Published: Monday, 8th June, 2009 10:00am

Inspectors hand council kids' services exam passes

by Sharon Thompson

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Services for vulnerable children are improving in Argyll and Bute, say Government inspectors.

Her Majesty"s Inspectorate of Education, who also oversee the quality of child protection services in local authority areas, unveiled a follow-up report on provision in Argyll and Bute.

The document was published this month after inspectors revisited the area to check the authority"s progress following the original report in March 2007.

Inspectors found that a number of changes had taken place since their initial visit, including the council securing the services of a new chief executive.

They found that the new regime including the chief executive and senior managers are 'working closely with partners in the police and health service to improve strategic management information systems, share good practice and develop joint services'.

Social work teams have also been reorganised and staff 'worked well together' and share information, say inspectors. Improvements have also been made in the involvement of education staff in child protection. Their role has been clarified, 'leading to some improvements in the identification and support of vulnerable children'.

Out of six main points for action identified by the 2007 report, inspectors found 'satisfactory progress' had been made in four areas, with 'very good progress' made in improving the provision of specialist paediatricians and forensic medical examinations for children bearing injuries suspected to result from abuse.

Inspectors found specialist paediatricians are available locally during office hours to undertake such tasks and local medical staff including GPs now have access to specialist advice at all times, however, they say that some work has still to be done.

Good progress was found to have been made in ensuring that more consistent standards are reached across all services. Inspectors say that monitoring has improved and that at risk children whose parents have substance abuse issues are now more clearly identified.

Inspectors concluded that the 'collective response' to taking action over the points raised had been 'positive and effective', adding: 'There was a strong and increasing commitment from senior managers across services and the Child Protection Committee to continuous improvement and the potential and capacity to improve further the effectiveness and efficiency of child protection services.'

Councillor Donald McIntosh, Argyll and Bute"s spokesperson on social services, welcomed the follow-up report, saying: 'The HMIE inspectors have recognised the hard work and dedication of all those involved in child protection across Argyll and Bute and the results of that work to date. Indeed, they have found progress has been made on all of the original points. This report focuses on services for some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The level of commitment shown by all involved to making improvements has been exemplary.

'There remain several areas in which service improvement work is either planned or ongoing, and these will be closely monitored to ensure that the changes made have an appropriate impact on those who matter most - children, young people and their families and carers.'

The news follows a positive report on services earlier this month after a probe by the Government"s Social Work Inspection Agency.

They said the authority had made 'considerable progress' in many other areas of social work, including services surrounding the controversial entitlement of older people to free personal care and educational attainment of "looked after" children.