Download Communications Sub Group Terms of Reference

Communications Sub Group
Terms of Reference
Purpose
This sub-group has the responsibility for developing and disseminating a range of accessible
information in a variety of formats to raise awareness about children safeguarding, targeting citizens,
professionals, service users and carers.
Role and Responsibilities
 Ensuring that safeguarding children updates including key research in relation to child
protection and safeguarding children and Serious Case Reviews is available publicly.
 Producing communications that are timely and well managed and be considerate to issues
of inclusion, culture, equality, religion and diversity.
 Identifying good news stories/media campaigns to raise the LSCB profile.
 Overseeing the production of the LSCB newsletter.
 linking with the Equalities group to include the voice and participation of CYP in the work of
the LSCB
 Acting in a consultative capacity for the LSCB on relevant matters and responding to other
work by LSCB groups.
 Supporting use of LSCB resources such as the website.
 Co-ordinating the periodic review of the Communications Strategy.
 Developing and disseminating best practice whistleblowing guidance widely.
 To consider where issues may have an impact on children or adults with care and support
needs to ensure a ‘Think Family approach’ is taken across all work of the sub-group.
Accountability
 The Communications Sub Group is accountable to the LSCB.
 However, individual agencies retain responsibility for meeting their own particular statutory
duties and responsibilities in relation to media and communications.
Structure
The Chair will be the Divisional Director, Children, Young People and Families Division.
Membership
Core members:
 Business Support Manager
 Lay Member LSCB
 Director of Teaching & Learning, City of Bath College
 Communications Co-ordinator
 Communications and Marketing Manager
 CYP Participation lead

Deputy Head of Safeguarding Children
Specialist members as required
Other members will be co-opted into the group as appropriate
Frequency of Meetings
The group will meet bi-monthly and then review after 12 months.
Administrative Support
Administrative support will be provided by B&NES Council
The Agenda and supporting papers will be circulated at least one week in advance of meeting.
Minutes will be taken and circulated within 2 weeks of the meeting.
Reporting and Governance Arrangements
The sub group through the Chair will:
 Report to the LSCB on a 6 monthly basis
 Review the business/work plan annually
 Produce an annual report which will be incorporated into the LSCB Annual Report
 To devise and deliver an agreed work plan that reflects the priorities of the LSCB.
 The Chair to be accountable for attendance, progress of work and achieving planned
outcomes.
 The group is required by the LSCB to make decisions where this is consistent with the
achievement of the agreed work plan.
 Review the Terms of Reference every 3 years (unless appropriate do sooner) and propose
amendments to the LSCB
Dispute
In the event of a dispute or conflict of interest arising between agencies across or within
groups, which cannot be resolved, the Chair will draw this to the attention of the LSCB Chair
for appropriate action and the LSCB & LSAB Dispute Resolution Policy will be invoked.
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sitedocuments/Children-and-YoungPeople/ChildProtection/lscb_and_lsab_dispute_resolution_v3.pdf
Date: September 2014 (amended Oct 2016 with Dispute Resolution Policy and March 2017
with Think Family Approach)
Date to be reviewed: September 2017