The LSCB Integrated Data Set

Objective 1 : Vulnerable children and young people are protected from abuse

Outcome 1.1

Fewer children and young people suffering neglect

Outcome 1.2

Fewer children and young people suffering physical abuse

Outcome 1.3

Fewer children and young people suffering sexual abuse

Outcome 1.4

Fewer children and young people suffering emotional abuse

Outcome 1.5

Fewer children and young people living in households where domestic abuse occurs

Outcome 1.6

Fewer children and young people living in private children’s homes/ foster placements/ in custodial settings/ in hospitals are suffering abuse.

Objective 2: All children and young people are helped to stay safe

Outcome 2.1

Fewer young people with problematic substance use (drugs, alcohol etc.)

Outcome 2.2

Fewer children and young people suffering bullying and harassment
(homophobic, racial and e-bullying)

Outcome 2.3

Fewer teenage pregnancies

Outcome 2.4

Fewer children and young people are victims of crime (particularly knife and gun crime)

Objective 3: Environment is safe for all children and young people

Outcome 3.1

Fewer child deaths and injuries

Outcome 3.2

More children and young people living in secure/ stable environments
(accommodation exceeds minimum standards, less overcrowding, fewer highly mobile families, fewer families living in poverty)

Objective 4: The children’s workforce is competent and safe

Outcome 4.1

More organisations working with children and young people have safe employment and recruitment practices

Outcome 4.2

More staff are trained in child protection and safeguarding to a required level.

Objective 1: Vulnerable children and young people are protected from abuse

Outcome 1.1

Fewer children and young people suffering neglect

Outcome 1.2

Fewer children and young people suffering physical abuse

Outcome 1.3

Fewer children and young people suffering sexual abuse

Outcome 1.4

Fewer children and young people suffering emotional abuse

Outcome 1.5

Fewer children and young people living in households where domestic abuse occurs

Outcome 1.6

Fewer children and young people are victims of crime (particularly knife and gun crime)

Outcome 1.6

Fewer children and young people living in private children’s homes/ foster placements/ in custodial settings/ in hospitals are suffering abuse.

no.

Derived from

Description

Explanation

SG1

2023SC

Children and young people who are subject of a child protection plan by:

• Category
• Duration
• Child’s profile

One of our most useful figures:

• Annual figure from April to March each year allows analysis of trends (dates back to 2000 in North Yorkshire).

• Quarterly reports allow fluctuations to be captured early.

• Analysis of changes within and between the categories of abuse (emotional/ sexual/ physical/ neglect) can reflect trends in patterns of abuse or differences in practice in CSC.

• The use of multiple categorisations is unhelpful for audit as it disguises the real figures of the categories.

• These figures also highlight children’s profiles – gender/ age/ ethnicity/ disability. NY tends to mirror national profiles (not ethnicity). Any difference from these national profiles would require investigation.

SG2

n/a

Position with statistical neighbours for % of children with a child protection plan.

This annual reporting allows comparison with statistical neighbours. For several years North Yorkshire was higher than most, if not all, neighbours but this changed in 2006/8 when the position fell dramatically to be the lowest of the set. This triggered a multi agency audit to understand the factors accounting for this change.

SG3

2023SC

Children and young people (under 18) who are subject of a child protection plan.

In counting all children in a year who have been subject to a child protection plan, this measure captures those children who spent a relatively short period of time with a plan. The figure will be larger that SG1 but should not be significantly so, as this indicates many short lived plans.

SG4

2066SC

Ethnicity of children who are the subject of a child protection plan

Children from minority groups are over represented in child protection in the UK. Whilst this is not the case in North Yorkshire, effective equalities requires that this is monitored.
An EIA in 2009 noted that data collection for children does not capture children from travelling and gypsy backgrounds and the background of parents and carers is unknown.

SG5

Children subject to an initial or transfer child protection conference who were/were not made subject to a Child Protection Plan.

For a child to be the subject to a conference they must have been assessed as at risk of harm. Most but not all children will warrant a child protection plan and it is this balance that is of interest. It usually reflects upon the decision making within conferences or in the decision to take the child’s case to conference in the first place.

There is some variation between the areas and this figure is linked with the significant changes in 2006/8. However we would expect to see stable figures – possibly between 75%-85% of children with plans.

SG6

NI 64
PAF C21

Child Protection Plans lasting 2 years or more.

This indicator should measure whether children and their families are receiving the services necessary to bring about the required changes in the family situation and to monitor performance in working towards the outcomes outlined in the child protection plan.
This indicator reflects the underlying principle that professionals should be working towards specified outcomes which, if implemented effectively, should lead to all children not needing to be the subject of a Child Protection Plan within a maximum of two years.

