This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Child protection experts appointed
29/06/2003
A team of experts from health, social work, police and education services has been appointed to work with the Executive to drive forward its three-year programme to improve the protection of Scotland's most vulnerable children and young people.
The development of the Child Protection Reform Programme and the involvement of professionals from a range of agencies is part of the Executive's response to the child protection review team's report - It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright.
During the next six months, the team of six, working with colleagues in the Executive, will work on:
- developing a Children's Charter, building on proposals being produced by Save the Children, setting out what children should have the right to expect
- developing national standards for child protection to be applied across all agencies, to encourage better joined-up working and approaches which will deliver better outcomes for children
- producing proposals to ensure that all agencies are jointly involved in inspecting the provision of services for vulnerable children to further break down the barriers between professional groups, and provide greater assurance that these improvements will create a more child-centred system
- reviewing the role and remit of Child Protection Committees, which have a child protection co-ordinating role at local level, and how they might better inform and drive forward reform
These improvements, with also link with work which is already in hand to implement the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 - the creation of a register of adults deemed to be unsuitable to work with children.
Minister for Education and Young People Peter Peacock said:
"Tragic cases such as that of Kennedy MacFarlane which led to the audit and review of child protection services last year, and now that of Danielle Reid, reinforce the need for us all to play our part in protecting our children.
"We have made clear in the new Partnership Agreement, that the protection of children will continue to be a top priority and we need to work together with agencies to constantly improve and reform child protection services to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable children.
"However, there can be no quick fix. If reform is to really make a difference and be sustainable, we need to build on the good work that is already being done, as well as being ruthless in stripping out poor and ineffective practices. That is why we have initiated a three-year programme of sustained activity, from which we want to see, better and earlier identification of children at risk; better quality of direct child protection work, better access to services and support, and enhanced early intervention and support for families.
"We also want to create a stronger community role and a sense of shared responsibility, and increased confidence in the child protection systems.
"The new team of experts, who will be in place from tomorrow, will play a central role in working with the Executive and external agencies to develop and drive forward this crucial programme. This will help prevent further vulnerable children falling through the safety net, ensure that the needs of children always come first - not the needs of systems and bureaucracy, and that we transfer the fear experienced by many children at risk, to those who perpetrate abuse or neglect."
The National Delivery Action Team comprises:
Fiona McManus - Child Protection Adviser seconded to the team from the Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust.
Martin Kettle - Area Service Manager seconded to the team from Glasgow City Council
Ross Drummond - Fife Constabulary Chief Inspector.
Jennifer Stark - Pupil Support Manager seconded from Education and Cultural Services in West Lothian
Dr Helen Hammond - a consultant paediatrician at St John's Hospital, Livingston
Belinda Cook - a senior social worker from Aberdeen City Council's Children Services