Community Engagement

The BHSCP is committed to ensuring that we are consulting with the community and children and young people when we develop our strategies.

The Partnership Manager has a role in ensuring that this is achieved by engaging with voluntary, charity, social enterprise (VCSE) and faith groups as well as groups of young people.

Through offering one or two targeted community events a year we hope to engage our vibrant community and voluntary sector and faith groups in training, challenge, and consultation.

Lay Members

There are also a number of lay members who sit on the BHSCP Partnership Board and Steering group. Their role is to:

Provide an extra level of scrutiny and challenge to our work
Encourage professionals to speak in a way that is easier to understand, eliminating jargon
Bring in a valuable local representative voice into our decision making
Support stronger public engagement in, and understanding of, children’s safeguarding issues

See more about our Lay Members here.

Community and Voluntary Sector

The Community and Voluntary sector has a vital role to play in the work of the BHSCP. Community and Voluntary agencies, as well as Faith Organisations, are often the first point of contact for local families and children and young people needing help and support. The voluntary sector, therefore, is extremely well-placed to undertake preventative work, make early assessments of need and undertake early help work. Voluntary organisations are also able to play an advocacy role, enabling and supporting families and children to access and understand statutory services.

Useful Links and Resources

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has produced a range of safeguarding resources for community organisations, which you can find here.