Councillors review Annual Safeguarding report for St Helens
Senior councillors this week reviewed the St Helens Safeguarding Children Partnership's (SCP) Annual Report for 2024/25, highlighting the ongoing collaborative work to protect children and young people across the borough.
Article date: 21 November 2025
The report, presented to St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet, sets out the progress made and challenges addressed through a strong multi-agency approach involving St Helens Borough Council, Merseyside Police, and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.
Welcoming the report, Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People's Services, said:
"This report reflects our shared responsibility and the strength of collaboration across agencies to safeguard children and promote their well-being. It showcases achievements, acknowledges challenges, and demonstrates the progress made through coordinated action.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and we extend our sincere thanks to colleagues, professionals, and community partners for their unwavering commitment. Together, we continue to learn, adapt, and improve to achieve our number one priority as a council: ensuring every child has a positive start in life."
Key Achievements in 2024/25
- Implementation of Working Together 2023: The SCP embedded new statutory guidance, strengthening leadership roles and improving multi-agency working.
- Education as a Strategic Partner: Schools are now fully integrated into governance and decision-making, ensuring their voices shape safeguarding plans.
- Enhanced Training and Learning: Over 1,200 professionals accessed SCP training, including new trauma-informed and harm-specific modules. Learning Circles and reviews have boosted reflective practice and frontline confidence.
- Improved Data Sharing and Scrutiny: Updated Information Sharing Agreements and new business intelligence tools have enhanced timely interventions and accountability.
- Listening to Children, Families, and Practitioners: Expanded feedback mechanisms ensure lived experiences inform training and practice improvements.
Looking Ahead to 2025/26
The SCP has set an ambitious agenda for the year ahead, including:
- Launching a new Neglect Strategy and co-produced toolkit.
- Strengthening the multi-agency response to domestic abuse through improved training, data, and victim support.
- Supporting the Families First transformation, introducing a trauma-informed, strengths-based model of practice.
- Embedding strategic participation of children and families at all levels of safeguarding.
- Continuing to lead and contribute to regional improvement programmes, keeping St Helens at the forefront of safeguarding innovation.
As of November 2024, there are just over 37,100 children and young people under 18 living in St Helens Borough.
To read the annual report in full, visit: https://sthelens.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s173351/Appendix%202%20-%20St%20Helens%20SCP%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf