Report on joint inspection of services for children & young people in the Scottish Borders

The results of a joint inspection of services for children and young people in the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership area that took place between December 2015 and February 2016 have been published today, Tuesday 28 June.

The inspection covered the range of partners in the region that have a role in providing services for children, young people and families. The partners involved include: Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, Police Scotland and the Fire and Rescue Service. It was carried out by the Care Inspectorate with support from Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland.

Across nine key indicators of performance, Inspectors gave the Partnership one ‘very good’, four ‘good’ and four ‘adequate’ ratings.

Throughout their report, Inspectors highlight a number of key strengths that they found in the delivery of services for children and young people across the Borders. In particular, they found the Partnership to be committed to the wellbeing of all children and young people with outcomes steadily improving across the region, partners actively working towards closing the gap between the most and least deprived families and resources being targeted towards communities most in need.

They noted that trends in educational achievement are continuing to improve with school attainment higher than the national average and the majority of young people going on to positive destinations on leaving school. The participation of young people achieving other qualifications such as Duke of Edinburgh are also above the national average while all secondary schools are delivering the target of two hours of physical education per week.

They found positive trends in children and young people’s health for antenatal and dental care and also that the region has high rates of immunisation.

Across the Borders, universal services are working well together which is having a positive impact for children and young people. The range of parenting support available is reaching families at risk with vulnerable pregnant women receiving help and support at an early stage and young people being diverted from offending behaviour. Adults and children experiencing domestic abuse are also well supported.

The recently formed Children and Young People’s Leadership Group was found to be committed to the implementation of GIRFEC and to be taking its Corporate Parenting responsibilities seriously, with the group proactively striving to drive the pace of change and enabling improvement in key areas across service provision.

Inspectors saw evidence of a strong commitment to involving service users and stakeholders and a culture of meaningful engagement, consultation and co-production. This was echoed in the strong partnership working and delivery of services they noted between Community, Learning and Development and third sector organisations, with the innovative approach to more effective youth work and youth involvement developed by Youth Borders and the Community Learning & Development Partnership being highlighted as a good practice example.

They also commended the Scottish Borders Safe Housing Options Service, which ensures that women experiencing domestic abuse are offered a wider range of options to either remain in their own home or live in a home of their choice, and the co-ordinated and targeted approach that is being used with such success in the four Early Years Centres based within the Langlee, Philiphaugh, Burnfoot and Eyemouth communities.

Councillor David Parker, Chair of the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership, said: “We welcome the findings of the Care Inspectorate following their thorough and in-depth analysis of our service provision. It is very encouraging to see their recognition of our commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people across the Borders.”

John Raine, NHS Borders Chairman, added: “NHS Borders welcomes the findings detailed in the report. This report provides us with an independent view to help us identify areas for improvement within our children and young people services while equally commending the positive work happening in the Borders.”

The Inspectors noted some areas for improvement which are being addressed by the Partnership as a matter of priority. These include developing a quality assurance framework, reviewing some child protection processes, further developing performance management information and progressing Self-directed Support.

Speaking on behalf of Police Scotland, DCI John Peaston said: “We also welcome the findings of this inspection for providing an independent assessment of the services provided to Children and Young People and their families across the Scottish Borders. We acknowledge those areas identified within the recommendations and will work in partnership to ensure that these are progressed in order to provide the best of services to the communities of the Scottish Borders.”

Councillor Parker added: “An inspection like this is always an opportunity to receive feedback on what could be done better. It is part of our commitment to the children and young people of the Scottish Borders to continually look at ways we can improve the services we provide for them so implementing the recommendations that the Care Inspectorate have set out in their report is now a priority for us.”

 

The report is available from the Care Inspectorate websiteThe Children & Young People’s Leadership Group is a multi-agency group with members from SBC, NHS Borders, Police Scotland, Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and the third sector. The Integrated Children and Young People’s Plan 2015-18 was launched in May and is available at: www.scotborders.gov.uk/childrenyoungpeopleplan