11 June 2025
National Independent Safeguarding Board Meeting
Meeting Minutes
Date: 11th June 2025 Time: 09.30am Teams meeting
Attendees:
• Tony Young (NISB Chair)
• Lin Slater (NISB Vice Chair)
• Carys James (NISB Board Member)
• Artie Meakin (NISB Board Member)
• Emma Logan (NISB Secretariat)
Apologies:
• Desmond Mannion (NISB Board Member)
Agenda Items and Detailed Summary:
1. Welcome and Apologies:
Meeting commenced with a welcome from the Chair and apologies noted.
2. Conflicts of Interest:
The chair asked members to declare conflicts of interest, none were declared.
3. Minutes & Actions of Previous Meeting:
Minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved with minor amendments.
4. Safeguarding in Wales Survey: Mandatory Reporting
It was noted that Welsh Government are conducting a survey to gather views regarding recommendation 13 from the IICSA report regarding mandatory reporting and exploring the implications of placing mandatory reporting duties or alternative measures on individuals who work with children and adults who may be at risk. It was noted that there had been difficulty in accessing related workshops.
The Chair highlighted that Welsh Government previously believed that mandatory reporting was already provided for in existing legislation and working together guidelines. It was agreed that NISB would contribute a response. This may require a short extension to achieve.Response for Board circulation to be drafted and a short extension for the submission deadline to be requested.
5. Ann Craft Trust:
Attendance was unconfirmed, it was therefore noted to follow-up and offer to attendance at a future Board Meeting.
6. Senior Policy Manager Older People, Welsh Government:
Hazel Jones (Senior Policy Manager Older People, Welsh Government) attended to update NISB on the National Action Plan for the Prevention of Abuse of Older People. This is being progressed and near completion. Concerns were raised about the lack of engagement with regional safeguarding boards. The Board expressed hope that policy and implementation through the action plan, will be aligned with the broader safeguarding framework and include all relevant stakeholders.
7. Taryn Stephens, Deputy Chief Social Care Officer, Welsh Government – Update:
Governance Review: A safeguarding governance review is being planned and an independent reviewer will be commissioned to undertake the review. The scope will include the National Independent Safeguarding Board (NISB). This will be helpful in bringing clarity to safeguarding governance arrangements across the Welsh safeguarding landscape. Terms of reference are being developed with timescales for the review September 2025-April 2026.
SUSR (Single Unified Safeguarding Review): A discussion with NISB is planned post July to consider how the methodologies currently in place for learning i.e. thematic reviews and machine learning from practice reviews, for example can be used to the best effect.
Recruitment Process: An overview of the recruitment process for appointing the new Chair of the NISB was considered, should the board not be at full capacity, there may be an option to conduct an external recruitment process. The objective is to ensure that the new chair is in place with a sufficient handover period before the current chair’s term concludes in May2026.
Part 5 Data: In response to the Boards enquiry about what data is available pertaining to Part 5 of the All Wales Safeguarding Procedures, it was suggested that this should be an item for discussion with the Chairs of RSBs s in the next meeting planned for July.
Older People’s Action Plan: The Chair raised the following concerns with regarding the earlier update on the National Action Plan for the Prevention of Abuse of Older People. Specifically, It was suggested that the plan could be made much stronger and more effective if it included meaningful engagement with regional safeguarding boards and statutory agencies. It was mentioned that the plan should be reviewed to address these gaps to improve its overall impact.
TS agreed that the feedback provided by NISB would be considered.
8. NISB Work Programme 2025-2026 Finalise:
The work programme was reviewed and finalised with updates on various action items. It was agreed the Workplan could be translated and published on NISB Website.
9. Board Chair Discussion 2026-2029:
The process for appointing the new chair of NISB was considered.
10. NISB Portfolios:
NISB Portfolios were discussed. It was agreed that the portfolio matrix would be circulated tofor board members to update. Final matrix to be shared and discussed during the planned Development Day.
11. Consultation – Response, Escalation, and Concerns:
It was agreed for CJ to draft the formal NISB response and circulate to Board members for review and additional comment.
12. NISB Recruitment Update:
Recruitment process for new board members is ongoing, awaiting ministerial sign-off. Interviews expected to be held on June 27th.
13. West Glamorgan Development Day:
An invitation has been received for NISB to attend the West Glamorgan Development Day, Scheduled for June 27th. It was agreed DM to attend, with CJ as a backup.
14. Safeguarding Week:
The Vice Chair informed the board The National Independent Safeguarding Board (NISB) will hold its annual conference on the 12th of November as part of its contribution to Safeguarding Week.
The event will focus on children with a specific theme of “transitional safeguarding”. Professor Christine Cocker, University of East Anglia, has agreed to present on “transitional safeguarding”.
A speaker with personal experience, has been contacted, and confirmation is awaited.
It was requested that a “hold the date” notice should be sent to all regional safeguarding board business managers, informing them of the NISB conference on the 12th of November and its focus on children and transitional safeguarding.
15. NISB Inbox:
Issues with accessing the NISB inbox were noted, and EL confirmed this has been addressed with the Website Hosts to be actioned as soon as possible.
16. Regional Board Updates:
Updates from various regional boards were shared.
17. Stakeholder Updates:
Updates from EWS, CIW, HIW, WVCS, Estyn, WAO, CCfW, OPC, PVP, Anti-Slavery, and the 4 Nations Planning Group were provided.