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Policies and Procedures Terms of Reference

The sub-group is accountable to the GSCP Executive and supports it to fulfil its statutory responsibility to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of local arrangements to safeguard and protect children.

1. Purpose: To ensure that the GSCP Executive has multi-agency policy, protocols, procedures, and guidance in place which promote the wellbeing and safeguarding of children and young people in Gloucestershire and to ensure that protocols are available that reflect national and local need.

2. Membership:

•         Gloucestershire ICB

•         Gloucestershire Childrens Social Care

•         Gloucestershire Constabulary

•         Gloucestershire Education Directorate or nominated Education lead

•         Partnerships Business Manager and/or GSCP Assistant Business manager

•         Partnerships allocated Business Support Officer

•         Other specialist agency as required to advise and assist in the writing and review of policies and procedures

3. Quoracy: The Three lead Safeguarding Partners, Gloucestershire ICB, Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Constabulary. Quoracy can be determined at the discretion of the Chair as relating to the current agenda.

4. Key Objectives:

  • Oversee the development and writing of local protocols on key issues of concern, as agreed/directed by the Executive and or the partnerships priorities or national drivers
  • Oversee and contribute to the development and updating of the Gloucestershire Child Protection Procedure manual, approving the contractual arrangements in place.
  • Set out, control, and oversee a review cycle for all protocols and local arrangements ensuring standardisation of look, quality, and version control
  • To receive, review, agree, implement, and where appropriate develop local protocols for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in Gloucestershire
  • Ensure there is agreement and understanding across agencies about operational practice in relation to each new protocol, procedure, guidance or research findings and work with the Quality and Improvement in Practice subgroup (QiiP) to facilitate the translation into practice
  • Agree actions to resolve issues identified by new protocols, procedures, guidance, or research findings
  • Hold and report on exception on all local protocols and any issues that require the attention of the Executive

5. Frequency of meetings: Twice a year to align with the Contracted Procedure Manual review cycle.  The sub-group may choose to meet more frequently or to conduct business virtually between the twice-yearly meetings. 

6. Other Information: Chair to attend the GSCP Management Group representing the subgroup. Chair to ensure that the GSCP Partnership Analysis Report subgroup update is submitted on time to inform the Management Group and Executive of activity and exceptions reporting. Chair to meet with the allocated Business Support Officer pre and post subgroup meeting to sign off on the agenda, papers, action log and decision log