In Autumn 2022, Safeguarding Partners commenced with a review of the Pan-Lancashire Childrens and Adults safeguarding governance arrangements with the aim of improving the governance and front-line practice of local arrangements. As a result, the Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership (CSAP) Executive Board agreed to change to a place-based model which will have a greater focus on accountability and decision making at a local level.
This change signifies a strategic reorientation towards a more localised approach to safeguarding practices, scrutiny and assurance. Moving away from a broad, county-wide framework, the shift to place-based arrangements reflects a recognition of the unique needs and dynamics present in distinct geographical areas. By tailoring multi-agency safeguarding governance to specific localities, the aim is to enhance responsiveness and effectiveness in addressing the intricacies of safeguarding challenges within each area. This transition underscores a commitment to a more nuanced and contextually sensitive governance model, fostering a collaborative and targeted approach to safeguarding within individual communities.
Statutory Safeguarding Partners from Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Lancashire Constabulary have held several discussions, workshops and development days to establish governance structures which meet statutory requirements and can seek assurance and understanding of how well children’s safeguarding, as a whole system, is performing.
From 1st September 2023, responsibility and oversight of Child Safeguarding will now be under the remit of individual place-based boards, namely Blackburn with Darwen Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership, Blackpool Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership and Lancashire Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership. Each partnership remains committed to maintaining and sharing learning on a Pan-Lancashire footprint and will continue to collaborate and work together as required
Each new Safeguarding Partnership has reviewed their priorities to develop the governance structure and are working on developing their local strategy and workplans. This Pan Lancashire CSAP website will be decommissioned and replaced with an alternative for each individual partnership in 2024.