Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Director for People

David Mellen, Leader of the Council, and former Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Children’s Services introduced the update on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to the committee. He reiterated the significance of the report to Nottingham City and assured the Committee that there was no sense of compliancy around the recommendations set out by the Inquiry. Catherine Underwood, Corporate Directors for People gave a presentation to the Committee updating them on the work around the Action Plan. The following points were highlighted:

(a)  Nottingham City Council continues to work with victims and survivors of sexual abuse ensuring that they are able to access the support and services that they need to. Work has taken place to ensure that there is no wrong “front door” to victims and survivors will be signposted to the right services however they make initial contact with the City Council.  

(b)  The Council has been working closely with Health partners and the Clinical Commissioning Groups to ensure that challenges to accessing therapeutic services are recognised and strategies are in place to respond to this;

(c)  The access to records has also continued to be facilitated. NCC recognise that is it a difficult and emotional thing to do and will provide support to survivors accessing their records. A specific post within the Information Compliance team has been created to support and facilitate access to records for survivors. People who have used this resource have reported back that it is helpful

(d)  The Council continues to offer both written and face to face verbal apologies to survivors of sexual abuse. Each survivor is offered a written apology and if they also wish to have a face to face meeting they can do so and will receive a verbal apology. There is also an empathetic approach to handling claims recognising that trauma has incurred. The Council has close links with the County Council and regularly reviews the progress of claims, to ensure there is a coordinated response;

(e)  A needs assessment was undertaken to identify the best way to offer support to survivors. This needs assessment has been used to inform commissioning of services funded by both the City and County Councils and the Police and Crime Commissioners Office. There is strong partnership working in place between a number or organisations;

(f)  A review of current and previous foster carers is underway. The City Council is working with the County Council to progress similar work with Independent Fostering Agencies that we have had children placed with.

(g)  A presentation regarding the findings from the  independent external evaluation of the Council’s practices around harmful sexual behaviour of other children in care was due to take place at the end of March but had to be delayed due to COVID -19. The Council is working the with NSPCC, who undertook this evaluation, to deliver a virtual conference to share the findings and is a positive next step in ensuring a consistent message is spread;

(h)  The Council will continue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4