Multi-agency Safeguarding Arrangements

MULTI-AGENCY SAFEGUARDING ARRANGEMENTS

 The statutory safeguarding partners are responsible for developing multi-agency safeguarding arrangements that will guide how they will work together, and with other relevant agencies, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.  You can read the MASA Plan 24-26 here.

As well as publishing a plan, arrangements also include:

Revised partnership infrastructure

Locally, a streamlined structure for partnership meetings has been developed which is designed to reduce duplication in the system, and to enable collaborative working across all key partners, including strengthened links with education and the voluntary sector  It also includes the Practitioner Forum which has a robust focus on developing the skills of front-line practitioners in all agencies to tackle, at an early point, the most concerning issues for our children and young people and on developing the skills of managers to support those front-line practitioners.

SSCP Annual Report

The SSCP must also publish its annual report, looking back at its achievements and setting out where improvements are still required. The annual report for 2022/23 is included here. The 2023/24 report which provides an update can be found here.

Child death arrangements

A North and South of Tyne Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) has been established. This Panel will oversee the statutory responsibilities of the child death review partners across Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The CDOP will typically review 60 deaths per year to enable thematic learning and identify potential safeguarding or local health issues that could be modified in order to protect children from harm and, ultimately, save lives.

SSCP Business Plan

Our business plan, setting out our priorities and associated actions for improvement, can be found here.  This is a live document which will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary.

The 2025-29 Business Plan will be published early in 2025.