Case Studies

Bradford Metropolitan District Council

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  Title:

  Member Development in Safeguarding

  Overall Aim:

  To empower Councillors with the awareness and knowledge to identify and respond to a Safeguarding issue effectively.

  Objectives:

  To identify what Safeguarding is, and the distinction between this and Corporate Parenting

  To explore what a safeguarding issue might look like in reality

  To understand the responsibilities of the Council / services in investgating and responding

  To consider the appropriate roles and responsibilities of the Councillor in the process

  To consider what great practice would look like - interpersonal skills in dealing with a member of the public and subsequent best practice

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  Details

  Bradford MDC was acutely aware that it is essential for all stakeholders to be aware and responsive to the potential risks to children, and know the appropriate actions to take, reflective of their role in the process. Training and awareness is an absolutely essential part of this, and Bradford MBC looked to Collingwood Learning to support Councillors in developing their knowledge in this area.

  Councillors have hugely varied responsibilities and a requirement to understand a great number of areas relating to governance, and Council policy and procedure. Whilst having a deep affinity with the issue of safeguarding when presented as a topic, the key challenge they face is identifying and responding to issues as they arise in daily life – interactions with the public and stakeholders.

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  Format

  The programme lasted two hours, and we developed three scripted scenarios performed by actors. These scenarios were interactions between the public and a Councillor, and covered safeguarding issues relating to;

  Children in care
  
  Children with disabilities
  
  Domestic Violence
  
  

  After an introduction by the facilitator, each scenario was played out, and after each one there was a facilitated discussion on round tables by the Councillors, supported by other professionals from the Council services. Each group considered;

  What are the significant issues arising from the scenario? What actions need to be taken in response to these issues? What is the role of the Councillor in this given situation? What is your role as a ward member in this situation?

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  Key Challenge

  The key challenge for us in the design of the programme was the incredibly varied levels of experience amongst members in dealing with Safeguarding issues. Also the highly specific information they might need to know in considering a particular safeguarding issue.

  Our response was to create a safe and supportive environment where Councillors and professionals from Children and Young People’s Services worked together to share best practice and develop solutions to our carefully designed case studies.

  At the heart of the role of a ward member is their ability to respond appropriately and professionally in spite of heart rending stories. We explored the interpersonal skills required in a given situation by the member and used the theatre to test out these skills.

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  Outcomes

  “Thank you for coming last night to make the training for members a success. I thought it was very powerful, the acting was top quality and the interactive session really worked. An excellent interactive session.”

  Julie Jenkins, Assistant Director (Social Care - Children)