In life and love, you learn that there comes a time to let go and move on. (Taylor Swift)
It comes as some surprise to find that 43 years have been focused on hoping to have made some difference to the way we as a society look after and protect children.
During this time I have been privileged to work with many talented and inspirational people, including children, their families as well as professionals from all walks of life.
Although my academic background as an ancient historian and theologian probably suggests that change and progress are largely cyclical. I have always and remain an optimist looking for the best in people and circumstances. I am also a realist, which means that one has to confront weaknesses and failure, in order to strive to try harder to see if we can learn do things better and differently.
In this sense I continue to believe that organisations such as TASP and safeguarding partnerships are an essential part of our national response to safeguarding.
It seems a long time ago, when as an inexperienced, unqualified (and certainly naive) practitioner I was confronted with the realities of institutional care and the early emergence of “child protection”. It was striking at the then limited understanding of the harms that children experience. As well as how they did or did not feel able to tell others about this. This is why it remains so important to seek and act on the voices of lived experience.
It remains difficult, that we need to continue to ask ourselves why it appears that we have yet to find lasting solutions to persistent lessons that need to be learned. However there are good grounds to think that we not only know more, but that our response to a child at risk is substantively and qualitatively better than it once was. This rightly includes the recognition that we know when it is not good enough, and are able to take on the legacy of shame so that it inspires improvement. There remains further potential to invest in more coordinated and evidence based approaches to exploring and sharing learning about safeguarding and safeguarding arrangements. TASP is rightly proud of its work with a number of leading organisations in this field.
Understandably given that much of my career has been focused on partnership working and latterly arrangements, brings me to my hopes and fears for where we are now.
Organisations such as TASP and others embody and make a key contribution to a landscape and dialogue, that is intrinsic to the way in which our societal and professional response to safeguarding is structured.
At a time when in my view we have embarked on a significant new chapter in the journey from Area Child Protection Committees and past the LSCB era. It is now perhaps more important than ever that we do not lose sight of the important role partnership arrangements have and can play. In supporting the highest standards of practice and a consistency of approach across the wider agenda that seeks to address causation, confront and resolve differences that can impact in a practical, strategic and systemic way.
As we appear to be moving on from a model of safeguarding partnership that took some recourse from a statutory status and had a clear role for independence. There is a need to more fully recognise the challenges and opportunities this new way of doing things represents. Whilst managing any risk however unintended that the outcomes from the new arrangements do not sustain or drive forward effective learning and improvement.
If there is a case for public accountability over and above that held by individual agencies and professionals, at a local level, which has been an attribute of past arrangements. This is an issue that would benefit from further consideration. Experience also tells us that here is a key role for place based relationships and engagement on all aspects of safeguarding as a part of but distinct from other such forums. In other words given that as is so often cited “safeguarding is everyones business” there remains a case for continued consideration of how this impacts in the social and democratic context.
There is no doubt that across the local and national landscape awareness and expectations of safeguarding are of a different level than in the past. Many organisations and professions are willing and able to account for their actions, but it remains the case that collective accountability as well as the coordination and cooperation this implies can still be a challenge.
The future agenda for safeguarding partnerships is likely to continue to need to address transition as well as the other demands and stresses public services and systems face. There is perhaps a reasonable expectation that government in the way that it demonstrates its commitment to effective safeguarding arrangements. Will benefit from a more consistent and considered approach than has always been evident in recent years. It is also beholden on TASP and other major stakeholders to continue to come together. To ensure there is a balanced and long term approach to the role that safeguarding partnership arrangements have and may need to make to the effective protection of children. Whether in the context of day to day practice and in being able to assure the public.
Richard Burrows