To provide the outcome of the review into cases of peer on peer abuse referred to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub.

The committee considered a report by the assistant director education, development and skills concerning a review of historic peer on peer abuse cases that had been referred to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

The Director Children and Families made a statement at the start of the item. It was confirmed that the review and report was commissioned by the chief executive following agreement for the review between the leader and the chief executive. The report was not from the executive or the Leader and was not endorsed by the executive or leader. Comments from scrutiny could be built into the report before being shared with the executive. The sharing of the report was not viewed as satisfactory and officers have not been clear about the process of the report coming to scrutineer with the executive. The report had contributions from a number of officers and as such had become more wordy than intended. The director apologised for that and points can be clarified once scrutiny has had input. The report indicates that recording is something that can be improved, it has been and it is still an area of focus, as is the way the council works with schools and partners. Herefordshire was in a much improved position now and going forward. The report would benefit from referencing wider context, lessons learned and action taken over the years, including the Spotlight Review and recognising that the council’s approach could have been strengthened further by sharing a draft risk assessment tool at the same time as the council shared other tools with school representatives. Also that the approach could have been strengthened in the past by providing written guidance rather than presentations and briefings

The Chairperson of the committee referred to the independent review of April 2017 into a case of peer on peer abuse at a Herefordshire school and the pro forma risk assessment arising from the review. The review had not been shared with the scrutiny committee or the spotlight review of peer on peer abuse in schools and was not referred to in the report before the scrutiny committee. The report stated that 8 cases of peer on peer abuse referred to the MASH between January 2017 – October 2018 were before the introduction of national guidance. However the outcomes and recommendations of the April 2017 review, providing guidance on the handling of peer on peer abuse cases, would be of relevance to the 8 cases. The lack of a reference in the report to the review was a gap which needed addressing together with greater detail on the cases reviewed including whether they involved rape or sexual assault and how many were substantiated and how many were unsubstantiated. It was explained that as the report currently stood there was not sufficient information for the committee to undertake effective scrutiny. Without sight of the April 2017 review and the pro forma risk assessment the committee would not be able to make a judgement on what guidance was available at the time of cases between January 2017 – October 2018.

The Chairperson proposed the deferral of consideration of the report until the next meeting of the committee on 28 July to enable detail of the April 2017 review to be included in the report. It was requested that a copy of the review, with necessary redactions, was appended to the report with the pro forma risk assessment.

In addition members were encouraged to write to the clerk of the committee to outline any gaps they felt were evident in the report which would be collated and sent to the report author for attention.

The proposed deferral and arrangements for the resubmitted report were seconded by Councillor Diana Toynbee.

The cabinet member children and families commented that it was important that the scrutiny committee had all relevant information contained in the report to consider.

The committee approved the deferral and arrangements for the resubmission of the report unanimously.

RESOLVED - That the committee agrees the deferral of the report to the next meeting on 28 July to allow for the inclusion of the 2017 review and risk assessment pro forma and clarification of gaps identified in the information provided.