SG7

NI 65
PAF A3

Children becoming the subject of a Child Protection Plan for a second or subsequent time

This indicator is a proxy for the level and quality of service a child receives.
Its purpose is to monitor whether children’s social care services devise and implement a Child Protection Plan which leads to lasting improvement in a child’s safety and overall well-being.

Good performance is generally low. The 2006/07 banding for this indicator describes good performance as being between 10% and 15%.
However, a very low level may mean that a local authority is not submitting some children to a Child Protection Plan who are in need. Conversely, a high level may suggest that the professionals responsible for the child’s welfare are not intervening effectively to bring about the required changes.

SG8

Number of children with a Child Protection Plan without an allocated social worker

This should be zero with a clear explanation to the relevant CSC General Manager and LSCB Manager for any such child without a social worker.

SG9

PAF C20

% of child protection cases which should have been reviewed, that were reviewed.

Reviews are a key element in delivering Child Protection Plans and effective reviews should ensure the provision of good quality interventions.
This indicator is a proxy for the measurement of the effectiveness of the interventions provided to children with a Child Protection Plan.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) guidance requires that the first child protection review should have been held within three months of the initial child protection conference and thereafter at intervals of no more than six months.

The best performance on this indicator would be 100%.

SG10

NI68

Referrals to children’s social care going on to initial assessment

This indicator is a proxy for several issues: the appropriateness of referrals coming into social care, which can show whether local agencies are working well together; and the thresholds which are being applied in children’s social care at a local level.

Difficult to quantify whether good performance is typified by higher or lower numbers. The ideal should be a median percentage band that all local authorities fall within. If the percentage decreases or increases greatly it could be that children are not receiving an initial assessment when they should be (or vice versa) rather than a figure showing that fewer or more children being protected from harm.

SG11

Referrals to children’s social care going on to core
assessment

When viewed with SG10, this figure reflects on the decision making processes in CSC.

SG12

NI59

Initial assessments for children’s social care carried out within 7 working days of referral.

This process indicator is included as a proxy as robust data is not available for outcomes of improved child safety. Initial assessments are an important indicator of how quickly services can respond when a child is thought to be at risk of serious harm. As the assessments involve a range of local agencies, this indicator would also show how well multi-agency working arrangements are established in local authority areas.

SG13

NI 60

Core assessments for children’s social care that were carried out within 35 working days of their commencement

The indicator measures the percentage of core assessments which were completed within 35 working days. Core assessments are in-depth assessments of a child, or children, and their family, as defined in the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. They are also the means by which section 47 (child protection) enquiries are undertaken following a strategy discussion.
The Assessment Framework specifies that core assessments should be completed within 35 working days. It is important that local authorities should investigate and address concerns in a timely and efficient way, and that those in receipt of an assessment have a clear idea of how quickly this should be completed. Successful meeting of the timescales can also indicate effective joint working where multi-agency assessment is required.

SG14

New

Number of requests for child protection medical examinations by area and by referrer.

This is new information and requires paediatricians to set up a data collection system around this. Paediatric examinations are not consistent in North Yorkshire with children disadvantaged dependent on where they live. It is intended this request for information keeps this issue to the fore.

SG15

n/a

NY Police recorded child abuse crimes

This is another new request for data. It will reflect a level of activity that we hope will be replicated in other data sources – if not, then this would warrant further investigation.

SG16

n/a

% NY Police recorded child abuse offences resulting in charges or cautions

This will reflect upon the success of the police in taking forward child protection cases and highlight areas where there is weakness or gaps.

SG17

NI32

Repeat incidents of domestic abuse

Activity by police and local partners should be focused on protecting the most vulnerable victims from serious harm. Domestic violence (DV) victims currently have the highest level of repeat victimisation, often with the severity of incidents escalating over time.

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARACs) focus on high risk victims of DV as indicated through the use of risk assessment tools. By sharing information, agencies get a better picture of victims’ situations and so develop responses that are tailored to the needs and goals of individual victims and their children. Safe information-sharing also allows agencies to manage the perpetrator in ways that reduce risk. The aim of the MARAC is to construct jointly and implement a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm and to reduce repeat victimisation.

The responsibility to take appropriate actions rests with individual agencies; it is not transferred to the MARAC. Local authority services will need to ensure that they have in place a framework to identify those victims at risk and will need to carry out the appropriate risk assessments when presented with victims of domestic violence and their children. Jointly with the police, services commissioned by local authorities and health agencies will have a primary role to play to ensure that the MARAC is an effective process.

SG18

n/a

Number of privately fostered children registered with children’s social care

This is a national requirement. The figure has increased as the local campaign has been effective. No one is clear what the level should be locally or nationally but we note that these are vulnerable children and young people and public awareness is central to their safety.

