Local safeguarding children’s boards (LSCBs) do not do enough to protect the welfare of disabled children, an organisation has claimed.
LSCBs are formed by local authorities under the Children Act 2004 to encourage cooperation in the protection of vulnerable youngsters. Members are drawn from organisations which work with children.
But the welfare of disabled children needs greater focus, the National Working Group on Safeguarding Disabled Children insists, saying children with disabilities should be classed as a key risk group.
The group polled 36 of the 146 LSCBs across the country for a new report. It claims a lack of consistency hinders efforts to protect disabled children’s interests and it calls for statutory guidance on the issue.
The National Working Group is co-chaired by the NSPCC and campaign organisation the Anne Craft Trust. Sarah Goff is development manager for the latter. She said:
“We know how vulnerable disabled children are to abuse, yet there are many barriers to their protection. It is essential that agencies collaborate in identifying and addressing these barriers and that arrangements are put in place to ensure the safeguarding of disabled children.”
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