3 Response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA): Lambeth Council’s Action Plan
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Additional documents:
Minutes:
The report was introduced by Councillor Claire
Holland, Leader of the Council, who highlighted that:
- The Council offered its sincere
apologies to the victims n and survivors who were in the former
care of Lambeth Council
- The Redress Scheme had been set up
by the Council to provide compensation to victims and
survivors
- It had taken bravery for victims and
survivors to come forward in highlighting their experiences and
addressing the council’s historic failures
- The Action Plan addressed each
concern raised by IICSA in its investigation report
- The present Council was different to
that of the past, and has been open and transparent in its work
surrounding IICSA
- The whole administration was
committed to the Action Plan and delivering it in full.
Councillor Holland also highlighted that an
addendum had been published setting out the views and
recommendations of the Children’s Services Scrutiny
Sub-Committee held on 7 December.
Cabinet was then addressed by Andrew Travers,
Chief Executive, who highlighted that:
- He echoed the Leader’s
apologies to all victims and survivors for their experiences, and
that they were not believed or listened to in the past
- The scale of neglect and abuse was
shocking
- The inquiry report included work on
providing a safe and caring environment for children in care of the
Council
- Training would be mandated for
elected Councillors, as well as checks on recruitment for foster
carers and staff
- The regulatory regime and todays
Council were different to that set out in the report
- The Council would ensure a strong
accountability framework and robust procedures for safeguarding
children
- The Action Plan set out work across
8 key areas, and that his responsibility to work with Members,
Council staff and the Senior Management Team would ensure that this
time would be different
- As Chief Executive, he would
personally Chair the IICSA Board to ensure robust assessment
processes, work closely with OFSTED and listen to and act upon the
voices of children, both in the care of the Council and
generally.
Councillor Ed Davie, Cabinet Member for
Children and Young People then addressed Cabinet, highlighting
that:
- 18 months ago, he gave evidence to
IICSA which considered the abuse that took place in Lambeth’s
children’s homes from the 1960’s to the early
1990’s
- In preparation for this, the Cabinet
Member read many statements from victims and survivors
- He had done his best as statutory
Lead Member for Children’s Services to brief colleagues so
that the support given was safe and helped to achieve the best
possible outcome in a way that was absent in the past
- The Council recognised that further
work must be undertaken
- The IICSA Action Plan was devised
after careful consideration of inquiry findings, and was for the
whole Council including Members to respond - not just
Children’s Services
- The Council had ensured that
children in care were at the heart of decision making, and had listened to the Children in Care
Council’s feedback regarding what they would like to keep
them safe.
Councillor Joshua Lindsey, Chair of the
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