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Essex Safeguarding Children Board

Statutory Safeguarding Partners

Statutory Safeguarding Partners

In Essex there are three organisations who are jointly responsible by law for the partnership arrangements for keeping children safe. These are known as the Statutory Safeguarding Partners and they are the key decision makers who are responsible for the direction of travel along with relevant agencies, who are identified by the Lead Safeguarding Partners. These relevant agencies must act in accordance with local safeguarding arrangements. 

  • Essex County Council
  • Essex Police
  • Essex Integrated Care Board

The Safeguarding Partners have joint and equal duties and responsibilities to ensure:

  • That agencies work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children across Essex.
  • They include and develop the role of wider local organisations and agencies in the process.
  • They have a clear line of sight in relation to the key and critical safeguarding issues across Essex.

The Lead Safeguarding Partners (LSP) are the Chief Executives of each of the Statutory Safeguarding Partner agencies. Each LSP nominates a Delegated Safeguarding Partner (DSP) from their organisation. Details of these can be found in the MASA Plan 2024-2025.

In line with the recommendations in Working Together 2026, Essex Safeguarding Partners have invited the Director of Education from the local authority to attend the Delegated Safeguarding Partners meetings. Education is already represented at all other levels of the partnership.

Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB)

The ESCB is made up of senior colleagues from the Safeguarding Partners (the decision makers) along with relevant agencies. The role of Chair of Essex Safeguarding Children Board meetings will rotate on an annual basis between the Delegated Safeguarding Partners.

The ESCB is made up of:

  • Safeguarding Partners
  • Education
  • Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services (ECVYS)
  • District, City & Borough Councils
  • Office of Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner
  • The Probation Service
  • 0-19 service (HCRG)
  • CAMHS (NELFT)

Further information can be found in the Induction Pack.