Working Together 2023, states that the LSCP should agree on the level of funding needed to deliver the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. This includes consideration of business and analytical support, independent scrutiny, infrastructure, and core functions including local children safeguarding practice reviews, multi-agency training and learning events. It is the responsibility of the LSP to ensure that adequate funding is allocated and spent in line with agreed priorities.
Funding contributions from the statutory safeguarding partners should be equitable and agreed by the LSP. Funding for the arrangements should be reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that they can meet the financial needs of the arrangements.
The funding partners have continued their commitment to funding the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, as set out below.
Contributions 2023-24
| Leeds City Council- Children and Families | £175,000 |
| NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board | £135,135 |
| West Yorkshire Police | £26,000 |
| West Yorkshire Probation | £6,000 |
| Leeds City Council- Housing | £51,645 |
| Previous DofE funding | £10,000 |
| Training charging | £17,600 |
| Total £379,422 |
This funding provides staffing and resources that are managed by the LSCP Business Unit manager as detailed below and regular oversight reports are presented to the Executive.
The majority of the budget, as expected is allocated to the staffing of the business unit, with professional services, including the undertaking of CSPRs which require an independent commissioned author, being the next largest area of spend.
Spending 2023-24
| Staffing | £302,201 |
| Professional Services | £35,197 |
| Refreshments | £186 |
| Room Hire | £3,579 |
| Recruitment and Advertising | £484 |
| Membership | £1988 |
| Total £343,635 |
This year has seen an underspend, which is mostly due to a reduction of staffing within the business unit. The underspend will go into a reserve budget, which the partnership will utilise in the coming year to address the identified gaps in response to learning from reviews, the LSCP priorities and the findings of the JTAI inspection.