Growth and development.pdf

A best value review of the sensory impairment service underpinned a number of achievements:• establishment of a Multi-Agency Strategy and Resource Group with stakeholders fromhealth, social work, the voluntary sector, education, service users and carers;• the Multi-Agency Strategy and Resource Group has identified an impressive number ofimprovements and required actions; and• sustained reduction in waiting times from 24 months to 28 days for equipment and minoradaptations and mobility/rehabilitation training.A Multi-Agency Strategy and Resource Group has identified an impressive number ofimprovements and required actions.Joint resourcing and joint management are being promoted by the South Lanarkshire Healthand Care Partnership. Within this, a Health and Care Group carries out a planning function, andthere are local groups with a co-ordinating role. The “bottom up” approach taken by SouthLanarkshire reflects their evolutionary approach to joint management and joint resourcing. Thepartners’ action plan focuses largely on developing joint community care services; trade unionshave been fully involved. A statement of intent for staff has yet to be agreed, the jointdevelopment and training plan has yet to be initiated, and development of a joint staff forumrequires preparation. Budgets are to be aligned initially.3. Performance: Children and FamiliesBalance of care – Looked afterchildren (aged 0-17)1999-2000actual1999-2000per 1,000Quartile2000-2001actual2000-2001per 1,000QuartileAt home 186 2.7 4 175 2.5 3With friends/relatives/other community 70 1.0 2 84 1.2 2With foster carers/prospective adopters 82 1.2 4 70 1.0 4In residential accommodation 73 1.0 3 72 1.0 3Total 411 5.9 4 401 5.7 4Key performance indicators1998-1999actual1998-1999per 1,000Quartile1999-2000actual1999-2000per 1,000QuartileChild protection (CP) referrals 342 5.5 3 279 4.5 3(aged 0-15)Children subject to a CP case 99 1.6 4 105 1.7 4conference (aged 0-15)Children placed on CP register 41 0.7 4 62 1.0 4(aged 0-15)Adoption applications in year 27 0.4 2 18 0.3 4(aged 0-17)Stranger adopter applications 17 0.2 1 10 0.1 3(aged 0-17)There is a low child protection referral rate and a low rate of children subject to a case conference.The number of children on the child protection register increased between 1998 and 2000, butremains lower than in most other authorities. The number of adoption applications has decreasedand the rate is now relatively low.There is a low rate of looked after children.244