Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. Report Highlights Safeguarding Efforts for Children and Young People
Bexley's Children's Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. Annual Report 2025-26, highlighting the partnership's ongoing commitment to safeguarding children and young people across the borough.
The report, presented to the committee on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, detailed the activities and priorities of Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. (Safeguarding Partnership for Children and Young People) during the 2025-26 period. Key areas of focus included 'Getting basic child safeguarding right,' with a particular emphasis on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), and 'Getting our collective response to adolescent vulnerability right,' addressing issues of Equity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EEDI) and children and young people who go missing.
Jenny Pearce, the independent scrutineer for Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D., presented her findings, noting the partnership's effective functioning and the strong leadership from statutory partners including the London Borough of Bexley Children's Services, NHS South East London Integrated Care Board, and the South East Basic Command Unit (BCU) of the Metropolitan Police.
The report highlighted the work of the Learning Hub, which examined key safeguarding priorities. Recommendations from the CSA strand included developing a local strategy and action plan, reviewing the multi-agency dataset, and creating resources for practitioners and families. For the EEDI strand, recommendations focused on developing a local strategic document and action plan, reviewing the impact of this priority on practice, and commissioning multi-agency training on having difficult conversations about race.
Measuring Effectiveness and Key Priorities
The effectiveness of Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D.'s safeguarding efforts is assessed through its multi-agency dataset, which comprises 30 indicators. This dataset is reviewed quarterly by a newly established Data Analysis Group to identify trends and themes, informing resource allocation, future audits, and scrutiny areas. The partnership's activity is detailed in the Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. Annual Report 2025-26, which also highlights learning from serious incidents and engagement with parents and young people through Bexley FLARE.
A thematic log of recommendations from statutory reviews identified Domestic Abuse (19%) as the most recurring primary theme, followed by Policy-related issues (17%) and Think Family (13%).
Addressing Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. is actively developing a comprehensive local strategy and action plan to combat Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). Key recommendations from the Learning Hub's work on CSA include conducting a training needs analysis, reviewing and potentially enhancing the multi-agency dataset with local CSA indicators, and confirming data sharing protocols with The Haven. A practitioner survey on CSA confidence and knowledge is being reissued, and a resource pack for practitioners and families is in development. The findings of the NSPCC's snapshot on CSA will also inform future priority work, alongside a review and relaunch of the CSA pathway information.
Tackling Adolescent Vulnerability and EEDI
In addressing adolescent vulnerability, a significant focus is placed on Equity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EEDI). The partnership is developing a local strategic document and action plan for EEDI, and reviewing its impact on practice. A key initiative is the commissioning of multi-agency training designed to equip practitioners to handle 'difficult conversations' about race with children, young people, families, and other professionals. The intended outcome is to increase practitioner confidence in openly addressing race and its complexities, acknowledging racism as a live issue even when downplayed by parents. This training will also address inter-group dynamics beyond the white and black communities, and consider the specific context of Bexley's significant Traveller population.
Feedback and Challenges
Feedback from engagement activities with children, young people, parents, and families revealed several complexities surrounding reporting alleged abuse. These include a resistance to considering additional risk factors, a disbelief that women could be solo perpetrators, and a dismissive attitude towards boys as victims. There is also a noted lack of awareness regarding specialist police officers for such cases. Some individuals expressed a rock solid
refusal to support reporting, reacting with shock when safeguarding concerns overrode consent. The CSA pathway was perceived by some as just saying therapy
rather than a route to justice, with concerns about the likelihood of justice being served. Some parents questioned the speed of therapy offered to children versus parents and siblings.
Young people, influenced by negative family experiences with the police, expressed anti-Police views and doubted that justice would be achieved. They were also unhappy about automatic reporting to the Police for younger children. Traveller girls faced difficulties discussing risks or negative experiences with parents due to family expectations of 'purity' and refused to consider the possibility of an abuser being a family member.
Addressing the Abuse of Boys
A significant challenge in raising awareness about the abuse of boys is a blind spot
and a national difficulty for young men to openly discuss their feelings and experiences of violence. There is a perception that it is easier for them to act out the violence than it is to sit back and understand it and discuss it.
Furthermore, young men find it more difficult to disclose abuse, which is acknowledged as a national issue. To address this, Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. is implementing a targeted youth work service to identify and engage with vulnerable young people, creating safe contexts for discussion. Efforts are also underway to equip young men with the understanding of their experiences and to encourage safe expressions of masculinity. The partnership is collaborating with a national center of excellence on child sexual abuse to access more materials and resources for young people, aiming to foster an environment where staff feel confident in asking relevant questions.
Bridging Generational Divides on Race
Generational divides were observed in discussions about race, with parents often adopting stoicism and low resistance, while younger individuals reported conflict at home over the issue. Bexley S.H.I.E.L.D. plans to bridge these divides through multi-agency training on anti-racist practice, aiming to enhance practitioners' ability to navigate these sensitive conversations. Good practice guidance is being developed for practitioners on integrating discussions about race and racism into daily practice and assessments. Schools are also being encouraged to provide specific training to increase teacher confidence in discussing race and its complexities.
For more details on the committee's proceedings, refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.
Final minutes from the 30 June 2026 meeting are also available.
