Growth and development.pdf

IntroductionThe Local ReportsGrowth and Development – Social Work Services for the 21st Century, is the second annualreport prepared by the Chief Social Work Inspector. Completed in 2002, it includes a nationaloverview of social work services and short reviews of services in each of the 32 councils. Thisreport contains the reviews of social work services in each of the 32 local authorities with thenational overview contained in a separate document. The individual reports are based on ananalysis of demographic information, statistical returns to the Scottish Executive and AccountsCommission (Audit Scotland), information provided on visits to the local authorities and otherwritten information provided by them.The introductory section of each report covers the demographic and social features of thearea. The description of each authority is followed by subsequent sections on:• Community Care• Children and Families• Criminal Justice• Finance• Staffing• Modernising services• The FutureThe 32 local authorities in Scotland range from large cities such as Glasgow through to smallisland authorities such as Eilean Siar. Differences between authorities in terms of geographyand demographic, social and economic characteristics and their effects on service provisionare highlighted throughout the report.This year, we have included more statistical information, including figures from previous yearsand Scottish figures. As part of this process, some figures have been presented as quartiles.Appendix 1 details the source of the statistics and includes an explanatory note on our use ofquartiles.The individual local authorities were given an opportunity to comment on their particularsection of the report. In many instances, the local authorities commented on the statisticsincluded in the reports, and offered us more up to date figures than the ones we have used orprovided data that they use locally. For the sake of comparison, the latest available figures fromlocal authority returns to the Scottish Executive or Accounts Commission have been used inthe reports but it is acknowledged these statistics do not necessarily present the most up-todateor accurate account of social work activity and that more informative figures may beavailable. This exercise has again reinforced the need to improve the social work informationsystems and the robustness of the statistical information.Further appendices on national statistical information and population figures are also included.3