About us

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children requires effective co-ordination in every local area.

For this reason, the Children Act 2004 required each Local Authority to establish a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

The LSCB is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant organisations in each local area will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in that locality, and for ensuring the effectiveness of what they do.

Halton Safeguarding Children Board is a statutory body consisting of agencies and professionals responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people across the borough.

The agencies include:

• Halton Borough Council
• Cheshire Constabulary
• National Probation Service
• Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company
• NHS England (Merseyside)
• Halton Clinical Commissioning Group
• NHS Acute & Community Trusts
• CAFCASS
• Schools
• Riverside College
• Two Lay Members also represent the community on the Board

The role of Halton Safeguarding Children Board

The Board undertakes a range of functions to safeguard children & young people in Halton including:

• Developing safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Raising awareness of safeguarding amongst staff, children and families and the public.
• Monitoring and evaluating safeguarding arrangements and advising on improvement.
• Participating in the planning of services.
• Undertake Serious Case Reviews and advise on lessons to be learned.
• Undertake Child Death Review functions.

Safeguarding children and young people is not the sole responsibility of the Safeguarding Children Board, or the professionals who care for children – Safeguarding children is everyone’s business.

Our Priorities:

The Board’s priorities underpin the Business Plan.  Our priorities are:

1. Ensuring that the Board has effective and efficient structures, processes and resources in place to undertake its objectives and functions effectively.
2. Engage with children, young people and families in the work of the Board and safeguarding activity undertaken by partners.
3. Assuring the quality of practice in the local safeguarding context.
4. Support the development of a safe and informed workforce, including volunteers.

Board Structure and Membership

• HSCB Structure April 2016

Halton Safeguarding Children Board Annual reports

All LSCBs are required to produce an Annual Report.