Welcome by the Independent Chair

I was appointed as the new Independent Chair in  September 2022 after 17 years of safeguarding experience in my previous role,  I am excited to take on this new role.  My focus going forward will be on the Voice of the Community, helping to encourage prevention strategies across all partners to reduce risk and I want to ensure the profile and learning from the board and its vibrant sub-groups, helps to inform and develop best practice across agencies with the aim of improving outcomes for the most vulnerable. In addition, I am very pleased to announce that Andrew Brown, Chief Executive of the Croydon BME Forum, has agreed to take on the role as the Vice Chair of the Board and is also passionate about taking the progress of the Board forward.

The CSAB held a Development Day in November 2024 when the CSAB Priorities were agreed for 2025 – 2027 and again in November 2025 the Development Day reviewed progress on the following priorities:

• Self Neglect
• Homelessness
• Learning from SARs
• Systems, Pathways and Transition
• Multi Agency Data

The Voice of the People to be a cross cutting theme throughout the board’s priorities.

The CSAB ensures there is effective communications with Croydon residents, between professionals, agencies and  different Boards and Partnerships.

The CSAB continues to work closely with the Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership and Community Safety Partnership in order to have oversight of cross cutting safeguarding workstreams.

David Williams