This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pledge to most vulnerable children
22/03/2004
The next steps in the government's three-year programme
of reform for child protection services were outlined
today.
First Minister Jack McConnell told the second Child
Protection Summit in Edinburgh that government must be
prepared to intervene in every stage where a child is at
risk.
The programme is:
- The publication of a Children's Charter, which is
written from a child's perspective, and sets out what
every child has the right to expect from the adults who
care for them
- A tough new inspection system which will regularly
check the quality of care that each vulnerable child
receives. Inspections that will provide information on
how well agencies work together and on how far an
integrated system is working for children and young
people
- A new national framework of standards for child
protection which provides clear guidelines for all
agencies, whether health, social services, education,
police or justice
- £600,000 government funding to train 300 social
workers, particularly those who work with children
whose parents abuse drugs or alcohol
- Developing and strengthening the role of local
Child Protection Committees. These multi-agency
committees will work to improve protocols, guidance,
and training in their local area
Mr McConnell said:
"Two years ago I said we had three years to get our
collective act together. At the time our report into child
protection services showed that services were simply not
good enough. Systems were failing and we were letting down
Scotland's most vulnerable children.
"These are children no adult has the right to let down.
These are children that government has an absolute duty to
protect. Today we are taking very important steps to
improve that system."
He went on to explain how the government was responding
to the Children's Charter with 11 pledges to children and
young people.
"The words in the Children's Charter are simple - some
might say obvious. But if everyone took a moment to check
these statements every time they were dealing with every
child, we would vastly improve our services to children.
Their words may be simple, but they are honest and
compelling.
"But it is important - because we need the words of
children to motivate us, to inspire us and to make sure at
all times we know why we are here. We are here to protect
them."
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said:
"We said in the Partnership Agreement for Building a
Better Scotland last May that we want to give every child
and young person the best possible start in life.
"That helping our children realise their potential is
the key to giving them a sense of self-fulfilment and
equipping them for their future. And fundamental to this
must be that each child is protected from abuse and
neglect.
"We believe this Charter, and the other work being done
in the reform programme, will help fulfil that
ambition."
An audit and review of child protection was announced by
the Scottish Executive in March 2001, following the Hammond
report into the tragic death of Kennedy McFarlane. The
review team's report was published on November 25,
2002.
It can be found at
www.scotland.gov.uk/childprotection.
At the same time, the First Minister announced a series
of measures to improve child protection which included: a
three year reform programme for child protection services;
an expert team to oversee reform and a tough new inspection
system.
The Partnership Agreement published in May 2003 made
clear that improving the protection of children continues
to be a priority for the Executive.
The Charter was developed by Save the Children in
consultation with children and young people who have
experienced harm and been in need of help and protection.
The statements in the Charter reflect the value children
put on these.
Save the Children consulted with 83 children and young
people who took part individually, in small groups, and as
part of a large consultation event, between March and
September 2003. Parents and carers were also involved.