Children, young people and families
Social Care has the lead responsibility for services which support children and their families who are particularly vulnerable - the main aim is to keep families together. Services include intensive social care support, day care and respite care. For those children unable to remain at home, services provided include foster care, residential accommodation and adoption.
Social Care has a lead responsibility and coordinating role within Shetland's child protection services. The aim of targeting resources at preventative, support services is to help reduce the incidence of family breakdown, and the need for further Social Care intervention.
The recently formed Family Support Team carry out specific work with children and families who have been assessed as in need of support and assistance.
This may include work on parenting skills, or advice and support according to need, play and activities with children, or supervision of contact between parents and children who are being looked after. Some of their work is done outside of the home setting. An important element of the teams' work is the protection of children.
Some additional funding has been provided through the Scottish Executive to support family based services.
The aims of the funding are: the promotion of social inclusion; the provision of community-based, family-focused resources, including high quality childcare and direct support to parents, which will strengthen parents' ability to maximise their child's potential.
This requires increased partnership between statutory and voluntary agencies and multi-disciplinary initiatives.
Partners providing support include Social Care, Education and Community Development, the Shetland Childcare Partnership, Shetland Enterprise and Shetland Health Board.
Services available to children, young people and their families are:
- advice, guidance and assistance including welfare benefits, debts and budgeting
- counselling
- support and supervision for children at home
- support for children with challenging behaviour
- child protection
- support for children with special needs (including family based & residential respite care)
- occupational therapy
- day care
- respite care
- foster care
- residential care
- adoption
- throughcare & aftercare
- registration/inspection of childminders & playgroups
Children & Young People's Rights, Information & Support Service
The Children & Young People's Rights, Information & Support Service offers advice on your rights and responsibilities. Tel: 0800 100 2353
A local Children's Rights Officer is based in the Shetland Youth Information Service. They can advise and support you, and is independent of the Council.
Shetland Youth Information Service, 64 Commercial Street, Lerwick,ZE1 0DL
Tel: 01595 692002 Fax: 01595 695001 email:info@shetlandyouth.com
Children & Young People's Services Plan 2005 - 2008
If you would like to download copies of the documents below, please click on the links.
Children & Young People's Services Plan 2005 - 2005
Executive Summary - Children & Young People's Services Plan 2005 - 2008