Stronger together: collaborative working to tackle child sexual exploitation and child trafficking conference November 2013

Message from the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM

I am sorry that I am unable to be with you all today at the Stronger Together collaborative working to tackle child sexual exploitation and trafficking conference.

I would like at the outset to pay tribute to the staff of Barnardos Cymru for organising this important conference and for their tireless work, on a daily basis, to protect and safeguard children and young people who might be at risk.

Raising awareness of child sexual exploitation and trafficking in particular is not an easy task. It is an extremely uncomfortable thought to grasp for many, and it is shocking to think that children and young people in Wales fall victim to these terrible crimes. However, we can not shirk that responsibility and we have to tackle these difficult problems head on.

Guidance such as the all Wales protocols on child trafficking and child sexual exploitation and Safeguarding Children from Sexual Exploitation published by the Welsh Government can help support and educate practitioners so that they can begin to identify children who are at risk, and ensure a consistent understanding of the challenges across agencies.

Central to the effectiveness of any guidance is the key principle of ensuring that multi-agency co-operation is critical to effective safeguarding. In safeguarding and protection, arrangements are only as strong as the weakest link and we must ensure that everyone that safeguarding and protection are primary responsibilities.

Safeguarding is everyones business and we want to promote th at principle through all aspects of our work.

We know that there are strong links between children going missing, child trafficking and sexual exploitation and the Welsh Government is determined to do all it can to protect our most vulnerable young people and keep them safe from harm.

We believe that improved outcomes for children can only be achieved and sustained when key agencies work together to deliver more integrated joined up services to tackle these issues.

Recently, I was pleased to help launch, with Barnardos Cymru, an information leaflet aimed at children and young people to help raise awareness of the dangers of sexual exploitation, and to recognise signs of grooming. This innovative leaflet helps young people to develop the knowledge and skills they need to help keep themselves safe from harm and signposts advice and support.
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I have recently issued a Ministerial Statement on the progress in developing, in particular, new safeguarding and protection arrangements through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill two of the core principles we are trying enshrine through the legislation are improved leadership and collaboration.

I make no apology for repeating, safeguarding is everyones business and as such I made it clear in my Written Statement that I intend to further strengthen multi-agency collaborative arrangements through the provisions set within the Bill.

The National Independent Safeguarding Board, once established, will reinforce the principle of improved leadership and enable agencies at all levels to work together more effectively to further strengthen safeguarding arrangements in Wales.

It will also ensure there is clarity and focus around protection issues, that key safeguarding agencies have clear guidance and the statutory tools necessary to work collaboratively to protect children and young people who are at risk.

The development work required through the Bill to ensure that the legislation and guidance supports operational practice will continue through the rest of this and next year. I hope that many of you will be involved with the Safeguarding Advisory Panel I have established to advise me on these matters.
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The model for development we have implemented reflects that which we put in place for the development of the Child Practice Review framework introduced in January and that puts practitioners and professionals right at the heart of the development process to ensure more effective safeguarding arrangements.

I hope that you will find todays event thought provoking and helpful and I would again like to thank colleagues at Barnardos Cymru for taking this initiative.

I trust that the measures I am taking to strengthen safeguarding and protection arrangements will make a difference to the lives of citizens in Wales.

Thank you.