SG19

n/a

% of privately fostered children who have received an initial assessment

All such children should receive an IA – figure should be 100% with a sizeable % having a Core Assessment.

SG20

n/a

Headline figure re children’s participation in the child protection conferences.

Children’s participation in the conference process reflects good practice. Most useful figures would be % of children who could have participated but did not in any way.

All children and young people are helped to stay safe

Outcome 2.1

Fewer young people with problematic substance use (drugs, alcohol etc.)

Outcome 2.2

Fewer children and young people suffering bullying and harassment
(homophobic, racial and e-bullying)

Outcome 2.3

Fewer teenage pregnancies

Outcome 2.4

Fewer children and young people are victims of crime (particularly knife and gun crime)

SG21

n/a

Number of completed CAFs by agency and also by locality

This is new and will reflect the development of the CAF in the county. It will allow us to see where agencies are active and where there are gaps. The figure should increase year on year.

SG22

n/a

Lead Professionals categorised by agency

This reflects agencie’s readiness to engage with the integrated children’s agenda and will allow targeted training to support these staff and highlight the gaps.

SG23

NI 19

Rate of proven re-offending by young offenders

This reflects the success of the YJS in its work with young people. The YJS monitors this closely and would be able to provide analysis were figures to alter.

SG24

NI 111

First time entrants into the Youth Justice System aged 10-17

This is designed to reflect upon the community arrangements to detract young people away from the criminal justice system. Breakdown by age, offence and area would prove helpful in audits for safeguarding but this again is closely monitored through the YJS.

SG25

Derived from NI 71

Children reported to police as missing from home (more than 24hrs)

Young people who run away from home can be at increased risk of harm.
It is important to record the number of children who run away from home, so that local authorities and the police can plan the scope for provision, such as counselling and mediation, with greater certainty.

SG26

Derived from NI 71

Children reported as missing from care

The DCSF are collecting these figures from CSC at present. These figures help identify young people at risk and “hot spots”. Unlike other PFIs this indicator requires qualitative feedback also although this is expected to change next year.

There are issues of children in the independent or private sector and this reporting will highlight where these children are.

SG27

NI 28

Serious Knife Crime

• Children and young people               accused of knife crime
• Children and young people who were victims of knife crime

Following the publicity re gangs in metropolitan areas, it is appropriate for North Yorkshire to monitor whether this is also a difficulty.

SG28

NI 29
(PSA 23)

Gun Crime Rate

• Children and young people accused of gun related crime
• Children and young people who were victims of gun related crime

Similarly, North Yorkshire should monitor whether gang culture is an issue in any of the towns in the area. It is known that many young people can access air rifles in the rural areas and guns on the army bases - and it would be useful to see if this is an issue.

SG29

n/a

Under 18’s seeking treatment for substance and alcohol misuse

Difficult to capture trends in substance misuse, this is one way to catch those with apparently clear problems. A breakdown by age and postcode would support audits in this area of safeguarding.

SG30

NI 38

Drug-related offending
Children and young people accused of drug related offences
Class A
Class B

This may give some insight into the scale and scope of drug misuse in the county given that drugs are significant to many young people.

SG32

NI 39

Alcohol-harm related hospital admission rates
Under 18 years old
Under 15 years old

Similarly to drug misuse, this national indicator may reflect trends in the county. There is a licensing responsibility re the protection of children, this may support inter agency work in this area.

SG33

1029HC

Substance misuse related admissions to hospital, ages under 18
Ages  under 18
Ages under 15

To measure progress in reducing the proportion of young people frequently misusing substances – including illegal drugs, alcohol and volatile substances such as glue, gas or solvents. Substance misuse by young people is strongly linked with involvement in crime or anti-social behaviour, increased risk of failing at school and damage to both mental and physical health.
The indicator provides a local measure directly related to the national indicator on young people’s substance misuse in the DCSF led PSA to ‘increase the number of children and young people on the path to success’.

Good performance is typified by lower numbers [given that there is likely to be significant local and regional variation, the best performance is where the prevalence rate reduces over time].

SG34

Number of teenage parents in the County or Conception/birth rate below
Teenage conception rate (conception rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17)
Under 14
15-16
17

Whilst difficult to accurately measure, monitoring of teenage pregnancy and conception rates supports agencies in this area of safeguarding.

