ISCP report reveals multiple successes during a difficult year

Monday 20 September 2021

In a comprehensive account of its activities in 2020, the Islands Safeguarding Partnership (ICSP) has announced numerous successful initiatives that launched during an unusually difficult year.

The ISCP ensures all agencies in the Bailiwick, responsible for keeping young and vulnerable people safe, continue to do so.

It recorded 1,624 referrals to the Multi-Agency Support Hub (MASH) last year, 1486 of which were actively ‘discussed’; repeat referrals increased by 13%.

Mirroring findings in a similar report published by the Child Youth and Community Tribunal last month, the ISCP noted a significant dip in referrals during the first of Guernsey’s lockdowns. 

The Conveneor, Karen Brady, said the trend was concerning but could be explained in the context of the enforced lockdown.

“This may reflect the increasing pressures on our health and social care services during 2020 or may reflect that fact that children in need or at risk were less visible to services,” she said.

Pictured: The ISCP has released attendance figures for its four meetings in 2020.

One area of significant concern for the ISCP was a substantial increase in children being reported missing from care.

There were 46 incidents in 2019 compared to 169 in 2020. It was argued that the increase relates to a specific cohort of young people who continually go missing and it has subsequently warped the figures.

The issue remains a concern and has led to a ‘multi-agency examination of how this can be addressed’.

Pictured: The ISCP said it has achieved several milestones during a very difficult year. 

The ISCP has celebrated its development of a Child Neglect Strategy and an Adult Safeguarding Partnership.

The Islands Safeguarding Adults Partnership aims to fill a legal void the island currently has, with no current framework in place guiding agencies in protecting older people at risk of harm and abuse.

The island has numerous groups who work to support and protect the most vulnerable in our society, but to date there has been no strategy pulling them together. The ISAP was launched last year and had its first meeting in December.

Pictured: The 2020 Annual Report included the ISCP accounts.

“2020 was my second year as the Independent Chair for the ISCP and was marked by unprecedented challenges for children, young people and families due to the COVID- 19 pandemic,” said the Pan Island Independent Chair for the ISCP, Sarah Elliott.

“This meant that agencies needed to adapt their practice to ensure abuse and neglect could continue to be identified and acted upon. 

“Whilst bringing challenges, the pandemic has also brought opportunities to strengthen partnership working and find creative joint solutions to tackle island wide safeguarding priorities such as domestic abuse, child neglect and online safety.”