A new partnership arrangement to safeguard vulnerable children and adults in Dudley borough is now in place.
Dudley Council’s cabinet approved plans earlier this year to merge the functions of the existing Dudley Safeguarding Adults Board and Dudley Safeguarding Children’s Board into the new Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership.
Following the Children and Social Work Act (2017) and the release of Working Together 2018 the new partnership must be led by three key agencies, including the police, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities.
These three key partners are under a new duty to make arrangements to work together with other relevant partners, to safeguard and promote the welfare of the vulnerable and at risk children in their area.
In addition, under the new partnership arrangements, they will also conform to the requirements of the Care Act 2014 governing adult safeguarding, and also the shared ambition and commitment to helping the most vulnerable and at risk adults in Dudley.
It was also recently announced that Dr Paul Kingston had been appointed as the new independent chair for the board. Paul has since taken up post and will provide independent support and scrutiny and work with partners to ensure effective safeguarding of vulnerable and at risk people and to deliver the longer term ambition of the partnership.
The new safeguarding arrangements have been agreed and endorsed in partnership with West Midlands Police and Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said:
Safeguarding the most vulnerable children, young people and adults at risk in our communities is and will remain the number one priority and responsibility of the board.
The work is vast and cannot be taken on by one organisation alone. Working together has always been crucial. But now, building on what’s been achieved under the previous arrangements and streamlining the way we work against a set of strategic priorities, we are confident we can achieve greater outcomes for those who need support.
Caroline Brunt, Chief Nurse for the Dudley CCG, said:
Health services across the borough will do everything they can to work in partnership under the new arrangements to ensure a collaborative approach to protecting vulnerable children and adults.
We believe these arrangements will help partners more effectively tackle the challenges associated with safeguarding and help us realise the quality improvements in services we are striving to deliver together.
DCI Dez Lambert, West Midlands Police Public Protection, said:
The new Safeguarding People arrangements in Dudley allow partners to combine our efforts in safeguarding both children and adults in our borough from harm, and to support the whole life journey of the most vulnerable people.
West Midlands Police is committed to playing our part in this vital partnership and to protecting those who need our help the most. I am confident that these new arrangements provide a solid foundation for all agencies to achieve this ambition.
Independent Chair, Dr Paul Kingston, said:
I am honoured to be able to work with dedicated colleagues to continue to develop and enhance the safeguarding structures in Dudley. We have a robust short and long-time plan that will require a concentrated effort from the three statutory partners: the local authority, police and CCG. With confidence high amongst colleagues we now enter a new period of delivering a safe and personalised service to children and adults at risk in Dudley.
