Growth and development.pdf

The social services department is implementing an action plan which takes forward thelessons learned from the death of a three-year-old child:• retraining staff;• revising child protection procedures;• regular audits of casework practice and recording;• stronger screening, assessment and overview of key decision-making.The rate of looked after children has increased, with high rates living with foster carers orfriends or relatives. An external audit of foster care resulted in recruitment targeted in specificgeographic areas, and among a younger group of carers. Subsequently, placementbreakdowns have been reduced by 55%. There are relatively few children in residential care,including residential schools. This is partly attributable to the Crannog Project (see below)which has halved the number of young people placed in residential schools.The number of referrals to the Reporter has increased partly because of an increase in themisuse of drugs and alcohol. 44% of recent referrals in Stranraer are alleged to relate to themisuse of heroin.Arrangements and expectations for the education of looked after children are detailed in aneducation/social work protocol. Several children in residential homes do not have full-timeeducation, and alternative arrangements do not provide full-time provision. Children in thethree residential homes have study areas and computer hardware and software for educationalpurposes; foster children have similar facilities; all looked after children have an e-mail account.The dispersed rural areas do not allow library access for all children.An assessment and support service working with young people at risk of exclusion from school,Crannog is operated by Aberlour Child Care Trust in partnership with education and socialservices. It achieved national recognition by winning the 2001 Community Care award for interagencyworking. The project forges links between home, school and community, and has wonthe confidence of young people, their families, and the children’s hearing system. It provides aninitial assessment and comprehensive plan to the area review group (which makes decisionsabout young people at risk), and offers support both in and outside school.A care leavers team, involving the Benefits Agency, health, education, housing providers andhomeless advice workers, was established following an audit which revealed that all those wholeft care over a five-year period experienced a period of homelessness. The team trains staffand provides care leavers with information. Supported accommodation is provided by LoreburnHousing Association.The social services and education departments are gradually integrating services e.g.strengthening family support services through multi-disciplinary teams in four localities and infamily centres in Dumfries and Stranraer. A respite unit for children with disabilities has beendeveloped with the health service.50