Page 18 - OCF Oxfordshire Uncovered

Oxfordshire Uncovered
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
During the 2014–15 academic year there were 5,278 referrals to Children’s Services – more than 14 per day. Since Bull nch, our understanding
of safeguarding has improved, as the proportion of referrals being converted to Child Protection Plans (CPPs) has risen.
Children who have a Child Protection Plan are considered to be in need of protection from either physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, or a combination of two or more of these. The number of children subject to a CPP in Oxfordshire has steadily increased in recent years:
Children coming into care
Children with CPP in Oxfordshire
14% 28%
58%
Had previously been looked after
Received Early Help Services
Had previously been on a Child Protection Plan
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Mar 2013
Mar 2014
Mar 2015
Sept 2015
Of these 500 or so children in care, nearly 70% are living with foster families. The local authority is aware of a further 46 children living in a privately arranged foster placement.
430
504
572
616
England generally has seen a rise in CPPs, but not to the extent seen in Oxfordshire. This rise is only comparable to other
local authorities that have been through high-pro le Child Sexual Exploitation cases such as Derby, Rochdale, Blackpool, Rotherham, Oldham, Torbay, Peterborough and Manchester. In Oxfordshire, 71% of children on protection plans are under 10 years old – a higher proportion than elsewhere.
The number of children with a CPP only shows part of the story. Thames Valley Police data shows that in 2013–14 there were 6,270 children recorded at 9,798 domestic abuse incidents involving children. 28% of these were involved in multiple incidents of domestic abuse.
Oxfordshire’s King sher Team, which protects children at risk
of sexual exploitation, reports that, between its set-up in 2012 and February 2015, 287 at-risk children have been identi ed.
Of these, the great majority are white girls. We know that there are barriers to children coming forward, particularly boys and children from minority ethnic groups – so the problem is likely to be signi cantly under-reported.
After exploring every possibility of protecting a child at home, the local authority will seek a parent’s consent or a court decision to move a child away from their family home. Such decisions are only made when it is in the best interest of the child. In Oxfordshire there were 527 children in care at the end of March 2015, compared with 463 at the end of March 2014.
COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS
Donnington Doorstep STEP OUT project
Doorstep is a family centre in East Oxford, used by around
80 visitors every day from an area of social and economic disadvantage with signi cant and visible social problems. Families and young people come from a wide range of ethnic, social, economic and cultural backgrounds.
In 2011 Doorstep set up the STEP OUT project after staff identi ed that girls in Oxford were being sexually exploited. The project offers outreach and one-to-one support, as well as advocacy and participation work to ensure the voices of the children and young people are heard, and preventative initiatives such as training
for professionals and workshops on healthy relationships, CSE awareness, keeping safe and building self-esteem.
In 2015, only 21% of Doorstep’s referrals came through statutory channels such as social care or the police, suggesting that a hidden need is being met at the heart of the local community.
Throughout our history, Oxfordshire Community Foundation has consistently supported Donnington Doorstep, awarding over £70,000 in grants since 1998.
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