Many people will not be clear of the role of the WSCP, what it is or does. Safeguarding Children Partnerships were set up following the Children Act 2004 resulting from the Victoria Climbie enquiry, which called for new arrangements to hold people to account in organisations responsible for safeguarding children.
The WSCP has a really important role in coordinating and ensuring the effectiveness of what is done by each and every person involved in protecting children and carries statutory responsibilities for safeguarding children in Wandsworth. It is made up of senior managers within organisations in Wandsworth, who hold responsibility for safeguarding children in their agencies, such as children's social care, police, health, education and other services including voluntary bodies. The WSCP monitors how they all work together to provide services for children and ensure children are protected.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, the statutory guidance, identifies that everyone who comes into contact with children and young people has a contribution to make and puts greater emphasis on early help services to ensure that children receive the support they need to prevent a problem escalating. It affirms that effective safeguarding of children can only be achieved by putting children at the centre of the system.
We have reviewed and revised our key safeguarding priorities areas for 2016-2018. These can be read here.
Nicky Pace
Independent Chair
Who is the WSCP and what do we do?
Children and young people can only be safeguarded properly if everyone involved with them work effectively together. It is everyone's responsibility to safeguard children and young people, whether you work directly or indirectly with them.
Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm. This includes protection from any form of abuse: neglect, physical, emotional and sexual.
To Contact the Partnership:
- Telephone: 020 8871 7401
- Email: wscb@wandsworth.gov.uk