BCSSP Core Functions & Strategic Plan
The BCSSP has set priorities. These priorities are set through the Executive Board and are directly influenced by local need and legal requirements. The partnership strategic plan covers a 3-year period and is reviewed every year to ensure it is relevant and remains focussed.
The current BCSSP Strategic Plan 2024-2027 outlines what the BCSSP plan to do and the priorities for the partnership until 2027.
Community Safety Priorities
The Avon & Somerset Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) produces a Police and Crime Plan for Avon & Somerset. The B&NES joint community safety plan, in line with statutory requirements, identifies evidence driven priorities for B&NES whilst being mindful of supporting the OPCC priorities. B&NES joint community safety plan is produced with the Avon & Somerset Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and our local priorities are:
- Protecting the most vulnerable from harm
- Strengthen and improve local communities to improve outcomes for local people
The overarching community safety priorities of the BCSSP are:
Priority 1: To develop the strategic oversight and scrutiny of the CSP arrangements
Priority 2: We will further develop our work with partners to prevent people from becoming involved in and reduce instances of serious violence.
Priority 3: Continue to identify opportunities for longer term funding to reduce domestic abuse incidents and improve outcomes for survivors.
Safeguarding Children Priorities
Priority 1: We will strengthen the role of education in the partnership.
Priority 2: Ensure a child-centred approach with a whole family focus.
Priority 3: Keeping children and young people safe from harm from exploitation.
Safeguarding Adults Priorities
Priority 1: Improve understanding of and support professionals to work with those individuals who self-neglect.
Priority 2: We will create confidence in practitioners in the application of the Mental Capacity Act and understanding of the interplay with the Mental health Act.
Priority 3: We will connect with our communities and hear their voice within the partnership.
Overarching Priorities
Priority 1: Have policies and procedures that are current and in line with best practice.
Priority 2: We will create confidence in practitioners to be professionally curious and improve this practice.
Priority 3: We will ensure effective collection, sharing and analysis of data, enabling early identification of community safety and safeguarding risks, issues, emerging threats, and joined-up responses across relevant agencies.
Priority 4: Ensure clear transitional arrangements are in place between children’s and young adults services.
Core Functions
To ensure compliance with its statutory responsibilities, the BCSSP has identified the following core functions.
Inter-agency Policies and Procedures
Developing interagency policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Implementing actions and interventions concerning crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
Planning and Reporting
Develop and publish a strategic plan setting out how we will meet our objectives and how partner agencies will contribute. Publish an annual report detailing how effective our work as a partnership has been.
Monitoring Safeguarding Activity and Performance
Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of preventative strategies and the actions of partners and agreeing standards for continuous learning and improvement.
Scrutiny and Quality Assurance
Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of actions taken to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, adults and communities, evidencing the outcomes and developing best practice.
Communication and Engagement
Promoting awareness of safeguarding and community safety and communicating the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, adults and communities so that professionals, organisations and the public can play their part in preventing, identifying and responding to concerns.
Reviews of Practice
Undertaking and commissioning Domestic Homicide Reviews, Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Safeguarding Adult Reviews. We also can consider and undertake discretionary reviews where it is felt there is learning to be gained.
Training and Staff Development
Develop, deliver and evaluate high quality, multi-agency training programmes that meet the training requirements of the local workforce to ensure confidence and competence in carrying out their roles.