Independent Scrutineers Report 25-26

Independent Scrutiny provided challenge, support and assurance regarding the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements. Independent scrutiny forms an important part of the partnership’s approach to understanding what difference multi-agency safeguarding activity was making for children and families, as well as identifying areas where further improvement was needed.

Alongside my Independent Scrutineer’s role, the partnership also benefited from independent challenge and oversight through the Devon Improvement Partnership Board, established following Ofsted’s judgement of Children’s Services. Together, these arrangements provided additional assurance that safeguarding partners were working effectively, learning from reviews and inspections, and maintaining a clear focus on improving outcomes for children.

During the year, I considered a range of evidence including partnership performance information, multi-agency audits, thematic reviews, Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs), Rapid Reviews, governance arrangements, workforce development activity, meeting observations and feedback from partners. Particular attention was given to how effectively Devon’s safeguarding arrangements were operating under the requirements of Working Together to Safeguard Children, including the role of Lead Safeguarding Partners, Delegated Safeguarding Partners and the effectiveness of multi-agency governance arrangements. A number of strengths became apparent across the partnership which includes strong collaboration between safeguarding partners, active engagement from education, effective governance arrangements, a well-established quality assurance framework, and a commitment to learning and continuous improvement. Scrutiny activity also highlighted the significant amount of multi-agency workforce development delivered across the partnership and the continued focus on embedding learning from safeguarding reviews into frontline practice.

During 2025-26, scrutiny findings from previous reviews demonstrated positive progress in several areas. Improvements were identified in the oversight and governance of the Children’s Front Door and Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), including strengthened reporting arrangements and increased multi-agency oversight. Progress was also evident in how the partnership managed, tracked and embedded learning arising from Rapid Reviews and Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, enabling greater focus on current safeguarding concerns and emerging themes.

I also reviewed findings from a range of thematic reviews and audit activity undertaken during the year. This included work relating to child neglect, missing children and child exploitation, transitions from children’s to adult services, and injuries to infants. The scrutiny process provided assurance that the partnership was using learning from these reviews to shape priorities, influence workforce development and improve safeguarding practice across agencies.

The partnership’s growing use of multi-agency data and performance information was recognised as a developing strength. This has supported a more evidence-based approach to decision-making, helping safeguarding partners better understand trends, risks and the impact of partnership activity.

An additional area of focus during the year was the culture of constructive challenge across the safeguarding partnership. The Independent Scrutineer acknowledged the strong and positive relationships that exist between partners but encouraged continued focus on ensuring that appropriate challenge, professional curiosity and accountability remain central features of the partnership’s work at strategic, operational and practitioner levels.

During this reporting period, the partnership experienced significant challenges in securing long-term independent scrutiny arrangements. While safeguarding partners remained fully committed to maintaining independent challenge and assurance, recruitment and contracting processes were considerably delayed. As a result, the partnership experienced an approximate nine-month period during which it was unable to secure a substantive independent scrutineer contract. During this time, safeguarding partners maintained oversight through existing governance arrangements, support from the Devon Improvement Partnership Board and independent challenge provided through inspection, review and quality assurance activity. However, the experience highlighted the need for more flexible commissioning and contracting arrangements that better reflect the independent and multi-agency nature of local safeguarding partnerships. The appointment of a permanent Independent Scrutineer at the end of the reporting period has provided greater stability and assurance moving forward.

Overall, independent scrutiny throughout 2025-26 indicated that Devon SCP continued to strengthen its operational safeguarding arrangements through effective partnership working, a strong commitment to learning and continuous improvement, and positive progress in responding to findings from audits, thematic reviews, inspections, safeguarding reviews and national reforms. The QA Subgroup has developed a ‘Check and Challenge’ process designed to close the loop between review, learning, action planning, improvements in safeguarding practice, and evaluation. This approach enables the partnership to adopt an outcomes-focused methodology, providing Designated Safeguarding Professionals (DSPs), Lead Safeguarding Professionals (LSPs), and the Independent Scrutineer with clear oversight of how learning is translated into tangible improvements and positive safeguarding outcomes. This approach was taken in respect of non-accidental injuries to babies and neglect.

Despite a significant challenge in securing a substantive Independent Scrutineer for part of the year, due to protracted recruitment and contracting arrangements, the partnership maintained oversight and challenge through its established governance structures, quality assurance activity, the Devon Improvement Partnership Board and ongoing review processes. While this resulted in a period where formal independent scrutiny was reduced, the partnership continued to demonstrate a clear focus on improving outcomes for children and families. Moving forward, Devon SCP will continue to strengthen its approach to evidencing impact, promoting constructive challenge and ensuring that scrutiny activity clearly demonstrates the difference partnership working makes to the lives of children, young people and families across Devon.

Keith Perkin, Independent Scrutineer

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