We have published our joint inspection report on the protection of children and young people in the West Dunbartonshire council area.
The inspection included services provided by health agencies, the police, the local authority and Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations. Joint inspection reports give an evaluation of the effectiveness of services using a published quality indicator framework focusing on 6 key areas:
- how well children and young people are listened to, understood and respected;
- how children and young people benefit from strategies to minimize harm;
- how children and young people are helped by the actions taken in immediate response to concerns;
- how well children’s and young people’s needs are met;
- service improvements through self-evaluation; and
- improvements in performance.
Services in the West Dunbartonshire Council area were given 4 evaluations of very good, 1 evaluation of good and 1 evaluation of weak.
Inspectors found the following key strengths in how well children were protected and their needs met in the West Dunbartonshire Council area.
- Getting the right kind of help as soon as difficulties arise and for as long as it is needed.
- Making sure children are safe and well cared for when placed with relatives and friends in an emergency.
- Working hard to help children remain, whenever possible, in their own families, schools and communities.
- Getting to know them well and taking their views seriously.
Inspectors agreed with services in the council area the following points for improvement.
- Improve assessments of risks and needs and outcome focused planning for individual children.
- Strengthen leadership and co-ordination of joint self-evaluation by the Chief Officers Group and Child Protection Committee to deliver continuous improvement.
We are confident that services will be able to make the necessary improvements in light of the inspection findings. As a result, we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection. Our link inspector will maintain contact with services to support and monitor improvements.