Multi Agency Audits

Multi-agency audits are a cornerstone of effective safeguarding practice within Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (SCPs). 

1. Promote Accountability and Transparency

• Audits allow SCPs to review how agencies work together in safeguarding cases.
• They provide evidence of compliance with statutory guidance (e.g., Working Together to Safeguard Children).
• They ensure that each agency is fulfilling its responsibilities and that decision-making is documented and defensible.

2. Identify Strengths and Areas for Improvement

• By examining real cases across agencies, audits highlight what is working well and where gaps exist.
• They uncover systemic issues such as delays in information sharing or inconsistent thresholds for intervention.
• Findings inform targeted training and policy updates.

3. Improve Multi-Agency Collaboration

• Audits encourage dialogue between professionals from different sectors (health, education, police, social care).
• They build trust and shared understanding of roles, responsibilities, and processes.
• This leads to more coordinated and timely responses to safeguarding concerns.

4. Enhance Learning and Continuous Improvement

• Lessons from audits feed into SCP learning frameworks and action plans.
• They help prevent repeat mistakes by embedding learning into practice.
• Audits often link to Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, reinforcing a culture of learning rather than blame.

5. Ensure Child-Centered Practice

• Audits check whether the child’s voice and lived experience are considered in assessments and plans.
• They assess whether interventions are proportionate and focused on the child’s welfare.
• This keeps the partnership aligned with its core purpose: improving outcomes for children.

6. Support Strategic Planning

• Audit findings inform SCP priorities and commissioning decisions.
• They provide data for performance dashboards and annual reports.
• This evidence base helps SCPs demonstrate impact to local communities and national bodies.

The BSCP has undertaken the following multi agency audits: 

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