The Scottish Government

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.