Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Bromley Council Children, Education and Families Information Briefing on 11 November 2025. The meeting was scheduled to consider the Bromley Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024/25. The report is a statutory requirement for safeguarding partnerships to publish annually.

Bromley Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024/25

The Bromley Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) Annual Report 2024/25 covers the period from April 2024 to March 2025 and was prepared for the Children, Education and Families Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee. The report was intended to provide a transparent assessment of the effectiveness of safeguarding and the promotion of child welfare in Bromley.

The report includes:

• The governance, accountability and scrutiny arrangements for the BSCP.
• The effectiveness of the partnership in its functions (scrutiny, data, learning, etc).
• The context for safeguarding children and young people in Bromley.
• Learning and improvement identified by the BSCP through Learning Reviews and multiagency audits.
• The range and impact of the multi-agency safeguarding training delivered by the BSCP.

The report contains an introduction from Richard Baldwin, Director of Children, Education and Families at London Borough of Bromley, Angela Bhan, Director (Place) Bromley at South East London Integrated Commissioning Board, and Det. Chief Superintendent Nick Blackburn, BCU Commander, South BCU (Croydon, Bromley and Sutton Boroughs), Metropolitan Police Service.

It also contains a foreword from Jim Gamble QPM, Independent Children and Young People Commissioner of BSCP, who:

reviewed this annual report and approved its content.

The report notes that in January 2025, a Joint Targeted Area Inspection found the BSCP arrangements to be 'well established and effective'. It also notes that in December 2024, the BSCP published its updated partnership arrangements in line with revised statutory guidance in Working Together 2023.

Enquiries and Referrals

The report states that the number of monthly Children And Families Hub (C&F Hub) enquiries received during 2024-25 peaked at 1314 in January 2025, reaching an annual total of 13,651. The three biggest sources of enquiries to the C&F Hub during this period were:

• Police (28%)
• Schools (24%)
• Health (20%)

15% of contacts went to Early Help¹ and 63% went through for further screening. Of those screened referrals, 42% went onto Children's Social Care (CSC), and 7% went to Early Help.

Social Work Assessments

During the year 2024-25, 4116 Social Work Assessments (SWAs) were completed. 93% of assessments were completed within the expected timeframe of 45 working days.

The 5 most common factors identified at SWA were:

• Mental Health (of parent/carer) 31%
• Domestic Abuse (of parent/carer) 23%
• Mental health (of child) 22%
• Emotional Abuse (of child) 19%
• Learning disability (of child) 16%.

Children in Need

In 2024-25, 4756 children were open to Children's Social Care at some point. On 31st March 2024, there were 2740 children in need, indicating a rate of 376.5 per 10,000 children population in Bromley, significantly above the 2023-24 national rate of 332 per 10,000.

Section 47 Investigations and Initial Conferences

A total of 1744 Strategy Discussions were held in 2024-25 and 1193 Section 47 enquiries commenced. 489 children were the subject of Initial Child Protection Conferences (ICPC) during 2024-25. The rate per 10,000 ICPCs held in Bromley (67.2) is above the national rate of 60.2 in 2023-24. 72% of ICPCs resulted in the child becoming subject to a Child Protection Plan².

Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan

There were 304 children subject to a child protection plan as of 31st March 2025. This represents 41.8 per 10,000 population, and is in line with the national average of 42. The highest category of abuse for Child Protection Plans starting during the year is Emotional Abuse (190, 52%); followed by Neglect (158, 43%).

Children Looked After

At the end of March 2024, there were 343 Children Looked After (CLA). This amounts to 47.1 per 10,000 population and is significantly below the 2023-24 national average rate of 70 per 10,000. On 31st March 2025, 17% of children were looked after under Section 20 of the Children's Act. 36 children looked after (10.5%) had 3 or more placement moves during 2024-25.

On 31st March 2024:

• 68% of CLA were in foster placements. Of these 232 children, 30% were with inhouse carers, 46% with Independent Fostering Agencies and 24% in connected persons placements
• 22% in residential placements
• 0% in independent living
• 1.1% in adoptive placements
• 4.4% placed at home

19.3% of children are placed outside of Bromley and more than 20 miles from where they used to live.

Of the 59 care leavers aged 17 and 18 receiving support as of 31st March 2025, 97% were in touch with the local authority. Of these, 98% were in suitable accommodation and 63% were in Education, Employment or Training (EET). 166 (97%) care leavers aged 19-21 were in touch on their birthday. 93% were in suitable accommodation and 56% were in EET.

Adoption

9 children were adopted from care during the year 2024-25, representing 6.8% of the cohort ceasing to be looked after. 10 children were placed for adoption during the same year. 19 children had an ADM decision for adoption and were waiting to be placed. 27 (20%) children looked after ceased to be looked after due to a Special Guardianship Order in 2024-25.

The average number of days between a child entering care and moving in with an adoptive family in 2023-24 was 663, higher than the national threshold of 426 days. The average number of days between Bromley receiving court authority to place a child and matching the child with an adoptive family was 293 days, above the national threshold of 121 days.

At the end of 2024-25, there were 116 approved foster carer households. There have been 5 newly approved mainstream foster carer households in 2024-25.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements

The Bromley Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) supports and enables local organisations and agencies to work together in a system where:

• Children are safeguarded and their welfare promoted.
• Partner organisations and agencies collaborate, share and co-own the vision for how to achieve improved outcomes for vulnerable children.
• Organisations and agencies challenge appropriately and hold one another to account effectively.
• There is early identification and analysis of new safeguarding issues and emerging threats.
• Learning is promoted and embedded in a way that local services for children and families can become more reflective and implement changes to practice.
• Information is shared effectively to facilitate accurate and timely decision making for children and families.

