The Wood Review of Safeguarding Children was commissioned by the Prime Minister in December 2015, as it was deemed that Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCB) were not working effectively across England. Confidence has fallen in the effectiveness of these boards and the limitations of LSCBs have been repeatedly highlighted during Ofsted inspections.
The recommendations of the Wood Review include:
- The
duty to collaborate between CCGs, local authorities and the Police Service must
be strengthened.
- The
local authority is no longer the lead agency, but the three statutory agencies
become equal partners in the safeguarding of children.
- Each
agency must identify a Chief Officer with the leadership responsibility for
collaboration and partnership in the implementation and ownership of the new
arrangements.
- All
areas must move towards the implementation of the new arrangements within a
prescribed period of time.
- Local
authorities, Police Service and Health are expected to publish plans for the
introduction of revised processes for safeguarding children on 29 June
2019. These plans are expected to be in place by 29 September 2019.