SG35

Number of births for females by age
Under 14
15-16
17

Environment is safe for all children and young people

Outcome 3.1

Fewer child deaths and injuries

Outcome 3.2

More children and young people living in secure/ stable environments
(accommodation exceeds minimum standards, less overcrowding, fewer highly mobile families, fewer families living in poverty)

SG36

NI 70

Hospital admissions caused by intentional and unintentional injuries to children and young people

Hospital admissions from A&E for children and young people by age and by postcode for the following reasons:

• Medical
• Trauma at home
• Trauma at School
• Trauma in a public place
• Sports Injury
• Assault
• Road Traffic Collision
• Deliberate Self Hard
• Orthopaedic( not trauma
• Obs and Gynae
• Psychiatric
• Firework injury
• Burns
• Unknown

The aim of this indicator is to measure hospital admissions by injury type, which will include both unintentional and deliberate injury to children and young people. Given that some hospital admissions with an external cause of injury will be elective admissions, including some for follow-up treatment after an earlier emergency admission, the indicator is restricted to counting only emergency admissions. Some children and young people may have more than one emergency admission with an external cause of injury within a time period.

Good performance is typified by a lower rate.

SG37

n/a

% of schools with a travel plan implemented

SG38

n/a

% of children with number of moves between schools over 3 terms

In part this figure reflects children who are in families that move between houses/areas. This is known to add to the vulnerability of children. Whilst there are many reasons for moves of school, this figure should be monitored for any fluctuations.

SG39

NI 69

Children who have experienced bullying

To measure progress in tackling bullying.
Bullying is children’s primary safety concern, and has remained the highest reason for calls to Childline over the past 6 years.

A reduction in reports of bullying would represent good performance, as it would show that the local authority is working with its partners to tackle the problems. There may be an initial increase as children and young people are encouraged through the Tell Us survey to report incidences of bullying which were not known about before.

SG40

n/a

How well does your school deal with bullying? Includes cyber bullying

As above – opening up a new area of safeguarding.

SG41

n/a

% of exclusions from school as a result of bullying

It is expected that there would be a small number of exclusions every year as bullying takes centre stage in school safeguarding programmes. It would be analyse exclusions in the context of other school initiatives to tackle bullying.

SG42

NI 114

Number of children with of permanent exclusions from school

There are many reasons for such steps to be taken but these figures will highlight areas of the county/ schools involved. Excluded children are a vulnerable group.

SG43

NYSCB Specific

Number of applications for a new or varied premises licence under the Licensing Act (2005) by District Council Area.

This is the total number of applications received by CSC under the Licensing and Gambling Acts.

SG44

NYSCB
Specific

% of applications for new and varied premises licenses under the Licensing Act (2005) where specific conditions to protect children were added.

As the Licensing and Gambling Acts removed all conditions inherent in the old legislation to the protection children and young people on licensed premises, it would be expected that CSC would add specific conditions to a number of the above applications it scrutinises. This figure reflects the response within CSC to its statutory responsibilities.

SG45

n/a

Number of internet e-safety incidents where the police were involved.

This figure reflects the impact of e safety in the county.

SG46

NI 116
(PSA 9)

Proportion of children in poverty.

The Government has set itself a challenging target to half the number of children in poverty by 2010-11, and end child poverty by the year 2020. Local Authorities have a key role to play in helping to achieve this ambition. This role includes the delivery of the key public services that are critical to improving poor children’s life chances; coordination of activities by key players to reduce worklessness and poverty; the tailoring of solutions to meet needs of local people; and ensuring engagement of individuals and groups at risk of being marginalized.

SG47

NI 156

Number of households who live in temporary accommodation

Reflecting poverty

SG49

n/a

% of children living in overcrowded households

Reflecting poverty

The children’s workforce is competent and safe

Outcome 4.1

More organisations working with children and young people have safe employment and recruitment practices

Outcome 4.2

More staff are up to date with training in child protection and safeguarding matters

SG50

n/a

% of multi- agency staff with a valid CRB check (within the last three years)

We would expect this to increase within most agencies.

SG51

n/a

How many staff working with children and families have undertaken the LSCB Level One basic child protection training

We would expect this figure to increase as more staff complete the training.

SG52

n/a

How many staff working with children and families have undertaken child protection training within their own agency: by the training levels for that agency

This is important to manage child protection and comply with S11 arrangements.

SG53

n/a

Number of FTE staff in post for:

• Health visitors
• School Nurses
• Social Workers
• PVP Police Officers

This is essential for the LSCB to exercise challenge to member agencies in child protection. The messages from Laming and SCRs are that LSCBs should be aware of change in member agencies and its implications.

SG54

n/a

Allegations of harm to children made against staff who work with children, noting:

• Occupation/ Employer
• Outcome of the investigation
• Use of restraint
• Length of time to completion.

This is the basis of the LADO system. These figures are routinely collected every six months. Work is required to get behind these figures and quality assure this LSCB function.