BE6955 Stornoway 14:45 Cancelled
Public agencies in the Western Isles are alert to circumstances when children may be at risk, and act quickly when children or members of the public contact them with concerns.
This was highlighted in a report published by HMIe in a joint inspection of services to protect children and young people in the Western Isles which was carried out during October and November 2009.
All aspects of services to protect children were evaluated as very good, good or satisfactory. This follows interviews with children and their families as well as staff of children's services agencies including Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Northern Constabulary, NHS Western Isles, Children's Reporter and organisations in the voluntary services.
Also highlighted in the report were the particular strengths which make a difference to children. These include services working effectively together to help keep children safe, especially in the early years, the prompt response by staff, volunteers and communities to child protection concerns and access to services locally.
Commenting on the inspection report, Chair of the Child Protection Committee Chief
Officer Strategy Group, Malcolm Burr, said: "I am very pleased with the outcomes
of the inspection which highlight the co-
Steve Black, Northern Constabulary and Chair of the Child Protection Committee, said: "We welcome this positive report which has identified the commitment of all agencies to work together to help keep children safe in the Western Isles.
“The Child Protection Committee has begun the process of addressing the areas for improvement identified by the inspection."
Particular examples of good practice include:
* The early years and early intervention strategy which is helping young families become less isolated and stressed.
* The Stornoway Contact Centre which is helps looked after children to have safe and enjoyable contact with members of their families on a regular basis.
* Young mums group, which is located in Pointers, supports young parents to be more confident and positive about their futures.
Services are shown to have a positive impact on children in need of protection and children benefit from effective communication and trusting relationships with staff who know them well and listen to their views.
A strong commitment is also in place to provide specific services to children. They benefit from a wide range of therapy services in their local area, even when they don't live near a town or health centre. There has been an increase in services available to families living in Uist and Barra.
Other examples of good practice include families benefiting from a wide range of well coordinated support from Action for Children, through and after care, Sure Start and Teen Support providing sound advice to children in a family affected by domestic abuse. Support services are carefully tailored to meet the needs of individual families.
Parenting programmes help parents to be more confident about caring for their children and keeping them safe.
School staff alert parents without delay if children are absent from school. Children also receive sound advice at school about keeping safe when using mobile phones and the internet, including social networking sites.
Senior Managers across services work well together and are committed to continue improving the quality of their work to protect children.
Also highlighted in the report was the visible leadership of Chief Officers and the Child Protection Committee. They have formed strong professional relationships and have a common purpose to ensure that child protection is a high priority in all services.
Areas for development recommended in the report include increasing the effectiveness of meeting the needs of children affected by domestic abuse, improving recording of information and decisions about children in need of protection and strengthening arrangements to ensure that the longer term need of children are met.
An action plan will be put in place to address the recommendations from the report.
HMIe does not intend to carry out any follow up inspections during the current three year cycle of inspections.
Tha buidhnean poblach anns na h-
Chaidh seo ainmeachadh an-
Chaidh co-
Cuideachd, anns an aithisg chaidh mìneachadh a thoirt seachad air na neartan a tha
a' dèanamh eadar-
Thuirt Malcolm Burr, Cathraiche Buidheann Ro-
Thuirt Steve Black, Cathraiche Comataidh Dìon Chloinne: "Tha sinn a cur fàilte air
an aithisg a tha a sonrachadh dealasachd na buidhnean ann a bhith ag obair còmhla
gus clann a dhìon 's na h-
“Tha Comataidh Dìon Chloinne air aithneachadh far a bheil feum air obair leasachaidh
agus thathar an dùil iarrtasan an aithisg a choileanadh san t-
Eisimpleirean de dheagh chleachdadh bhon aithisg:
* An ro-
* Tha Ionad Co-
* Tha buidheann airson màthraichean òg, stèidhichte ann am Pointers, a' toirt
taic do phàrantan òg a bhith nas misneachail agus dòchasach mun t-
Tha deagh bhuaidh aig na seirbheisean air clann a tha feumadh air dìon agus tha clann
a' faighinn buannachd bho conaltradh èifeachdach agus dàimh earbsach le luchd-
Tha dealas làidir cuideachd ann an gnìomh gus seirbheisean sònraichte a thabhann
do chlann. Tha clann a' faighinn buannachd bho seirbheisean slànachaidh ionadail,
fiu 's mura h-
Cuideachd tha teaghlaichean a' faighinn buannachdan bho buidhnean tiac leithid Action
for Children, Sure Start agus Teen Support. Tha an taic bho na buidhnean seo a'
toirt comhairle do chlann a tha a' fuireach ann an dachaigh a tha a' fulaing bho
ana-
Tha prògram pàrantachd a' toirt taic gus misneachd a thoirt do phàrantan mu bhith a' coimhead as dèidh an cuid chloinne agus an cumail sàbhailte.
Tha luchd-
Tha Àrd Mhanaidsearan air feadh na seirbheisean ag obair math còmhla agus tha iad
dealsach mu dheidhinn a bhith a' leasachadh an t-
Cuideachd tha Comataidh Dìon na Cloinne agus Àrd Oifigearan a' toirt seachad deagh stiùireadh. Tha iad air ceangalan làidir phroifeasanta stèidichte agus tha iad mothachail gum bu chòir dìon chloinne a bhith air fhaicinn mar prìomhachas anns na seirbheisean air fad.
Anns an aithisg chaidh moladh gum bu chòir leasachadh gabhail àite ann a bhith a'
coinneachadh feumalachdan clann a tha a' fulang ana-
Thèid plana gnìomh a chur an gnìomh gus molaidhean an aithisg a' choileanadh.
Chan eil HMIe an dùil tilleadh airson sgrùdaidhean a dhèanamh tron trì bliadhna a tha air thoiseach oirnn.
Western Isles child protection service receives good report 3/2/10