Top Marks But More Social Workers Needed

Councillors have been told that more specialist social workers are required if weaknesses identified in child protection services in the Scottish Borders are to be addressed. But any shortcomings are more than outweighed by strengths, according to a glowing report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe).

In terms of checks and balances and the co-operation of key agencies, like social work, education, the police and NHS Borders in identifying and intervening over children at risk, the Borders’ assessment is much more positive than probes already carried out in other Scottish local authority areas. It is certainly in stark contrast to neighbouring Midlothian were glaring failures resulted in the resignation of that council’s director of social work.

“You can never be complacent, but this is a reassuring endorsement of what has been achieved in the last five years and a tribute to the commitment of all the professionals involved,” said Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker. He believes the report of inspectors, who did three weeks of field work in the region at the end of last year, shows the Borders is “ahead of the game” in responding to Scottish Executive demands for a radical improvement of child protection services across Scotland.

Such demands echoed a national audit of 2002, conducted after two tragic deaths. In Dumfries and Galloway, Kennedy McFarlane, 3, was killed by a blow from her mother’s boyfriend in May, 2000, just two months after being treated for serious eye injuries and drug ingestion. In Edinburgh in October, 2001, Caleb Ness, aged just 11 weeks, was murdered by his father despite being the subject of child protection procedures. Inquiries into both deaths highlighted the need for closer co-operation, better information-sharing and more effective action spanning all the relevant agencies.

The Borders inspection looked at the files of 55 children, eventually selecting 12 on which to conduct a detailed study involving staff, service-users and the children themselves. There are currently 61 youngsters on the Borders child protection register. They are considered at immediate risk or are the subject of legal processes towards intervention. Files are also kept on children assessed as being at lower risk.

The inspectors highlighted the effectiveness of the Child Protection and Review Unit (CPRU) in Albert Place, Galashiels, where council (social work/education) staff work in the same office as police officers and health workers. The hands-on approach of SBC chief executive David Hume, NHS Borders boss John Glennie and divisional police commander Charlie Common was acknowledged as creating a culture of collective responsibility which is reflected in job satisfaction and high staff retention rates.

Across 18 quality indicators, the Borders received six “very goods” (major strengths), 10 “goods” (important strengths with areas for improvement) and two “adequates” (strengths just outweighing weakness).

Dougie Watson, independent chairman of the region’s multi-agency Child Protection Committee, welcomed the report, claiming the Borders was “a template of good practice which others should aspire to”. “Many public organisations pay lip service to the philosophy of partnership working, but in this crucially important area it is an effective reality here in the Borders,” said the former senior police officer.

He claimed work was well under way to address the two issues deemed “adequate” – the involvement of children and their families in policy development and operational planning.

Although inspectors found information-sharing among agencies was good, a full council meeting heard that more social work staff are required to effect the recommended improvements in the service.

A report from SBC social work director Andrew Lowe says lack of available social workers meant delays in offering services to lower risk children and also impeded arrangements for information-sharing with school staff.

Mr Parker told TheSouthern: “Social work directors across Scotland have been pressing the Scottish Executive for some time to give more resources to councils to address the staffing problem. We currently have a full establishment of children and families social workers, but even this positive report shows there are some weaknesses which cannot be addressed without adequate staffing.”