Scotland's Children Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Implementation Newsletter No 3

Local Authorities and the Act

Local authorities figure prominently in the Act in carrying out a whole range of functions related to children’s services. They are ‘key players’.

A clear sub-theme within the Act is that the new unitary authorities will carry out that range of functions by calling upon their various departments to provide services to meet the needs of children and their families.

In practice the leading role in relation to children’s services is likely to be occupied by the social work department but increasingly it will involve others within the authority. This will mean a good deal of co-ordination, but co-ordination with a purpose - to represent action as a corporate response by the local authority to the responsibilities laid upon it in the Act.

Local authorities have shown themselves fully aware of the need to take a corporate approach to their business and social work departments are increasingly dealing with their counterparts in housing, education and leisure and recreation to present a positive approach to services for children. The full expression of this positive approach is echoed in the draft guidance which has been issued on children’s services planning. Among the many responses which Social Work Services Group have received to that draft guidance there is a clear and consistent message of support for the idea of a Chief Executive taking corporate responsibility for the overall discharge of the council’s responsibilities in relation to the Act. For children’s services plans, one likely model is for the Chief Executive to arrange for the Director of Social Work to act as the lead in preparation and co-ordination not only with other departments of the local authority but also with other agencies who have a contribution to make towards local services for children and families.

Some specific ways in which a corporate approach can be beneficial are highlighted in the following examples:

school staff participating in reviews of children who are looked after education, leisure and recreation joining with social work to develop day and out of school services housing and social work developing accommodation and support for young people leaving residential care the local authority providing from a single source comprehensive information on the full range of services available libraries, schools and social work working together to improve opportunities for children with disabilities