Growth and development.pdf

There are low rates of child protection referrals, of children subject to a case conference and ofchildren placed on the child protection register. The number of children on the register increasedbetween 1998 and 2000. The number of stranger adoption applications reduced to a relativelylow level in 1999-2000.The Council has identified a dedicated senior officer, with responsibility for dealing with issuesrelating to the education of looked after children, and is working towards linking its social workand education information systems.The Council has throughcare teams in place for provision of support services to young careleavers. Planning for the new arrangements for care leavers awaits clarification of the resourcesto be transferred.The Council is developing an authority-wide young people’s drug and alcohol service which willlink closely to youth justice teams and other services. Comprising a manager and nine addictionworkers, it is to offer a service to young people involved in drug and alcohol misuse. This willbuild on the success of the existing local Rushes Project, which provides a community basedservice to young people aged between 12 and 18, and their families; preventive servicesincluding education to schools; and a drop-in facility offering resources, information andtraining about alcohol and drugs.A Forum of Elected Members from North Lanarkshire Council oversees the work of the ChildrenServices Strategy Group. The Children’s Services Plan outlines work to modernise and reshapeservices and to provide a responsive, intensive and integrated Community project, as analternative to residential care. The plan anticipates a further roll out of the New CommunitySchool projects.4. Performance: Criminal JusticeKey ActivitiesNumber of social enquiry reports submitted to the courts 1,922 1,990 85.8 2during the yearNumber of community service orders made during the year 417 363 15.6 2The proportion of social enquiry reports reported to courtwithin target time2000-2001 QuartileProportion of social enquiry reports submitted to the courts 94.5 4by due dateThe time taken to complete community service orders1999-20002000-2001Average length of community service (hours) for orders 171 1completed during the yearAverage hours completed per week 4.8 22000-2001per 10,000QuartileA relatively high rate of social enquiry reports was submitted in 2000-2001. The proportionsubmitted to courts by the due date was lower than in most other authorities. The rate ofcommunity service orders made was also relatively high. The average length of orders madewas longer than in many other authorities, but the orders were completed comparativelyquickly, with 4.8 hours completed on average per week.188