The implementation of learning from all cases, either for individual agencies or the partnership, irrespective of the decision to proceed to a CSPR, is overseen by the RAG with regular updates given to the LSCP Executive and incorporated in training.
From the cases this year there have been several themes identified, which will be considered in the appropriate subgroups in terms of implementation of learning and evaluation of impact. This is ongoing work throughout the year and will continue into 2024-25.
Professional curiosity – This has been a reoccurring theme in reviews and an area where work has already taken place across the partnership, including joint work with the Leeds Safeguarding Adult Board and Safer Leeds, to develop and disseminate consistent resources.
Discussions have taken place as to why this remains a recurring theme from reviews and how we evidence the impact of any work on practice and outcomes. In 2024-25 alongside Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board and Safer Leeds, a video will be developed to support practitioner understanding of professional curiosity. A decision has been made that further work is required to embed the learning in practice and in the coming year a national lead will be commissioned to support Leeds with this work.
A multi-agency learning event was held in February 2023, which focused on themes that emerged from a Rapid Review and a CSPR including professional curiosity, alongside cumulative risk assessing, disguised compliance, public protection and guarding against ‘normalisation’ of abuse within generations of families.
Throughout the year, partners have actively developed resources to support practitioners in relation to professional curiosity. Several partners have developed briefings for staff and to further enhance the existing professional curiosity partnership work across the city, the ICB safeguarding team has coordinated and developed an additional resource and training package with collaboration from colleagues from the health economy. The training will be advertised in 2024/2025 on the Leeds health and care academy platform www.leedshealthandcareacademy.org as this will allow the training to be accessible to a wide range of colleagues in the health and care sector.
Resources developed by individual partners are shared where appropriate across the partnership.
Leeds Children and Families continue to provide training for front line practitioners on professional curiosity. In particular for those working in safeguarding roles. This is incorporated into the broader workforce development offer.
Domestic Abuse- This is again a reoccurring theme, either current or historic, with concerns regarding how the impact upon children is recognised, understood and responded to.
Domestic Abuse remains a priority of the LSCP and the developments this year are included in the Priority section below.
In view of the need to continue with practice developments in this area, the data related to occurrences and children and the significant and long terms impact upon the wellbeing of children and outcomes, domestic abuse will remain a priority for the coming year. The LSCP will work with the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership (DALP) to improve practice.
The impact of bereavement- Several reviews have noted that there has been a bereavement or significant loss within the family, and this is not always been recognised or understood in terms of the impact on the child/children, parenting and the wider family.
As a result, guidance for schools: Response following a suspected suicide has been developed and as bereavement and loss continues to be a learning theme, it has been agreed that further work is required to ensure that practitioners are able to ensure that any loss is considered within work with child, young people and families. The partnership has approached a nationally recognised bereavement charity to support this work.
Leeds is working towards being a Trauma Informed city, which is reflected in all our actions, activities and interactions. Our strategy, Compassionate Leeds: Trauma awareness, prevention and response strategy for children, young people and families, sets out how we plan to create that change by taking a public health approach to the problem. This will focus on preventing childhood trauma and reducing its impact for children and young people across Leeds. Bereavement and lost are significant traumatic experiences for a child or young person and the partnership will be support the Trauma Informed work of the city.
Neglect- continues to be evident in some cases, whether this is persistent and pervasive or as a response to a situation or event.
Leeds has a neglect strategy and tools to support practitioners available on the LSCP website, which are regularly accessed. Since their development there have been significant changes in practice and socio-economic circumstances, which means that it is timely to review the strategy and the underpinning tools, which will be undertaken in the coming year.
National Reviews- all learning from national reviews have also been considered by the RAG and appropriate actions developed. The findings and the response in Leeds, for the national review of safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings is being overseen by the SEND Partnership with oversight and assurance sought by the LSCP Executive.
Taking Learning from Reviews Forward
Following the identification of learning and/or the completion of a review, an action plan is collated and agreed by all the relevant partners. Progress against this is monitored by and assurance sought by the LSCP RAG. The key messages and themes are also considered in the relevant subgroups to ensure that learning is incorporated into training opportunities, policies, procedures and embedded in practice.
The dissemination of learning is achieved through:
- The production of learning sheets which summarise the incident which has been reviewed and the key good practice and learning – this is also provided to partner agency training leads to support them in reflecting lessons within single agency training.
- Updating training to reflect learning, including a section in relation to learning from reviews within the LSCP Refresher Training
- Presentation to the CYPP meeting including requests for partners to disseminate and embed learning internally.
- Practitioner presentations based on the review and identified learning – consideration is also undertaken with regards to capacity in relation to the number of sessions required to reach the workforce within Leeds.
- Inclusion within LSCP communications via the newsletter and website.
This year, consideration has been given to how we can share learning themes from Safeguarding Adults Reviews and Domestic Homicide Reviews and this work will be strengthened in the coming year.