Child Protection Committee,
Cunninghame House,
4th Floor,
Education,
Irvine,
KA12 8EE
Tel - 01294 835 659
Fax - 01294 835 238
LINKING CHILD PROTECTION AND INTEGRATED CHILDREN'S SERVICES
In January of this year, the Council's Chief Executive received a letter informing her that Her Majesty's Inspectors of Education (HMIe) are going to lead a joint inspection of services to protect children in North Ayrshire Council area commencing 19th April 2010. There was a previous inspection two years ago and the report was published in May 2008. This was a positive report with the overwhelming message that "Inspectors were confident that when children were identified as being at risk prompt action was taken to protect them. As a result of services working together more effectively, children were safer and families experienced better coordinated support."
However, the inspectors made a number of observations in their report and provided five main points for action to address issues which they had identified. Over the last two years, the Child Protection Committee has taken the lead in addressing the points identified by HMIe. One of these action points related to the work of another group of professionals - the steering group responsible for Integrated Children's Services. This group has also been working hard over the last few years to ensure that there is a clear vision for children's services to which we are all committed. They have also drawn up an action plan to ensure that there is a major change in the way services for children are delivered. In particular, there is going to be a move towards Early Intervention. In other words, as a partnership we are moving away from a focus on services 'picking up the pieces' once something has happened to move instead towards prevention. This will involve early identification of those children and families at risk of not achieving good outcomes.
As we prepare for this next inspection and as we are collating all of the work which has been done over the last two years to keep children safe, it is evident that there has been considerable progress in several important areas. In the world of child protection, we can never be complacent and there are always areas of further improvement. North Ayrshire Child Protection Committee, however, will continue to take the lead in ensuring that all agencies (e.g. North Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Strathclyde Police, Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, Children’s Panel, Procurator Fiscal, Alcohol & Drug Partnership and the Voluntary Sector) work together to protect children and young people and to keep them safe.
Thank You
Bob Neilly
Chair
North Ayrshire Child Protection Committee