Growth and development.pdf

The Comhairle and NHS Western Isles have made significant steps towards joint resourcingand joint management, based on a tradition of joint working and the positive approach of staff.The joint resourcing pot has been scoped and will include most community care and somehospital services for older people.The Comhairle and NHS Board have agreed to establish a joint committee, and a localitymanagement framework with joint managers who will have overall responsibility for integratedcommunity care teams. Initially, a joint development manager is to be recruited to develop theframework. Operational budgets – aligned in the first place but pooled in due course – will bedevolved. A joint staff forum will finalise the partners’ statement of intent. Joint training andteam building is to be developed in 2002, including training for staff engaged in single sharedassessments.3. Performance: Children and FamiliesBalance of care – Looked afterchildren (aged 0-17)At home 23 3.8 2 36 5.9 1With friends/relatives/other community 11 1.8 1 9 1.5 1With foster carers/prospective adopters 10 1.7 4 8 1.3 4In residential accommodation 5 0.8 4 7 1.2 2Total 49 8.1 2 60 9.9 2Key performance indicators1999-2000actual1998-1999actual1999-2000per 1,0001998-1999per 1,000QuartileQuartile2000-2001actual1999-2000actual2000-2001per 1,0001999-2000per 1,000QuartileQuartileChild protection (CP) referrals 17 3.1 4 23 4.3 4(aged 0-15)Children subject to a CP case 7 1.3 4 9 1.7 4conference (aged 0-15)Children placed on CP register 3 0.6 4 8 1.5 3(aged 0-15)Adoption applications in year 5 0.8 1 1 0.2 4(aged 0-17)Stranger adopter applications 5 0.8 1 0 0.0 4(aged 0-17)Eilean Siar has low rates of child protection referrals and a relatively low rate of children onchild protection registers. There were no stranger adoption applications in 1999-2000.There is relatively high rate of looked after children and most live at home or with friends orrelatives. Very few live with foster carers.Residential services for children and young people are provided locally on behalf of theComhairle by NCH Scotland. NCH also provides a family support project to prevent childrengoing into care, a respite scheme for children with disabilities, an Independent Living Projectand a multi-disciplinary assessment and therapy and support service to children with specialneeds and their families.The social work and education departments have been taking forward the Learning with Carerecommendations. Most of the recommendations have been implemented but further work isrequired in relation to the development and implementation of a joint policy; staff/carer trainingand developing the Children’s services plan.106