FRANCE, A. and MUNRO, E.R., 2008. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the new local safeguarding children boards (LSCBS) Paper presented at Care Matters : Transforming Lives – Improving Outcomes Conference (incorporating the 8th International Looking After Children Conference), 7-9 July 2008, Keble College Oxford UK.
Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) were implemented in April 2006 to
replace Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs). The Boards have a statutory
responsibility to co-ordinate and ensure the effectiveness of the work of partner
bodies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. LSCB functions include: the
development of policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare
of children; communicating and raising awareness; participating in planning and
commissioning children’s services; collecting and analysing information about child
deaths; undertaking serious case reviews and monitoring and evaluating the
effectiveness of what is done.
The Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP), in partnership with the Centre for
Children and Family Research (CCFR) (both based at Loughborough University) are
undertaking an evaluation to explore the structures and processes adopted by
LSCBs to fulfil their core functions. The study will also examine whether these new
structures and processes have overcome identified weaknesses of Area Child
Protection Committees (ACPCs) and promoted co-operation between services
responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.