SWIA Demands Urgent Improvement In Isles Social Work
Two reports published today by the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA), comment on the performance of social work services in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
{mosimage}One main finding is the need for a clearer vision for services and for stronger leadership to deliver it.
The wider performance inspection report covers most aspects of the council’s social work services other than criminal justice services.
The report highlights service strengths, for example the delivery of effective residential and day care services and the positive involvement and contribution of local organisations in planning and delivering services.
However whilst they judged no aspect of service delivery to be ‘unsatisfactory’ inspectors found only one of the ten areas for evaluation they use to assess performance to be ‘good’, the remainder being either ‘adequate’ or ‘weak’.
The report makes 20 recommendations for improvement, some requiring urgent action. As well as ensuring stronger strategic leadership these include carrying out proper assessments of the needs of service users and the risks they may pose to themselves and others; keeping records that are up-to-date and fit for purpose; preparing better plans for specific services; making sure that staff have appropriate guidance about critical areas of practice; undertaking more systematic workforce planning and supporting staff better in their work.
The criminal justice social work services report is the eleventh in a series of inspections examining the practice of all groupings of local authorities and unitary authorities providing criminal justice social work services across Scotland.
Inspectors found that criminal justice social work staff were working hard to provide services to a consistent standard and that the quality of services was improving. Most court reports were written to a good standard.. Almost all cases had a plan for supervision. National standards for submitting reports and for first interviews were being met.
Some areas of work still needed to be improved. Work with offenders, particularly those whose offending constituted a possible risk to others, needed to be better focussed on risk management and addressing offending behaviour. Timescales for case reviews had slipped and a more focussed approach to developing community service was needed.
The report contains 10 recommendations. These include improving staff skills in assessment and intervention with particular reference to work with higher risk offenders and offenders with alcohol-related problems, implementing a development plan for community service and introducing formal arrangements for staff supervision and staff development.
SWIA Chief Inspector Alexis Jay said: “While we recognise the challenges faced by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – covering remote islands, with scattered populations and associated communication and transport difficulties – today’s report shows that significant improvements are required.
“The council is providing good services in some areas, but there is considerable scope for improvement. We will work with the council to agree action plans in response to these reports, to ensure the necessary changes are made.”
