Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and in particular protecting them from significant harm require effective joint working between agencies and co-ordination in every area.

Safeguarding also needs to be a key feature of all our work with children and families so that children and young people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential.

The LSCB is committed to raising the awareness of safeguarding and doing this in the most effective ways to reach all practitioners, adults, children and young people within Bournemouth and Poole. Two-way communication with the LSCB is important to find out what resources and services are supportive and to identify gaps.

By communicating with various groups i.e practitioners, carers/parents and young people the LSCB aims to promote and support effective local work in keeping children and young people safe and improving their outcomes.

The Communication and Engagement LSCB Sub-Group

• To raise public and community awareness of the child protection and safeguarding agenda.
• To ensure children and young people are listened to and consulted with in relation to keeping safe and protection from harm.
• To explore the possibility of establishing a mechanism for two way communication between adults and the LSCB and a similar mechanism for practitioners to the LSCB.
• To develop, propose and implement a Communications Strategy with protocols: for practitioners, for young people, for handling of the media, and for parents.
• To establish what safeguarding resources and services are available and useful for parents, children and organisations, staff and volunteers.
• To identify where resources are currently held and feasibility of a Community Directory for resources promoting safeguarding and child protection.
• To identify any reported gaps in provision of resources and services.
• To potentially adapt material or develop, commission resources to ensure that safeguarding is publicised.
• To explore the possibility of producing a PDF newsletter for practitioners.
• To highlight any issues of concern found during the group’s work to the Independent Chair.
• To look at how practitioners and people including young people access information, help on keeping safe, protection from harm and safeguarding.

Promote and support children and young people’s participation in their own safeguarding and in the work of the LSCB

• 4.1 The Communication and Engagement sub group to propose and develop relevant initiatives.
• 4.2 To ensure that children and young people have access to advocacy services when subject to safeguarding concerns.
• 4.3 Undertake promotional activity around safeguarding with children and young people.
• 5.1 To develop appropriate newsletters to inform the voluntary sector.

• Multi-agency members undertaking an initial mapping exercise of safeguarding resources and services in Bournemouth and Poole.
• Data that could support and inform this group’s work is to be explored.
• Feedback from consultation with practitioners, young people and parents to be used to inform work of the group.
• Establish a two way communication process.
• To report back on work of the group through reporting form on action plan.
• Highlight any possible issues found with the Independent Chair.
• To seek approval with the LSCB Executive before any development of resources.

LSCB Safeguarding Development Officer
Bournemouth Safeguarding Advisor & Quality Assurance Manager
CVS Representative
Workforce Development Officer Third Sector
Poole Childrens Trust Communication Officer
Representative from Active Dorset
Poole Youth Development Worker
Poole Youth Service Manager
Brokering Service Bournemouth
Bournemouth Participation Co-ordinator
Representative from Young Bournemouth Libraries
Locality Manager Poole
Representative from Education via Governors Panel
Head of Youth Development Dorset Police
Pan Dorset Safe Schools and Communities Team Manager
Education & Youth Development Officer Dorset Fire & Rescue
Representative from Bournemouth Education
Representative from Stronger & Safer Communities and/or a community representative
Representative from Poole Housing & Community
Representatives from Health Visiting Bournemouth & Poole
Representative from School Nursing
Representative from Bournemouth Youth Service Management
Bournemouth Localities representative
Poole Childcare Marketing
Bournemouth Childcare & Recruitment


Open to other relevant agency representatives

Once every three months

• Initial mapping work and work on the Communication Strategy and the compact completed on 17th of August 09.
• Agree work plan and submit to sub-chairs meeting via Independent Chair.
• Key pieces of work to be identified.