Shortlist revealed for pioneering London safeguarding children award

Innovative projects to safeguard vulnerable children have been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The inaugural London Safeguarding Children Award aims to highlight good ideas and best practice to improve the protection of children in the capital.

Local authorities, health workers and the police who provide this vital service are have nominated examples of their work, including projects with other agencies and charities.

As well as the overall award, there is also an accolade for Emerging Practice. Four entries have been shortlisted for each category.

The awards will be judged by a panel of experts including Professor Eileen Munro, who led the government’s recent review of child protection; Julie Jones CBE, who is Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence; Cheryl Coppell, the chair of the London Safeguarding Children Board; and London Regional Safeguarding Adviser Kay Bell. The winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the London Safeguarding Children Board’s annual conference on 5 December.

Chair of the London Safeguarding Children Board, Cheryl Coppell said: “This is the first award of its kind in London, and really highlights the incredibly difficult work of protecting the most vulnerable young people in the capital.

“The entries highlight the innovative ideas and team work between agencies to safeguard children at risk of harm and support their families.

“The shortlist shows just how much excellent practice is happening across London and that taking a fresh approach in challenging situations can make a real difference.

“We hope safeguarding children boards across the country will be inspired by this valuable work.”

There are four shortlisted entries for the London Safeguarding Children Award:

• Parental substance misuse can be a factor in two thirds of the cases entering family court proceedings. Camden, Islington, Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham councils worked with Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the charity Coram to set up an American-style family drug and alcohol court. This has successfully encouraged parents to get help for their substance misuse and has avoided delays in the legal process. It has also resulted in decisions being made sooner about the future of the children involved in proceedings – whether it is safe for them to return home or whether they are placed elsewhere.
• Young children affected by domestic violence are often at risk of slipping under the radar of the agencies which could help them. Barnet council’s Safer Families Project created four posts in its social services team to focus on families with children under the age of 11 where violence was happening at home. These dedicated workers support mothers and children who had suffered violence, advising them what practical help and emotional support services are available from a range of organisations.
• Ideas from two of the world’s most inspirational civil rights leaders were used to develop a project to reduce violence in families. The Oxleas NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust in Bexley and Greenwich developed The Non-Violent Resistance Project, which is reducing violence in families perpetrated by parents or children through a series of parenting groups. It is based on the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, who led India to Independence and Dr Martin Luther King, a prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. Parents who have completed the programme have returned to run workshops for other families.
• The children of patients with mental health problems are at risk of being overlooked as support services focus on the health of their parents. A project in West Kensington spearheaded by the Central North West London Foundation Trust and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children aims to stop families slipping through the gap between adults and children’s social services. Frontline professionals are encouraged to check whether patients with mental illness have children and if so offer a tailored package of support to the whole family.

There are four shortlisted entries for the London Safeguarding Emerging Practice Award:

• Parent champions have helped mums and dads from the Congolese community feel less isolated and more involved in decisions about the services in their area. Enfield council created Community Parent Engagement Panels to bridge the cultural divide between Congolese refugees who had recently arrived in the country and a range of agencies. The panels are volunteers drawn from the Congolese community who are parents themselves. They raise awareness of services, including the NHS, which could provide assistance to Congolese asylum seekers as they raise their families.
• Children and young people are being brought to the forefront of making decisions about the services which affect their lives. Barnet council commissioned a piece of research which showed that although many young people of wanted to have their say on developing services aimed at them, they felt excluded from decisions. This led to a plan being drawn up on how to gather feedback from as many young people as possible on what issues to prioritise and how a range of services can be improved. A variety of ways to reach young people were highlighted including school assemblies, social media, focus groups and questionnaires and these are currently being taken forward.
• A helpline for health workers caring for people with mental health problems was set up to provide expert support on safeguarding children issues. The telephone advice service was pioneered by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust to give its employees a place to discuss what can be complex cases with an experienced mental health practitioner who has a detailed knowledge of child protection issues. As well as raising awareness among healthcare staff of safeguarding children as part of treating their parents, the hotline has identified areas where further training is needed. So far, more than 400 calls have been made to the helpline.
• Barnet Local Safeguarding Children Board looked at how they could raise awareness of their work with faith and cultural organisations in the area. Their CommUNITY project resulted in a directory called Faithbook and opening better lines of communication, both via newsletters and leaflets and online. Advice surgeries were run by the board in locations including a mosque and a synagogue to encourage people in the voluntary sector to seek information on how to keep children safe.