Press Release
Report on Shetland's Child Protection Services
A report on an inter-agency inspection on the protection of children and young people in Shetland is published today. This follows an inspection that took place in October 2011, as part of a programme of inspections throughout Scotland.
The inspection focussed on the following six key areas:
- how well children and young people are listened to, understood and respected;
- how children and young people benefit from strategies to minimize harm;
- how children and young people are helped by the actions taken in immediate response to concerns;
- how well children’s and young people’s needs are met;
- service improvements through self-evaluation; and
- improvements in performance.
Overall this is a positive report with good feedback on frontline inter-agency services to protect children. Some examples of good practice were highlighted by the inspectors, such as the Bridges Project, which has also been commended by the Christie Commission, and continuous inter-agency work looking at concerns around certain children and young people with the aim of preventing harm and providing support.
Key strengths found by the inspectors were:
- Very prompt and effective action by staff to help keep children safe, and
- Effective communication with children and families helping build trusting relationships
Additionally the report identified some areas for development:
- Improve the consistency of planning to meet individual children’s needs fully,
- Further develop joint approaches and understanding of self evaluation to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, and
- Strengthen leadership, support and challenge given to the Child Protection Committee by Chief Officers.
Chief Officers (the Chief Executives of Shetland Islands Council and Shetland NHS Board and the Chief Constable of Northern Constabulary, represented in Shetland by the Area Commander for Shetland) and the Child Protection Committee, have drawn up an Improvement Plan detailing the steps to be taken to strengthen those areas.
The Chief Executive of NHS Shetland, Ralph Roberts, said he felt the report was realistic, demonstrating the good work done by dedicated professionals in all services in Shetland, but highlighting some important issues which were acknowledged, and needed to be strengthened.
Chief Inspector of Police, Angus MacInnes, said that this had been a thorough inspection that had looked at child protection issues at every level within the agencies who provide this service in Shetland, and it was encouraging to see that the daily on-going work effectively protects children. He added that, as the new Shetland Area Commander for Northern Constabulary, he would work with his Chief Officer colleagues to ensure the provision of the leadership and direction which will allow continued improvement in the services provided to the communities of Shetland.
The Chief Executive of Shetland Islands Council, Alistair Buchan, welcomed the report and said that the improvement plan sets out the agenda to take forward services in Shetland for our young people.
Chief Officers are very grateful to all the staff, service providers and service users who made time to meet with the inspectors. This was an enormous help in ensuring they got a full picture of the work done, and means that there can be confidence in their findings.
Chief Officers are now working with the Child Protection Committee to focus on the areas that will bring about the greatest improvement in outcomes for children and young people and their families in Shetland.
The full report is available from the Care Inspectorate website: http://www.scswis.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=472&Itemid=716