But there is still a lot of work to do
A government report has revealed Edinburgh is improving its child protection services, but said even more can be done.
The report, published by HM Inspectorate of Education, looked at the services provided across the city by the Council, Police, health and the voluntary sector.
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It highlighted a number of areas where the city is doing well:
- protecting the babies and young children of parents with drug and alcohol problems
- keeping parents and children informed and involved in meetings and discussions
- sharing information between agencies who are co-located
- seeking the views of children.
The report also pinpointed areas where more work can be done to improve. All the agencies involved are committed to working together to look at how things can move on and identify actions to improve service delivery to children and their families.
Closer working with children and their families could allow, where possible, children to be supported at home.
Better planning would make sure that children’s long term needs can be met. Everyone wants to find better ways to keep records, manage cases and assess risks and it must become easier for staff in different agencies to work with all the other partners.
The Council has invested an extra £6 million in services for vulnerable children and those at risk of harm. This funding was used to increase the:
- number of foster carers
- number of residential places
- financial help available to support vulnerable children
- number of social workers from 114 to 143, with the number of senior practitioners rising from six to 25.
The inspectors are due to follow this report up again next year.
Assistant chief constable Neil Richardson, chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “Edinburgh is an improving authority and we are determined that if we work together we can continue to improve the services we provide for vulnerable children.
“Since the review was carried out earlier this year new child protection guidelines have already been published by the Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Executive Group which set out a framework for agencies to work within and which provide a clear commitment to dealing strongly with child protection.”