Growth and development.pdf

Drug abuse is a serious problem, especially in North Kilmarnock, and exerts a continuing andincreasing demand on child care services. Almost half of children on the child protection registerare there as a result of drug misuse. With support from the Children’s Challenge Fund and LloydsTSB Foundation, the Council has appointed 3 new members of staff working with childrenmisusing drugs and parents who misuse drugs. In addition the Children and Families FieldworkService Unit has taken on 5 drug misuse workers to enhance assessment and care management.Relatively high rates of children are looked after in East Ayrshire, following increases since 1999.The rate of looked after children who are living at home is high. The rate of looked after childrenliving with friends or relatives is very low.Recommendations in Learning with Care for multi-disciplinary assessment, care planning, andfull-time education for looked after children have been fully implemented. A designated seniormanager in every school ensures that each looked after child has a personal education plancontaining specific targets. The implementation group will develop an integrated policy andjoint training for social work and education staff, audit practice and keep parents informedabout their child’s educational progress.A link teacher monitors and reports on the quality of provision in the Council’s two residentialunits, which have been equipped with new computers and other educational aids; children infoster care have been provided with similar equipment. An independent reviewing officer is tobe appointed to monitor and report on all aspects of the care of looked after children. The Councilplans to introduce a computerised system incorporating fuller information on the education oflooked after children.The three Ayrshire councils and other key agencies have devised new arrangements for careleavers. A joint working group is implementing a detailed action plan. A local budget has yet tobe formulated for East Ayrshire. Joint training has been provided for staff in the agenciesinvolved.The Council is committed to improved integration of children’s services. An Integration ServicesManager, funded from the New Community School programme, will develop and train multidisciplinaryteams. The three Ayrshire councils and the health service are working towards acommon assessment process, supported by a pooled budget from the Changing Children’sServices Fund and by common electronic communication.66