Damning report of serious failings in protecting children

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 22:04

VULNERABLE children across Scotland are being failed by "serious weaknesses" in protection procedures, according to a damning report published today. More than a third of local authorities have "weak" or "unsatisfactory" plans in place to assess youngsters at risk, with an HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) study highlighting a series of concerns.

It found that, in some areas, children have been left in high-risk situations for too long, while there have been delays by education staff in reporting concerns.

Elsewhere, assessments of the suitability of relatives or friends to care for children was not always carried out, with social work and school records poorly organised and missing key information. In some cases, medical examinations of children were carried out without the appropriate consultation of paediatricians.

The report has been seized on by opposition politicians, who said the failings are "alarming" given high-profile deaths such as of Brandon Muir, the Dundee toddler who was killed by his mother's boyfriend despite concerns having been raised with social workers.

Entitled How well do we protect Scotland's children?, the report ruled that in ten councils the effectiveness of planning to meet the needs of vulnerable children was "weak" or "unsatisfactory".

Across 13 local authorities, almost a quarter of the inspections found "serious weaknesses in aspects of child protection which would increase the risk of harm to children". However, the report added the inspection had acted as "a significant catalyst for change," with prompt action taken to resolve failings.

HM senior chief inspector Graham Donaldson said: "Significant improvements are needed in the quality and rigour of assessments of risks and needs."

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said: "The scale of this problem is undeniable. Continuing to do nothing, as the SNP have, is not a viable option. These figures show clearly that we urgently need to re-examine child protection across Scotland."

Liberal Democrat children's spokeswoman Margaret Smith said: "It's alarming that a quarter of HMIE inspections revealed serious weaknesses in child protection services."

The Scottish Government said it was working with those local authorities criticised to ensure urgent action is taken.

Ministers are also revising national child protection guidance, with 1 million going to develop a vulnerable persons system, while a national child protection co-ordinator is being recruited to tackle problems identified in future HMIE reports.

Children's minister Adam Ingram said: "We now have a useful overview … allowing us to build on successes and take action to tackle failings."