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For Scotland's children report

foreword

Our children are our future. That is why we have committed ourselves to creating a Scotland in which every child matters, where every child, regardless of their family background, has the best possible start in life.

Much has already been done over the past few years to develop the services we offer our children. We believe, however, that more can and must be done. Particularly for the most disadvantaged children it is essential for all agencies to work together to achieve the best outcomes. That is a task for everyone in universal services such as health and education: it is not only about social work services.

That is why we drew together an Action Team of experts from local government, the NHS and the voluntary sector to look at how better to integrate children's services. Their Action Plan contains a range of ways in which local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary sector can work together to create a single children's services system, backed up by a number of good practice examples. We look to the statutory and voluntary sectors to use this as a focus for developing better integrated children's services.

Equally these agencies will look to us to practise what we preach. The Action Team has also produced a range of recommendations for Scottish Ministers. We are establishing a Ministerial Working Group to drive forward work to achieve more effective and integrated services for children. Its first task will be to consider the findings and recommendations in this report, especially for those that require action from the Scottish Executive. We are also issuing guidance on the production of integrated children's services plans and on the implementation of the Changing Children's Services Fund, which will provide the resources to act as a catalyst for change.

Delivering high quality services to all children in need is key to combating child poverty in Scotland, and to ensuring all children have the necessary support to widen their opportunities for the future. Services must be driven by the needs of children and above all, we all need to listen to children and their families as we take forward this challenging agenda.

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