Call for improvements to child protection services

Improvements are needed in the services which work to protect vulnerable children, a major new report will claim.

The Care Inspectorate has just carried out a three year long inspection process, examining child protection services in each of Scotland’s 32 council areas.

Inspectors will praise strong leadership and co-operation among those working to keep youngsters safe from harm.

But the report will call for more support from social workers for those youngsters who fall just below the threshold for being placed on the child protection register, as well as those youngsters who have just come off it.

It will also argue faster intervention is required when parents cannot meet their children’s needs.

Annette Bruton, the chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, will present the report to the Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell.

Ms Bruton said: “It is everybody’s business to make sure that our children are safe. Abuse, neglect and exploitation often happen in secret, so people need to know that different professionals are all working together to spot signs and minimise risk.”