A s cabinet member for education and children's services at Buckinghamshire Council, I have the privilege of seeing first-hand the difference that innovative thinking can make to the lives of children and families. One of the most pressing challenges we face today is how to protect children from serious harm that happens outside the home – whether that's exploitation, online abuse, or peer-on-peer violence. These are complex issues that require a different kind of response, and that's why we've taken a bold step forward with our Risk Outside the Home (ROTH) panel approach.
Traditionally, child protection has focused on concerns within the family environment. But when the risks are external – in the community, online, or among peer groups – the traditional model doesn't always fit. We needed a way to bring everyone together around the same table, including the child and their parents, to agree a plan that addresses those external risks and builds safety where it's needed most.
