This report draws together the main messages from multidisciplinary inspections of child protection services. Overall, around a quarter of the inspections showed serious weaknesses in aspects of child protection which would increase the risk of harm to children. In those areas the inspection process acted as a significant catalyst for change. Inspection was followed by prompt action to reduce...
This report draws together the main messages from multidisciplinary inspections of child protection services. Overall, around a quarter of the inspections showed serious weaknesses in aspects of child protection which would increase the risk of harm to children. In those areas the inspection process acted as a significant catalyst for change. Inspection was followed by prompt action to reduce the level of risk. Services across Scotland have substantial strengths in protecting children, but there are areas of weakness which need to be addressed to improve provision to protect children and meet their needs. The report has identified a range of challenges which need to be addressed in order to ensure the day-to-day experiences of all vulnerable children improve and help them build a more positive future. These cover: assessment of risks and needs, planning to keep individual children safe and improve their circumstances, meeting longer-term needs, Information-sharing and recording, seeking the views of children and families, quality assurance and self-evaluation for improvement and leadership and direction.
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the South Ayrshire Council area in June 2007. Working together, services in the South Ayrshire Council area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors revisited...
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the South Ayrshire Council area in June 2007. Working together, services in the South Ayrshire Council area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors revisited the South Ayrshire Council area in March 2009 to assess the extent to which services were continuing to improve the quality of their work to protect children and young people, and to evaluate progress made in responding to the main points for action in the initial report. A collective approach had been taken by Chief Officers and senior managers across services to improve structures and services. There had been significant changes to staffing in the local authority since the initial inspection.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
The inspection of services to protect children in the Falkirk Council area took place between December 2008 and January 2009. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided...
The inspection of services to protect children in the Falkirk Council area took place between December 2008 and January 2009. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations. Overall, the extent to which children and families were listened to, understood and respected was good. Services to help to keep children safe were also good. Statutory and voluntary services worked well together to provide a range of support to vulnerable children and families. Across services, there was a high level of awareness among staff of the need to take action if they had concerns about children’s safety or welfare. The Child Protection Committee (CPC) were delivering a helpful communication strategy and action plan to raise public awareness. Arrangements for involving children and families in decision-making processes were also good. But overall, planning to meet children’s needs was weak. Inspectors were confident that when children were identified as being at immediate risk, prompt and effective action was taken to protect them.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
The inspection of services to protect children in the Dundee City Council area took place in February and March 2009. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary...
The inspection of services to protect children in the Dundee City Council area took place in February and March 2009. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations. Inspectors were not confident that all children who were at risk of harm, abuse or neglect, and in need of protection, were identified and received the help and support they needed. Overall, leadership and direction was weak as was the vision, values and aims to protect children. The recognition and assessment of risks and needs was weak. Most staff, including those working with adults, recognised when children needed help or were at risk of harm. However, not all staff were clear about when and where to report their concerns about children and this caused delays in providing the help they needed. But overall, the processes for sharing and recording information to protect children were good and involving children and families in key processes was satisfactory.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
The inspection of services to protect children in the Fife Council area took place between October and November 2008. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary...
The inspection of services to protect children in the Fife Council area took place between October and November 2008. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations. As part of the inspection process, inspectors reviewed practice through reading a sample of files held by services who work to protect children living in the area. Some of the children and families in the sample met and talked to inspectors about the services they had received.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the Scottish Borders Council area in March 2007. Working together, services within the Scottish Borders Council area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors...
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the Scottish Borders Council area in March 2007. Working together, services within the Scottish Borders Council area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors revisited the Scottish Borders Council area in January 2009 to assess the extent to which services were continuing to improve the quality of their work to protect children and young people, and to evaluate progress made in responding to the main points for action in the initial report.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the West Dunbartonshire Council area in June 2007. Working together, services in the West Dunbartonshire Council area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors...
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the West Dunbartonshire Council area in June 2007. Working together, services in the West Dunbartonshire Council area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors revisited the West Dunbartonshire Council area in March 2009 to assess the extent to which services were continuing to improve the quality of their work to protect children and young people, and to evaluate progress made in responding to the main points for action in the initial report.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
The inspection of services to protect children in the Perth and Kinross Council area took place between December 2008 and January 2009. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided
The inspection of services to protect children in the Perth and Kinross Council area took place between December 2008 and January 2009. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
The inspection of services to protect children in the Moray Council area took place between June and September 2008. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary
The inspection of services to protect children in the Moray Council area took place between June and September 2008. It covered the range of services and staff working in the area who had a role in protecting children. These included services provided by health, the police, the local authority and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the East Lothian Council area in January 2007. Working together, services within the area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors revisited the East Lothian...
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the East Lothian Council area in January 2007. Working together, services within the area prepared an action plan indicating how they would address the main points for action identified in the original HMIE inspection report. Inspectors revisited the East Lothian Council area in October 2008 to assess the extent to which services were continuing to improve the quality of their work to protect children and young people, and to evaluate progress made in responding to the main points for action in the initial report. The initial inspection report published in January 2007 identified four main points for action: to improve processes for planning and decision-making, to develop a more consistent approach to monitoring and evaluating key processes, to ensure consistent high standards across services, and continuous improvements in how staff carry out their work, to ensure police officers record information on any individual who is the subject of an enquiry related to harm to children at the commencement of the enquiry, and to gather systematically the views of children, young people and their families about the services they have used, and the processes they have been involved in, and use this information more effectively to improve services.
Subject terms:
inspection, young people, child protection, children;