Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 January 2010. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Thursday, 14 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: Standards

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what (a) mechanisms and (b) performance measures are used to assess the effectiveness of the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit.

Answer: The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit (NSDU) published an interim progress report and work programme for 2009-10 on 18 December 2009 available at"http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction= productdetails&PageMode=publications&Productld=DCSF-01181-2009&"The NSDU reports progress against agreed milestones on a monthly basis to a cross-Government programme board of senior officials. The unit also reports into the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Families, Children, and Young People through a new ministerial sub-group comprising the Secretaries of State from DCSF, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office. This Ministerial sub-group meets quarterly with the Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children, Sir Roger Singleton, to monitor progress and tackle any barriers to joint working that might exist across safeguarding services.The chief adviser on the Safety of Children is due to submit his first annual report by April 2010.This will include commentary on the progress being made by the unit and the impact of work taken forward.The unit has established a partnership network of around 100 key stakeholders and frontline professionals. This network provides collective experience and expertise at the frontline and enables the NSDU to secure direct input and feedback which will inform its future priorities. A further NSDU work programme will be published in spring 2010.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 503 c1123W; 309717
Session: 2009-10
Related items: National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: Standards
Monday, 22 February 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Standards National Safeguarding Delivery Unit
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk