Scotland's Children Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Implementation Newsletter No 4

Councils prepare for implementation

With full implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 only weeks away, Scotland’s local authorities are making the final preparations towards meeting the Act’s challenges and capitalising on its opportunities.

Most authorities have made full use of the Scottish Office-commissioned training materials produced by BAAF. In Argyll & Bute, seven training sessions were held during the autumn of 1996 and over 100 staff took part. Staff from voluntary organisations such as the Children’s Befriending Scheme, Quarriers Rural Youth Project, Kintyre Home-Start and the Helensburgh Naval Base took part in training sessions alongside council employees.

An evaluation exercise conducted by the Argyll and Bute social work department revealed that this multidisciplinary approach to training has been extremely valuable. 'This is one of the benefits of being a smaller authority,’ said Pauline Hoggan, Head of Children and Family Services. ‘Dispersed teams are a challenge, but it means that training has to be done together. We have found this multi-function approach very appealing.’

Training in Glasgow is being delivered to a range of staff beyond those who work directly with children and families. In particular, the Scottish Office materials have been adapted for use with administrative staff. Romy Langeland, Children and Families Services Manager, explains: ‘Administrative staff will be briefed in relation to the new child protection procedures. It’s very important that they understand the process in which they play a key part.’

Administrative staff in Perth and Kinross are also receiving training, along with colleagues in adult care and the independent sector, as well as all child care staff. Perth and Kinross has put the accent on inter-agency work, with an inter-agency implementation forum set up in June 1996 and a seminar held to consider the implications of the Act and agree the process for joint planning structures.

Inter-agency work has also been given a high profile in Shetland, where a conference set up to outline the principles of the Act and consider some of its implications for service provision was aimed at the widest relevant multi-agency audience. The Social Work Department is now co-ordinating multi-agency training for Shetland’s Child Protection Committe member agencies.

Like Shetland, Angus Council is making full use of the Scottish Office/BAAF material across the board. All staff are undertaking the 3-day foundation training course, which was first piloted with senior management. According to Gordon McIntosh, Head of Child Care in Angus, the material was ‘challenging and stimulating.’ This phase of training will be completed by January, when specialised in-depth training will begin for specific staff.

Specialised training for front-line staff will begin in March at Aberdeen City Council. A comprehensive training programme for social workers, together with colleagues in legal services and the Reporter, is now nearing completion. Aberdeen social work management has also met with Sheriffs and Sheriff Clerks in relation to the new court rules. ‘We have agreed on a protocol,’ said Alex Hamilton, Assistant Director of Social Work, ‘which will be finalised as soon as the court rules and related guidance are issued.’

On the other side of the country, an audit has taken place within East Ayrshire Council. Bernadette Docherty, Acting Director of Social Work, told the Implementation Newsletter that the exercise involved ‘an audit of current resources, policies and procedures in order to identify those areas of work requiring urgent attention to equip us for 1 April.’

In addition, inter-departmental and inter-agency working groups are examining key areas of practice. ‘Regulations and guidance are being examined, ‘ said Ms Docherty, ‘and plans are in hand to develop policy and inter-departmental and inter-agency protocols.’

There can be no doubt that Scotland’s new local authorities - established less than a year ago - have risen to the challenges presented by the implementation process for the most radical shake-up of child care law for 25 years.

With the finalised guidance and regulations due to be issued at the beginning of February, their preparations can be completed for 1 April.