NISB Work Plan 2021-22
Introduction
The National Board’s duties and responsibilities
The National Board has three primary duties which have shaped our work plan. These are:
- To provide support and advice to Safeguarding Boards with a view to ensuring that they are effective
- To report on the adequacy and effectiveness of arrangements to safeguard children and adults in Wales
- To make recommendations to the Welsh Ministers as to how those arrangements could be improved (S.132 (2)).
In addition, eight specific responsibilities of the National Board are set out in Working Together to Safeguard People, the Part 7 Guidance on Safeguarding. That is, the National Board:
- works alongside Safeguarding Adults Boards and Safeguarding Children Boards to secure consistent improvements in safeguarding policy and practice throughout Wales (para 246)
- will engage with the chairs of the Safeguarding boards, and relevant inspectorates…at least twice a year (para 258)
- will stay abreast of evidence and policy approaches to safeguarding and protection in other parts of the UK and beyond in order to learn from those and to evaluate Wales’ relative performance (para 261)
- where a theme of concern is identified…the National Board could recommend to Welsh Ministers that the matter be escalated to Welsh Government for exploration or to the relevant inspectorate (para 263)
- will use mechanisms to regularly engage with a range of expert reference groups, practitioners and individuals (para 264)
- will publish its own annual reports including any work it is planning. It will also hold an annual engagement event or events (para 265)
- has a specific duty under section 133 (2) (d) of the Act to “consult with those who may be affected by arrangements to safeguard adults and children in Wales.” It will use that duty to enhance its understanding of and extend its experience of safeguarding and protection in Wales (para 266)
- will consider the learning from the ‘user engagement’ activities of the Safeguarding Boards (para 266).
| 1. To provide support and advice to Safeguarding Boards with a view to ensuring that they are effective: | ||
| Strategic Goal 1. Safeguarding Communications on a National Basis The National Board will engage with the general public about safeguarding. | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • Ensure processes in place to enable identification of key messages in agreement with stakeholders. • Scope ability to use available and appropriate digital media platforms to engage with the general public. Identify resource gaps. • Review public facing NISB website to support delivery of objective. Identify gaps in resources to deliver. • Lead and support safeguarding campaigns alone or with other stakeholders to promote public information. Including safeguarding week activities. • Explore opportunities to receive views of the general public. • Translation | • Welsh citizens provided with information to support their ability to act to prevent or protect themselves or others from abuse, neglect and exploitation. • Information relevant, bilingual and accessible. • Views of the general public accessed • Ensure fully bilingual communications | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 2. Learning from Reviews. | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • Webinar to share findings from reviews inc HIW Chris Wade Review • Work with WG on the Single Unified Safeguarding Review • Contributing to national review and participating in governance of learning reviews (DHR’s, APR’s, CPR’s) • Commission update on thematic review of CPR • Commission of research into Adult Safeguarding | • Lessons are learned from each and every review both locally and nationally. | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 3. Provide support & advice on their effectiveness to safeguarding board | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • NISB members attend and participate in RSB meetings. • NISB develop overarching view of RSB work plans and emerging themes and issues. | • Examples of the support and advice provided are reflected in meetings with Ministers and Regional Board Chairs and in the National Board’s Annual Report | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 4. Responding to emerging themes | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • The Board receives enquiries as a result of its work. The Board’s remit extends to providing advice and assistance. • Responding to safeguarding consultations | • An Annual Report that effectively captures emerging themes | 31 March 2022 |
| 2. To report on the adequacy and effectiveness of arrangements to safeguard children and adults in Wales | ||
| Strategic Goal 5. Annual Report on the effectiveness of arrangements in Wales | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • Produce Annual Report by 31.10.2021. • Monthly meetings of NISB • Workplan | • Recommendations on how those arrangements could be improved. | 31 December 2021 |
| Strategic Goal 6. Engage with Chairs RSB | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • NISB quarterly meetings with WG & RSB chairs | • Agreed Terms of Reference for how these bodies work together. Development of shared priorities for collaborative working. • NISB Annual Report | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 7. Engage with Business Managers | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • NISB quarterly meetings with WG & RSB business managers | • Development of shared priorities for collaborative working. • NISB Annual Report | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 8. Engage with Inspectorates | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| Meet with: • CIW • WAO • HIW • Estyn • HMIPP • HMIC • Joint inspectorates | • Develop an agreed assurance framework to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of arrangements in Wales. • Contribute to the evaluation of the pilot joint inspection in Newport. | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 9. Engage with key stakeholder organisations Stakeholder/service user engagement | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| Each member of NISB to keep in touch with an allocated organisation: • Older People’s Commissioner for Wales • Children’s Commissioner for Wales • Future Generations Commissioner for Wales • Police and Crime Commissioner • Public Health Wales • Social Care Wales • Education Workforce Council • Charity Commission through WCVA | • Effective engagement with service users. • Effective engagement with stakeholders and service users | 31 March 2022 |
| Strategic Goal 10. Shaping the Future of Safeguarding in Wales (carried on from 2020/21): Workstream 1: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MAOSA) in Wales. Workstream 2: The Development of a National Performance Framework for Statutory Safeguarding Workstream 3: Messages from People | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • Follow on from Phase 1 conducted under 2019/20 workplan • NISB to look at recommendations and report to Minister. • Stakeholder group meetings (2) - Ensure stakeholder group kept updated on progress and findings. • Map existing models in use across Wales and rest of UK | • Framework of Principles • Develop an agreed assurance framework to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of arrangements in Wales. | 30 April 2022 |
| 3. To make recommendations to the Welsh Ministers as to how those arrangements could be improved (S.132 (2)). | ||
| Strategic Goal 11. Meetings with Minister | ||
| Actions planned | Outcome measures | Delivery Date |
| • 2 meetings per year • Via Annual Report • Raise specific issues as they arise | • To keep Minister updated on emerging issues and to seek advice as required. | Summer 2021 December 2021 |