Summary
“Between 19 November 2018 and 23 November 2018, Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), HMI Constabulary and Fire & Rescue services (HMICFRS) and HMI Probation undertook a joint inspection of the multi-agency response to sexual abuse in the family in Shropshire. This letter to all the service leaders in the area outlines our findings about the effectiveness of partnership working and about the work of individual agencies in Shropshire. This joint targeted area inspection (JTAI) included an evaluation of the multi-agency ‘front door’, which receives referrals about children who may be in need or at risk of significant harm. In Shropshire, this is known as ‘Compass’ and includes co-located children’s social care teams, the police Harm Assessment Unit (HAU) and health and probation practitioners. Alongside this evaluation, inspectors undertook a ‘deep dive’ into the effectiveness of services for a small group of children and young people who have suffered, or are at risk of, child sexual abuse in the family environment. Inspectors also considered and evaluated the effectiveness of the multi-agency leadership and management of this work, including the role played by the local safeguarding children board."--Page 1.