Information Bulletin
31 May 2004
Child Protection Committee Reports on Progress
Shetland's inter-agency Child Protection Committee (CPC) has recently published its annual report for 2003-4. This is available for inspection at the public library in Lerwick. The report details progress on CPC's action plan, which is designed to assist agencies in providing a high quality service to some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
SIC's Services Committee considered the report on 6 May, when Shetland's Child Protection Co-ordinator outlined CPC's on-going work. CPC seeks to ensure that everyone in the community knows how to access help for a child. The most recent edition of the Shetland Directory has a display ad. and gives contact details under 'Child Protection', which should make it easier for folk to know the numbers to ring if they have a concern. CPC's inter-agency Child Protection Procedures are accessible via the SIC Social Care (social work) website, and SIC and NHS Shetland employees are being issued with wallet cards giving basic information. CPC has also obtained community safety funding for a project to assist voluntary groups in Shetland in meeting child welfare standards. The dedication of social workers working with children and families was acknowledged.
The report shows that CPC delivered a number of inter-agency training courses in child protection during the year, which were well received. Dealing with the issues involved in child protection is acknowledged to be a particularly demanding field of work, and staff need to be able to rely on good levels of support and training. The work is most effective where all agencies work well together, and promoting good practice in this is CPC's aim.
During 2003-4 there were 14 joint police and social work investigations into child protection concerns affecting 30 children in Shetland. This is a similar number of children to last year's figure of 32. The total number of children referred to social workers for possible child protection needs was 51, but some cases were able to be looked into without the need for a joint investigation. The aim is always to provide any help that may be necessary in the least intrusive way. Sometimes action such as the provision of additional services may be the best way to improve the situation for a child or young person.
15 initial Child Protection Conferences were held for 27 children. These involve professionals involved with the family meeting with family members to share information about the concerns and decide whether a child is at risk and in need of a formal child protection plan. During the year, the names of 27 children were on the Child Protection Register at some time, with child protection plans in place.
Further information from: Dr Sarah Taylor, Chair of Shetland Child Protection Committee, Tel: 01595 743072 or Jacqui Watt on Tel. 01595-744001.