilot schools were identified, the pilot was open to all schools and was rolled out in those schools who responded. There is scope to open to secondary schools and Rose Primary and William Bellamy as they have high level of exclusions. Councillor Mullane stressed the importance of the programme and the need to support parents and carers in being aware of the risk. Delivering a strong approach to the lost hours campaign will be key. The programme is at the start of the journey and work needs to be done to engage with all schools. Stephen Clayman questioned whether there have been any early signs with the Future Youth Zone, it was noted that reviews are in place for learning. The youth zone has 2000 young people attending per week usually within the younger cohort (8-12years) with a membership of 5000.

Our Exploitation Approach understands the rapid changes to the borough demographics, we are the highest proportion of 0-17s in the UK which highlights need for contextual safeguarding. The vision looks to embed the culture and understanding complexities of safeguarding adolescents. Work needs to be done around the language use and training those working closely with children and young people to understand the need within SEND, where young people feel powerless in choices. The governance framework sets out the new targeted operating model for childrens case and support to meet the demand and need for those experiencing violence and exploitation.

Victim Support set out the structure for the new service. The rationale for the changes was to improve experiences for victim and witness through their journey of the CJS, increase confidence, increase knowledge around what support is available, increase attendance in court and improving partnership work. The service has been designed based on the voices of victims, applying a BCU remit (B&D, Havering and Newham).

The presentation highlighted the following points;

·  A new role Independent Victim Advocate (IVA) implemented

·  When a referral is received it is explored and risk assessed having caseworker ready. Where a case is complex it will be passed to a complex case worker or IVA.

·  IVA and DV caseworkers are trained to provide information on victim and witness entitlements, laws such as Clare’s Law, how to access support.

·  Contact is usually made within 24 hours, if this doesn’t happen then MPS are informed

·  The service aims to provide the right support from the start of the process

·  Provide an integrated restorative justice model delivered by calm mediation to provide the support, improve partnership approach, targeting self-referrals.

·  There is a 24/7 support line and live chat for victims to utilise.

·  Pre and post trail and outreach support provided by complex workers and IVA.

·  Tri-age and allocation looks to contact the victim or witness, risk assess, offer appointments to meet the need of the person.

·  44.5 IDVA in place and no longer borough specific, IDVA will support victims in the place of need.

·  Extended opening hours Mon-Fri 8am-8pm

·  LVWS main delivery partners are Gallop, Calm Mediation, Sistah Space, Stay Safe East, Shelter and St Giles Trust.

Pre-trial and outreach service has been in place since 01 April 2019 on a two year contract commissioned by MOPAC. The service is to improve the experience with the criminal justice service for victim and witnesses bringing together five strands into one integrated service and will provide;

·  Support to adult victims of crime (18+)

·  Specialist support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse (aged 16+)

·  Access to Restorative Justice

·  Deliver Pre-Trial and Outreach support for prosecution and defence witnesses

·  Provide support for people affected by major crime incidents.

Mark Long highlighted that the BCU under LVWS doesn’t align with MPS BCU which could prove difficult as the BCU structures aren’t aligned. The MPS also raised engagement and whether there is the correct liaison across the BCU. It was noted that referrals could provide more information on the case to support the introduction and risk assessment phase. The MPS questioned the process of repeat victimisation and whether the information between cases is married up. Victim Support do link up cases to help the risk assessment stage and to ensure they met the victim’s needs. Stephen Clayman noted that the MPS are looking to pilot an intervention scheme that responds to victims within hours of the offence, it was highlighted that there is need for this to be a partnership approach as was keen to link in with Victim Support and the commissioned  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Verbal item

Representative sent apologies so item deferred to later board.

Verbal item

Representative sent apologies so item deferred to later board.

Verbal item

Representative sent apologies so item deferred to later board.

Representative sent apologies so item deferred to later board.

The chair requested future agenda items to be sent to Jade Hodgson

Councillor Worby advised that the Domestic Violence Commission launched today (25 September 2019) looking at why domestic violence is normalised and why our communities have a higher tolerance than other areas. The commissioned has been designed to become a national piece of work that can be replicated in other areas.

The commission consists of the following members, Polly Neate (Chair), Donna Hall, Simon Blake, Amna Adbullatif, Nicki Norman, Becky Rogerson, Sarah Hughes, Raji Hunjan, Jess Philips, Jo Todd, Ricky Henderson and Junior Smart. Additionally, a reference has been sent up which includes partnership and communities including some CSP board members. The MPS welcomed this work and were keen to know who the MPS representative will be.

The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is providing funding to all London boroughs to implement programmes that supports local serious violence and knife crime actions plans and work to address either drivers of drug related violence, reducing recidivism and reducing exclusions and supporting into education, employment and training. Funding was allocated on a 3-tier basis. Barking and Dagenham fall within tier 2 so have been awarded £145,000 for 2019/20 and £145,000 2020/21. Submission of proposals have a short timescale (end September 2019) which has meant consultation around developing a proposal has been limited. Our working proposal includes:

·  Implementing the Ben Kinsella Trust

·  Upscaling YARM into primary schools

·  Lost Hours Campaign

·  Education and first aid training with Royal London Hospital.

Following the recent update on the CSP governance review it has shown there is not a strong connect into the board around ASB, violence and driving forward the serious violence and knife crime action plan. LBBD have reintroduced the IVOLT which looks at problem solving, we aim to review the membership and alter the meeting to become more strategic which would support the board around violence and ASB. The governance pack will be updated to reflect this.

The YOS are holding an open day on 18 November 2019, 2.00-4.00pm at Roycraft House Ground Floor which includes activities from staff, young people and parents to show the work being delivered. The invite is open to all board members.

ACTION: Councillor Worby to send Mark Long and Stephen Clayman the name of the MPS rep for the DV Commission.

ACTION: Jade Hodgson to add serious violence and knife crime action plan to the forward plan.

ACTION: Jade Hodgson to update governance pack to reflect IVOLT feeding into CSP board.

Community Safety Partnership Board

Wednesday 11 December 2019, 10:00-1:00pm

Barking Learning Centre, Conference Room

Community Safety Partnership Board

Wednesday 11 December 2019, 10:00am-13:00pm

Barking Learning Centre, Conference Room