Collaborative working and partnership
The effectiveness of SABs is dependent on collaborative working between board members, and between the SAB and other boards and partner agencies. Collaborative working may be complicated by a range of factors, including different:
- geographical areas covered by different partner agencies
- statutory responsibilities, accountabilities, priorities and cultures of partner agencies
- systems, including IT systems.
There are no simple solutions to these complicating factors. SABs need to recognise them and work through the issues they raise. However, the Care Act 2014 places agencies under a duty to cooperate with a SAB.
At an operational level, the development of multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASHs) has facilitated collaborative work which can be reflected at a strategic level.