Research and data often show us that there is disproportionate access to services across different ethnic groups for both children and adults. The LSCP alongside Safer Leeds and the Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) have begun work this year with Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) to agree a new ‘community first’ approach to working with community organisations in relation to safeguarding. The project aims to learn from communities about how we can support them to be safe and feel safe in Leeds, in ways that are most helpful to them.
This Community First proposal seeks to see the world first from a community perspective rather than through the distinct and separate duties of different boards/partnerships and services. The approach is based upon ‘people’ and ‘place’ principles, working around a selected geographical locality within Leeds to link local communities to local services, and local teams with other local teams to create a safe collaborative co-production space.
A Senior Leadership Group from across the partnership has been established to oversee and steer the project and the work will be ongoing throughput the coming year. A final report will be presented to the LSCP, Safer Leeds and LSAB and will support the shaping of future services.