Chair’s Introduction to the Annual Report
The last twelve months have been a particularly challenging period as public confidence in child protection and safeguarding systems have been thrown in doubt by the high profile and tragic case of baby Peter.
Within the current national climate there has been considerable anxiety about the capacity of agencies to deliver safe and robust professional
practice. With these issues in mind, Blackpool LSCB has concentrated on ensuring that our core responsibilities in safeguarding children have been scrutinised and plans have been refocused as necessary. In this demanding context there are specific challenges for Blackpool LSCB. In particular, there are areas of high deprivation and also a transient, changing population.
The very attraction of Blackpool, with its international leisure facilities, can also serve as a potential attraction to vulnerable youngsters and these
issues have been fully taken into consideration in developing our plans for safeguarding children.
Despite the national concerns, there have been significant positive developments in Blackpool that can be held up as good and innovative
work. We can point to the creative Family Nurse Partnership where young parents are supported with skilled and specialist nursing input. Similarly,
the Awaken Project has won national acclaim for its proactive approach in protecting vulnerable children from sexual exploitation. There has also
been some real progress in developing multi agency responses to domestic violence and its impact on children.
This LSCB Annual Report and Action Plan sets out the work that has been undertaken by the LSCB in Blackpool over the last twelve months. It also introduces some of the key plans for further development of services over the remainder of the year. We hope that we’ve been able to reassure the public that issues of safeguarding children are taken very seriously by Blackpool LSCB and that there is a full commitment to working in partnership to keep our children safe and free from harm.
Dennis Charlton
Independent Chair
Blackpool Local Safeguarding Children Board
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