Listen to thisChildren’s services in Scotland need reforms to improve quality
Scottish children’s services providers call for reforms needed to improve quality of services and prioritise the needs of vulnerable children in decision making.
The children’s services sector across Scotland faces unprecedented challenges. The latest figures show that 16,171 children are currently looked after by local authorities. The figure has increased each year since 2001. At the same time, authorities are facing 3% funding reductions between 2011/12 and a cumulative reduction of 6.3% by 2014/15.
The current context is creating a situation in which too many looked after children and vulnerable young people are unable to access the care and support that appropriately matches their needs. Furthermore, there is a growing gap between policy guidance and practical implementation.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC) was established in order to bring together children’s services providers, who deliver residential care and specialist education for children with complex needs.
The SCSC introduced ‘Ten Point Plan’ which gives recommendations for reforms needed in order to improve children’s services across Scotland.
According to the SCSC, vulnerable young people and their care need to be placed at the heart of decisions by the Scottish Government. In addition, cost should not be the determining factor in commissioning decisions. There can be no compromise on quality.
Also, outcomes for vulnerable young people need to be measured in both educational and social terms. Current measurements apply holistic as well as narrow approach to the attainment of children. For many children with the most complex needs, such measurements are inappropriate.
A true and fair cost comparison of local authority, voluntary and independent sector provision must be introduced. Currently, many of the costs included in determining the price of voluntary and independent sector provision, such as transportation and health services, are excluded from the cost of local authority provision.
Placement decisions should always be made on an assessment of the needs of the child and not on a consideration of spare local authority capacity that happens to be available at the time.
Finally, the SCSC calls for joined up work between children’s services and adult social care departments. It is vital in realising the long-term outcomes of vulnerable young people.
Implementation of these practical reforms will ensure that access to the highest quality services and the attainment of the best outcomes becomes a reality for vulnerable children across Scotland.
Opinion
23 October 2012
http://www.egovmonitor.com/2012/10/23/childrens-services-in-scotland-need-reforms-to-improve-quality
