Hello!

My name is John Clements and I am the Safeguarding Children Board Chair. Let me explain a little about how the Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership (TWSP) works, its function and also a little about me...

Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership (TWSP) is a statutory and multi-agency partnership. The work of the TWSP is split into seperate Safeguarding Adults and Children Board, each being driven by a different independent Chair. By law, Telford & Wrekin Council, West Mercia Police and Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICS (health partners) have a statutory duty to put in place multi-agency safeguarding arrangements to protect and safeguard children. This responsibility is delivered by the Telford & Wrekin Safeguarding Children Board which is funded, equally, by the three statutory partners.

Together we hold each other to account and build learning through identifying best practice and areas which need improvement to improve the safety of life for residents within Telford and Wrekin and to ensure they remain free from harm. In addition to our local partners TWSP is in regular contact with our counterparts up and down the country to proactively share learning identified in other areas which may also be of use to Telford and Wrekin.

I started my role as the Independent Chair of the Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Children Partnership in January 2024, and I love what I do.  I work with local partners to support the children and young people in our area. I offer support, ideas and encouragement.  I hold partners to account in respect of the work they undertake, but I am keen to offer praise when it is due. 

I am building on the great work already undertaken within the partnership, although I bring a slightly different style of working as your chair.   I enjoy interacting with people and have met with loads of amazing people already.  I intend to meet more, and plan to get around many more places where people work.  I am excited by what I have seen and experienced already in Telford and Wrekin.  There are many pressures on all of us, but I feel energy and ambition.

I am privileged to have been working in child safeguarding for a little while.  I was the Independent Chair for child safeguarding in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from 2014 until June 2024, andI am the Independent Scrutineer for child safeguarding in Plymouth, having started there in June 2022.  I have worked with great people in both locations and have been fortunate to learn from them.  I have worked also with the Home Office in respect of Immigration and Modern Slavery so have a range of experiences and knowledge.

Please feel free to contact me on john.clements@telford.gov.uk

Best wishes

John