Lewisham’s Safeguarding Protocol – via the TSAs local standards pilot programme

1. Lewisham’s Safeguarding Protocol – via the TSAs local standards pilot programme

2. Richard Hards Group Manager Housing Strategy & Development richard.hards@lewisham.gov.uk

3. Pilot area and background • ‘Local’: the LA! • Background: • 9 Stock Transfers (3 current – 12,500) • 1 PFI (2007 – 1,800) • 1 ALMO (2007 – 18,500) • 4 Regeneration projects and more to come • 1st Community Gateway organisation in London • A variegated management and supply chain!

4. Profile of our pilot - subject area and scope: • 1. KPIs • 2. Safeguarding protocol • 3. Survey of vulnerable tenants • Motivations: • Tenants being able to compare performance (JPB) • Serious Case Reviews involving child neglect and a complete lack of awareness and action • The diverse nature of our housing providers • Uniformity of knowledge and practice of safeguarding in Lewisham Profile, subject area and scope

5. What issues our pilot is addressing & partners • Ability to compare performance and drive up standards, engage, inform and listen to tenants views • Movement towards an ’on the ground’ and meaningful approach to safeguarding in Lewisham • Best practice in key areas: safeguarding and approach to vulnerable tenants • The partners: • Lewisham Homes, Regenter B3, Phoenix, L&Q, Hyde, Family Mosaic, Child Social Care (CSC) and Adult Social Care (ASC), along with Hexagon, Affinity Sutton, Amicus Horizon Issues to be addressed

6. Tenant involvement in Lewisham • Strengths • Tenant choice via selection of their landlord • Tenant choice in accessing decent homes • Tenant voice via our Joint Partnership Board • Weaknesses • Lack of uniformity in the social housing offer • Lack of a borough wide voice for all tenants • Better understanding of what tenants concerns are – at the ‘local’ level and at the strategic level Tenant involvement

7. Our motivation to be a pilot • We wanted to be able to compare performance across providers but at the ‘local’ level. • We wanted to engage with our various providers and the safeguarding issue was a pressing and important issue • The issue concerns tenants, irrespective of their landlord • We wanted to focus on Lewisham, rather than individual organisations or our wider housing/regional partnership Motivation

8. What have we done so far? • Our draft protocol is in place – set to launch in April • Our survey and desk top analysis is nearly complete • We have made headway on KPIs (expecting 5 comparators from April) • Strengths – generally our RSL partners have actively cooperated • Weaknesses, Challenges & Learning/tips: • The protocol evolved: KISS, opened up the process and players: RSLs, contractors & CSC & ASC, has built in active elements. Review and what we learned

9. Forward look - what next? We aim to take forward the initiative and dialogue to ensure the protocol is active and all parties remain engaged: training programme, nominated staff member and monthly monitoring of cases referred We will work with our smaller RSL partners to get them signed up to the protocol and see if they can provide KPIs Analyse the survey and desk top data to take forward issues raised around vulnerable tenants. Going forwards and challenges

10. Summary • The pilot has acted as a spur to provide a borough wide strategic focus for safeguarding. • Our various housing providers have co-operated and have actively sought to sign up to a Council initiative – rather than something externally from: HC/HCA/TSA. • We aim to take forward the initiative and dialogue to ensure the protocol is active and all parties remain engaged on this and other key areas. Summary

11. Safeguarding Matters