Carmarthenshire Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC)
The Dyfed Powys Regional Child Protection Forum was set up to ensure that agencies which operate across boundaries such as the Police, Probation and Health Authority can work at a local level whilst following the same child protection procedures and protocols. Such an approach provides operational consistency , enables planning to be developed strategically and enables joint training to be developed and delivered cost effectively. During the year the Forum contributed to the development of, and helped revise and develop protocols within, the All Wales procedures.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
PURPOSE
- The Dyfed Powys Child Protection Forum (D.P.C.P. Forum) will:-
- facilitate the exchange of information and the development of good practice in child protection amongst its member A.C.P.C.s
- develop and review as necessary regional child protection operational protocols and procedures within the framework of the All Wales procedures
- develop and regularly review a multi agency framework for the delivery of child protection training
- promote inter-agency co-operation for the protection of children.
- The D.P.C.P. Forum will work within the legislative framework provided by the Children Act 1989 and its guiding principles as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Act 1999.
- The D.P.C.P. Forum will not have executive powers, but will offer advice and appropriate guidance on practice issues to member A.C.P.C.s and their constituent agencies and to the Chief Officers Group.
- The membership of the D.P.C.P. Forum will comprise of representatives from the A.C.P.C.s within the area covered by the Dyfed Powys Police - Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.
- Its membership will be:-
- A representative from each of the agencies which operate across West Wales and Powys, viz Dyfed Powys Police, Dyfed Powys Probation, Dyfed Powys Health Authority and Dyfed Powys Local Medical Committee.
- Each individual member A.C.P.C. will be represented by up to four people (including the Chair of each) drawn from its multi agency membership. Each A.C.P.C. should ensure its nominations are representative of its membership but must include an officer from the Social Services Department if the Chair is from another agency.
- Additional members will be invited as necessary by the Chair of the Forum to ensure that all Agencies are represented and co-opted members will also be invited to contribute to any task groups.
- The Forum will annually elect a Chair and Vice Chair from within its membership.
- The Forum will meet not less than three times a year.
- Notice of meetings and agendas will be circulated in advance of each meeting. Any constituent A.C.P.C. is entitled to place an item on an agenda by giving due notice.
- The Forum will develop any detailed issues by setting up, as and when necessary, small time limited work groups.