The HMIe report of the joint inspection of services to protect children in North Lanarkshire is now published with inspectors stating that they 'are confident that children in North Lanarkshire receive the help they need to keep them safe'.

 

The inspection report, which is one of the best so far in Scotland, evaluated the effectiveness of services and awarded nine 'very goods', seven 'goods' and two 'satisfactory' scorings.  Key areas singled out for very positive comment include, good partnership working and highly professional staff delivering child protection services.

 

The 'very good' scoring indicates major strengths and those highlighted include:

• Children being listened to, understood and respected.  Children felt staff knew them well and the relationships with children were positive, consistent and trusting;
• Children benefiting from strategies to minimise harm;
• Public awareness of the safety and protection of children.  The Child Protection Committee had successfully raised public awareness of Child Protection through innovative means;
• Involving children and their families in key processes;
• Recruitment and retention of staff;
• Development of staff;
• Vision, values and aims;
• Leadership and direction, and
• Leadership of people and partnerships. 

During the three weeks the inspectors spent in North Lanarkshire they interviewed children, young people, families and professionals.  They also met with staff from a range of agencies. The key agencies involved in delivering child protection services include North Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire, Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration.

 

The Child Protection Committee (CPC) led on the inspection and will oversee the implementation of the interagency action plan.  Mary Fegan, Chair of North Lanarkshire Child Protection noted that the findings of the report reflected the work of the CPC in improving services across agencies as well as sharing best practice.  Mary said, "Not all harm to children can be avoided, but I'm pleased that the hard work of the CPC, in helping reduce the threat of harm to children, has been recognised by the inspectors."

 

Areas evaluated as 'good' were: children helped by the actions taken in response to immediate concerns; children's needs being met; information-sharing and recording; policies and procedures; operational planning; participation of children, families and other relevant people in policy development and leadership of change and improvement.

 

Successful examples of multi-agency work cited by the HMIe as part of their inspection include the good links between the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) structure and the Child Protection Committee (CPC).  Police officers worked closely with colleagues with responsibility for child protection and domestic abuse.  This resulted in effective joint working and ensured a cohesive approach to managing offenders in the community.  Another initiative includes health and sure start staff providing help by delivering parenting courses and supporting children at home.

 

Gavin Whitefield, Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council is very reassured with the positive outcome of the inspection.  He said, "The main focus for the inspection was finding out how agencies work together in North Lanarkshire to support children and young people who have been harmed, or who may be at risk of harm, if vital support is not in place to help them. 

 

 

"The inspection results show the importance placed on the delivery of child protection services in North Lanarkshire by all partners to some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities.

 

Also commented on by the inspectors is the major role of staff involved in delivering these services.  They are described as being well briefed, highly professional and able to achieve a balance between strengths and areas for development.  I would like to commend the staff involved in providing this vital service.

 

"And while we clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of child protection services we must also continue to develop in key areas such as recognising and assessing risks and needs and planning to meet needs.  We are committed to continuous improvement in all aspects of our service and will use feedback from the inspection to shape future service developments."

 

Tim Davison, Chief Executive NHS Lanarkshire added, "There can be nothing more important than protecting our children.  I am delighted that the Inspectors were confident that children who required protection receive the help they need to keep them safe.

 

"The report is a tribute to the quality of inter-agency work and the huge efforts that staff across Lanarkshire have put into ensuring that our children are safe.  We will continue to build on the strengths identified by the Inspectors to ensure effective, timely and appropriate support for children and their families.

 

"NHS Lanarkshire is committed to continually improving its child protection arrangements.  In doing so we work closely with our partner agencies."

 

In highlighting areas for further development, the inspectors recognise that there has been a lot of development work on a single and multi-agency basis over the last few years, the full benefits of which will be seen in the future.  An action plan has been produced by the partners and areas outlined in this include improving the availability of specialist services; involving health services in all child protection processes; improving assessment of risks and needs; progressing an inter-agency approach to domestic abuse and improving permanency planning for children. 

 

A follow through inspection will take place in two years to look at how these areas have been further progressed.

 

Ends.