Call for immediate medical tests for at-risk children

YOUNGSTERS about whom there are child protection concerns must be given immediate medical examinations and appropriate arrangements put in place “without delay”, an inspection into looked after children in Glasgow has found.

The report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education found that the city scored “very good” or “good” in 14 of the 18 quality indicators used by the agency in the first inspection of its kind in the city. The area of looked after children is largely the remit of social services but also involves other departments such as education.

Although one of the two “weak” areas detected was the failure to “recognise and assess risks and needs”, the council scored significantly better than Scotland’s two other large urban authorities, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Last November Aberdeen was condemned as “unsatisfactory”, the lowest category representing major weaknesses, in four of 18 quality indicators. Ten were “weak”, the second poorest grade, and the last four were deemed “satisfactory”, the fourth out of six grades.

Glasgow has insisted it has already begun installing systematic medical checks, which will be carried out at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital.

Senior social work officials also claim that the main area of weakness is largely attributed to the scale of deprivation and addiction issues in the city and also, while it is successful at identifying and dealing with youngsters at risk the sheer number of those “at tipping point” has made it difficult for all the agencies involved to get to grips with.

The report stated that “thresholds for starting child protection procedures varied within and across areas”, partly resulting “in incomplete risk assessment in some cases”.

It also found that “arrangements to assess risks to unborn babies affected by parental substance misuse lacked rigour”. However the city council insists it has already signalled its commitment to address this.

A council spokesman said: “We are pleased that inspectors recognised the complex and challenging environment in which services work.

“Deprivation, issues with alcohol and drug addiction along with high levels of domestic abuse affect the lives of many children across the city.

“However, the high priority given to child protection within Glasgow’s partnership along with the strong leadership from elected members and chief officers provide a strong base for further improvements.”