This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Streamlined services for at risk children
20/06/2005
Vulnerable children will get better, quicker and more co-ordinated support under plans to modernise Scotland's children's services being launched by the Executive this week.
Ministers have concluded that too many children are ending up in the children's hearings system because those responsible for helping them are not taking effective action early enough.
Proposals include:
- Giving vulnerable children who need help from lots of agencies one lead professional to coordinate action
- Introducing one action plan and one set of paperwork for each child, together with integrated assessments, to sweep away unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication
- Placing agencies under a legal duty to make sure young people get the support and care they need - with those which fail to do so called before a sheriff to explain themselves
- Listening to young people's views about their needs and building these in to their action plan
- Providing children with more information about who is dealing with their case, each agency's role and how the family is expected to contribute
The proposals form part of a consultation being announced on Tuesday which will also set out the Executive's plans to strengthen the children's hearings system.
Minister for Education and Young People Peter Peacock said:
"More and more young people are coming into contact with children's services because of concern about their welfare. These youngsters clearly need help and support to cope with the challenges of their lives.
"Our plans will speed up access to vital services by cutting out bureaucracy and making agencies work together and earlier. We will also make sure that fewer young people need to get involved in hearings to get support. Where their needs are simple and can be quickly addressed, agencies can get on with it.
"This leaves the children's hearings system free to deal with more complex cases where formal involvement is vital to the well-being of that individual child."
Deputy Minister for Education and Young People Euan Robson added:
"As well as clearly defining roles for agencies, our proposals will ensure that children and families understand what is expected of them. This will help them face their responsibilities and ensure that they get help when it's needed and not when a crisis point has been reached. All of this adds up to stronger support services for children, a priority for the Scottish Executive."