Scottish Government

Improve Children's Services

DESCRIPTION:

This indicator measures the percentage of local authorities receiving a positive evaluation in all four reference quality indicators used by the Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in child protection inspections.

SOURCE:

The data for this indicator are based on the evaluation reports of the inspections carried out by the Care Inspectorate (as of April 2011) and HMIE (before April 2011).

The child protection inspections provide nationally comparable data over a range of quality indicators on how well children at risk in Scotland have their needs identified, assessed and acted upon so as to keep them safe from neglect or abuse.

The inspection reports provide the Scottish Government with assurance that the various agencies providing protection services to vulnerable children (principally social work, police, health, voluntary organisations, education and the Scottish Children's Reporters Administration.) are working well together locally under the strategic direction of their local multi-agency Child Protection Committee (CPCs).

The latest publication is available from the link:

http://www.scswis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7909&Itemid=727

DEFINITIONS:

The definition of a positive evaluation is a rating of satisfactory or better, good or better or very good or better.

The four reference quality indicators are defined in How Well Do We Protect Scotland Children?

They are:

• Children and young people are listened to, understood and respected:
• Children and young people benefit from strategies to minimise harm;
• Children and young people are helped by the actions taken in immediate response to concerns;
• Children's and young people's needs are met.

BASELINE AND PAST TRENDS:

The baseline for child protection inspections is the first cycle of inspections, which was completed in February 2009. All 32 Local Authorities were inspected in the first inspection cycle, although two of these were pilot inspections, are not directly comparable and are therefore not included in the baseline.

Of the 30 baseline local authorities 77% received positive child protection inspection reports.

Percentage of local authorities that had a positive evaluation in all reference quality indicators used by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) (and from April 2011, the Care Inspectorate) in child protection inspections

CRITERIA FOR RECENT CHANGE ARROW:

The second cycle of inspections has now been completed. Based on the information currently available, a "Performance Improving" arrow is suggested. No further updates will be made to this indicator using the current methodology. A new methodology for the current indicator is currently being developed and will be introduced in 2013.

For information on general methodological approach, please click here.

FUTURE ISSUES OR REVIEWS:

Inspections were completed in April 2012. Alternative measures are being investigated.

ASSOCIATED TARGET:

No associated target.