A critical failure in early support for vulnerable young people has been identified as a major concern by a safeguarding report.
The report also recorded a 171% increase in allegations against professionals in positions of trust compared to the previous year.
The annual report from the Isle of Man Safeguarding Board states that families of children at risk of exploitation “did not receive an adequate response or support when their child first displayed difficulties”.
It adds: “They highlighted that agencies and services responded in the main at this stage to say there was nothing they could offer as it was outside their remit.”
The report highlights progress in other areas, particularly the successful multi-agency strategy to support adults who self-neglect.
Independent Chair Lesley Walker noted “considerable evidence” that this work is “leading to high quality, effective practice”.
Pathway
However, the lack of a comprehensive Early Help pathway, first recommended in 2021, remains a “significant gap.”
Ms Walker stated that “progress in developing this has been slow and the Board needs to seek further clarity in relation to leadership of this work”.
To overcome persistent barriers, the Board is supporting legislative change.
The report says that “practitioners’ concerns about sharing information and the basis for legitimately overriding consent to safeguarding, has been one of the greatest barriers to effective safeguarding locally”.
Future priorities include implementing a new ‘Risk Outside the Home’ framework to better protect adolescents from exploitation and developing a specialist child neglect strategy.