This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Inverclyde Social Work Services
29/09/2006
Some of Inverclyde's social work services are among the best in the country but there is still work to do, according to Scotland's social work inspectors.
Inverclyde Council was inspected as part of the Social Work Inspection Agency's (SWIA) performance inspections of all local authority social work services in Scotland. The inspection covered all aspects of the council's social work services, with all areas rated good or adequate.
Inspectors highlighted strengths in youth justice and learning disability services, and found there was good joint working by social work and the NHS at operational level. Social work services staff were well motivated and dedicated to providing quality services to vulnerable people in Inverclyde.
However, the report also makes 16 recommendations to improve services, including work on performance management, quality assurance, and the council improving the educational attainment of looked after children.
SWIA Chief Inspector Alexis Jay said:
"Thousands of vulnerable people rely on the social work services that councils deliver, and it is vital that we continue to improve these as they make such a difference to people's lives.
"Inspection helps us identify where councils are doing a good job, and how they can do things better.
"Today's report shows Inverclyde is delivering some high quality social work services, but there are still areas that could be improved.
"We will work with the council to agree an action plan in response to this report, which will ensure the necessary changes are both made and monitored."
Ministers announced their intention to establish a new Social Work Inspection Agency, which would operate independently and impartially, in November 2004. It formally began work on April 1, 2005. Further information is available at www.swia.gov.uk.
In 2006 SWIA began a series of performance inspections of all local authority social work services, following three pilot inspections in 2005. Inverclyde is the second council to be inspected in this series.
The inspection of Inverclyde Council took place from January to May 2006.