A veteran Dundee care inspector believes problems facing children in Dundee are changing due to a drug culture.
Ian Chalmers, a former inspector and service manager with RSSPCC before it became Children 1st, worked for the organisation for more than 30 years, and has been an ambassador since retiring in 2003.
He joined representatives of Children 1st at Discovery Point for the group’s AGM, which celebrated their 130th anniversary.
Mr Chalmers, 69, from Broughty Ferry, said: “There are still the same problems that I faced when I started, but I think that the emphasis has changed.
“We dealt with people who had addictions, but the main things that we were dealing with were alcohol and gambling, but I think now we need to bring the drug culture into it.”
Children 1st is an organisation which aims to give vulnerable children and young people support and a safe and secure childhood.
Mr Chalmers says there have been a lot of changes since he began working with them, as the social work department now deals with children’s services.
However, he feels Children 1st still have an important role to play, and also noted the strong emotional connection people have for care staff.
He said: “Children 1st are more into preventative work now and working with whole families and the need is still there.
“When I was working you had to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it’s the same for a lot of the staff here now.
“It was a difficult job, a very difficult job, there’s no doubt about it. But very, very few people disliked you, the majority of people liked you and respected you, it meant you had a bit of credibility.
“I went into Ninewells Hospital about 10 years ago and a woman came up to me and said I was her social worker and she wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for me.
“That is very rewarding,” he added.
Chief executive of Children 1st, Alison Todd, praised the work of the organisation at the AGM.
She said: “It’s really important that we keep up to date with people in Dundee.
“There are lots of issues affecting children across Scotland and we want to work with families to give kids the best opportunities possible.”