The safeguarding partnership is held accountable by the Safeguarding Children's Partnership Executive (BSCPE) which is formed of the three statutory safeguarding partners: the Police, the Local Authority and the South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB). The Director of Education has also been co-opted as a member of the Executive.

Executive leads and Partnership members have signed up to the BSCP Pledge which consists of four priorities: the health and wellbeing of the workforce; understanding vulnerability; a focus on getting the basics right; and continuous improvement.

Key Roles and Relationships

Jim Gamble QPM is the Independent Children and Young People (CYP) Commissioner of the BSCP in the year 2024-25.

The Designated Doctor and Nurse for Safeguarding Children are part of the South-East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and work closely with the place based Executive Lead in Bromley.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and Education Safeguarding Officer (ESO)

During the reporting period 2024/25, referrals to the LADO have slightly reduced with 572 contacts being made. Out of those contacts: 174 met threshold for LADO referral, 20% of which were substantiated. 398 contacts were dealt with as LADO consultations. Of the total of 572 contacts made this reporting period: 267 of these were from Schools, 95 from Early Years and 71 from Health.

Local Statutory Safeguarding Partners

The Partnership is led by the three statutory Safeguarding Partners as defined in Working Together³. Locally the three are:

• Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
• South-East London Integrated Care System (SEL ICS), our local health commissioners
• London Borough of Bromley (LBB), the council/ Local Authority.

BSCP Subgroups

The report provides an outline of each subgroup:

• Performance Challenge and Impact Subgroup
• Training Subgroup
• Case Review Subgroup
• The Child Death Overview Panel
• Children and Families Hub - Strategic Group and Working Group
• Education Safeguarding Advisory Committee
• Health Economy Safeguarding Children Forum
• Early Help Strategic Board

Financial Arrangements

A range of partner agencies from the local authority, health agencies, police and probation service continued to contribute to the BSCP's budget for 2024-25. Agency financial contributions totalled £208,934.

Effectiveness of the Partnership

This section sets out the scrutiny arrangements for the Bromley Safeguarding Children Partnership in 2024-25, including the Independent CYP Commissioner, Agency Safeguarding Self-Assessments, multi and single agency audits.

Implementation of National Reforms

This year the BSCP has focussed on the implementation of Working Together 2023, including agreement of LSP and DSP roles.

Key Decisions and Actions Taken

• Following some emerging concerns during a Safeguarding Practice Review, the Independent CYP Commissioner requested an internal review by the Crown Prosecution Service into some of the processes during a court trial.
• Five Joint Area Responses took place this year, of which only one was agreed as requiring a Rapid Response.
• One Rapid Review was held (May 2024) regarding a teenage girl who died by suicide.
• In September 2024, the BSCP Scrutiny Board focussed on the partnership protocol for assessment and support (Working Together 2023).
• In November 2024, BSCP Executive agreed to name Clearsprings (short term accommodation provided by the Home Office) in Bromley's multi agency working arrangements.
• In March 2025, partners considered models which would incorporate the Families First approach.
• Data presented at the C&F Hub Strategic Subgroup indicated a decline in referrals to Early Help and the use of Early Help Assessments.

Learning

Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPR) are undertaken to learn lessons and improve the way in which local professionals and organisations work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

During 2024/25, the SPR Subgroup:

• Completed a Child Safeguarding Practice Review on familial sexual abuse.
• Completed a Child Safeguarding Practice Review regarding the suicide of a teenager.
• Input into the national consultation on DHR Statutory Guidance, highlighting concerns around language and terminology.
• Undertook a review of BSCP case review processes to improve support for staff when undertaking CSPRs.
• Considered the learning from local Domestic Homicide Reviews, with a focus on learning for children.

Data

The BSCP Dataset is monitored quarterly in the Performance, Challenge and Impact Subgroup.

Training

The BSCP training programme consists of the following elements: online e-learning courses, live learning in-person or online (half, full or two-day courses), and shorter face to face briefings/seminars/workshops.

The Child's Voice

At every quarterly BSCP Scrutiny Board meeting, all partners are requested to submit Agency Updates, including how they seek the voice of the child.

Technology, Social Media and Communication

BSCP partners develop and deliver services that meet the needs of the children they seek to safeguard.

Partner Safeguarding Achievements and Challenges 2024-25

The report also includes partner safeguarding achievements and challenges for:

• Children's Social Care
• Education
• South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB)
• Primary Care
• Police
• Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (provider of CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Bromley)
• Bromley Y
• Bromley Healthcare
• Kings College Hospital NHS Trust (acute setting: Princess Royal University Hospital and south sites)
• Youth Justice Service (YJS)
• Housing
• Probation
• Change, Grow Live

BSCP Focus Areas

The report also highlights BSCP focus areas:

• Suicide and Mental Health
• Domestic Abuse
• Missing From Education (CME)
• Elective Home Education (EHE)
• SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability)
• Child Sexual Abuse

Future Planning and Implications

The report also considers future planning and implications:

• Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
• Families First
• Children's Home
• Joint Partnership Event – DARDRs (October 2025)