Introduction
Her Majestys Inspectorate (HMI) will undertake an inspection of Child Protection services within West Dunbartonshire for a total of three weeks. One week beginning 11th December 2006 and a further two weeks in January 2007.
HMIe Leaflet
Why are services to protect children being inspected?
The Child Protection Audit and Review in 2002 recommended that a "further national review of child protection" should be undertaken three years after the audit. In March 2004, Scottish Ministers announced a multi-disciplinary inspection that would cover all the relevant services, in each local authority area in Scotland, over a three year period.
The aim of the inspections is to ensure that children are being protected, to help agencies improve their service and to share good practice.
Who will be inspecting?
Inspections will be undertaken by the Services for Children Unit within HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Inspection teams will be made up of inspectors and Associate Assessors from HMIE, the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA), the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (Care Commission), Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) and the Scottish Children's Reporters Administration (SCRA).
What will inspectors look for?
Inspectors will look at practice in local areas, and evaluate it against Quality Indicators: "How well are children and young people protected and their needs met?" To do this they will consider the following:
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How effective is the help children and young people get when they need it?
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How effectively do agencies and the community work together to keep children and young people safe?
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How good is the delivery of processes?
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How good is operational management in protecting children and young people and meeting their needs?
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How good is individual and collective strategic leadership?
What will the Inspection Team look for & how can good practice be evidenced?
A wide range of approaches will be used to review the help given to children, young people and families, including case record analysis, interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and observation of meetings and services. Inspectors will seek the views of children, young people and families as well as practitioners and managers. Some inspection activities will be planned well in advance whilst others will be in response to local circumstances. Each inspection will take place within boundaries of a local authority area.
What will the Inspection Team cover?
Prevention of abuse, intervention when abuse has happened and the help given to children to recover from abuse will all be evaluated.
The agencies whose work that will be inspected include social work, social care, education, health, police and children's hearing services. Inspectors will also look at relevant services provided for children and young people by the voluntary and private sectors. Managers and practitioners will be given more information and be able to ask questions at the start of the inspection.
A sample of cases of children who are on, or who are causing concern will be requested and the inspectors will look at the records for these children.
What happens after an inspection?
A report will be written, checked with the agencies, inspected for accuracy, and normally published within 12 weeks of the end of the inspection. The reports will be put on the HMIE website about 12 weeks after the end of the inspection (www.hmie.gov.uk).
Follow-through inspections will take place to check that recommendations in the report are being carried out. The timing of this will depend on the balance between strengths and areas for improvement in the original inspection.
What about confidentiality?
Inspectors will normally keep confidential any personal information they get during the inspection.
The exception would be if a child or young person is identified at risk of harm.
Inspectors will not use names or describe individuals in their report.
All children and their families involved in the process will be sent a leaflet describing the process.
All partners in West Dunbartonshire involved in Child protection have been preparing for the inspection through the work of the multi agency Child Protection Committee. The council has undertaken an initial audit of practice and case recording in preparation for the inspection.
Further information can be obtained through staff briefings or through contacting:
Claire Carthy
Claire.carthy@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Eric Brown
eric.brown@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Information on the Child Protection Committee can be found on the Council's Committee Information website.
