This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Western Isles child protection
07/10/2005
Those responsible for child protection in the Western Isles have until November 30 to provide an action plan which will sort out weaknesses in inter-agency practice, they were warned as the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) report into a Western Isles child protection case was published today.
The report - An Inspection into the Care and Protection of Children in Eilean Siar - was commissioned by the Western Isles Child Protection Committee following the arrest of 13 adults in relation to the alleged abuse of three children.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said it highlighted a failure to intervene early enough on behalf of those agencies responsible for looking after the three children and it was plain that lessons needed to be learned and practice developed.
Mr Peacock, who has Ministerial responsibility for social work and child protection, said:
"This report writes yet another horrifying chapter in the continuing exposure of child abuse in Scotland. Anyone who reads this report will find it disturbing and can't fail to be shocked by the catalogue of neglect and abuse which it was reported that three young girls suffered over a prolonged period.
Executive's response to report's recommendations
"It is simply unacceptable when adults neglect and abuse children. In this case the professional agencies involved knew of, and recorded, extensive concerns about the girls' welfare and well-being over a number of years but inspectors found they didn't intervene early enough.
"While this report was commissioned into a specific set of local circumstances in the Western Isles, it brings with it national implications and I and my colleagues intend to act on all recommendations addressed to us.
"We are today publishing the Executive's response to those recommendations which impact directly on the work of the Executive or are of national significance. That response makes clear that we accept the recommendations and we already have in hand work that will take forward the majority of them.
"This case in the Western Isles pre-dates the massive shake-up of child protection procedures and standards in Scotland we have underway but this report will help us to take even more steps to make necessary reforms.
"Beyond this we are reviewing the whole way social work operates and where it fits with other services dealing with vulnerable people - our determination to modernise our approach to social work is made even stronger by this report.
"I have agreed that this report be published in full because, after careful consultation with the girls about the report, it was clear that they want and need the facts of their abuse and neglect, and the failure of agencies to intervene effectively, to be made public."
Executive's response to report's recommendations
The Executive's five point child protection action plan was launched on November 25, 2002. This was backed up by two child protection summits - in February 2003 and March 2004 - which brought together key people from child protection agencies.
The measures include:
- A Framework for Standards for all child protection agencies
- A tough new system of multi-disciplinary inspection for children's services
- A new model for child protection committees and revised guidance for them
- A Children's Charter, setting out the support that children have the right to expect
- Support for helplines which provide counselling and support for children
Prior to publication of today's report, the Executive - with the agreement of Western Isles Council - appointed an expert who worked with the girls and foster families to help them understand the implications of the report and its publication. The expert also advised on the continuing package of care that was needed for the girls.
Executive's response to report's recommendations