Child protection summit

More than 90 people with a role in child protection have gathered for a summit to consider how vulnerable young people at risk of neglect or abuse can be better protected.

Chief Executives from local authorities and health boards and Child Protection Committee Chairs attended the event which discussed how to share best practice and work together to ensure child protection systems are as good as they possibly can be.

The summit was among a number of recommendations contained in a report by Children in Scotland Chief Executive Jackie Brock into the workings of the Scottish child protection system and to ensure roles and responsibilities are clear.

The Brock report was published alongside the Scottish Government’s national action plan specifically on the issue of child sexual exploitation – which was one of several themes examined in today’s summit.

Education Secretary Angela Constance said:

“The challenges in protecting our children and young people from all forms of abuse and neglect are ones that all of us in positions of responsibility face – parents, carers, teachers, statutory agencies and politicians. This summit is continuing the work we have already done to make our child protection systems as good as they possibly can be.

“In her report, Jackie Brock talked about how vulnerable kids were too often ‘under the radar’. We need to do more to pick up on their needs before there’s a crisis. Our services are not consistently acting quick enough to make the kind of difference these children and young people need.

“Acting only when we know something’s wrong is not good enough. This is the time for action. None of us can allow today’s problems becoming tomorrow’s crises.

“That’s why we have called today’s summit, that’s why we will continue to work with partners to implement all of the Brock report recommendations. Our children and young people deserve nothing less.”