We have published our joint inspection report on the protection of children and young people in the Shetland Islands council area.

The inspection included services provided by health agencies, the police, the local authority and Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, as well as those provided by voluntary and independent organisations.  Joint inspection reports give an evaluation of the effectiveness of services using a published quality indicator framework focusing on 6 key areas:

  1. how well children and young people are listened to, understood and respected;
  2. how children and young people benefit from strategies to minimize harm;
  3. how children and young people are helped by the actions taken in immediate response to concerns;
  4. how well children’s and young people’s needs are met;
  5. service improvements through self-evaluation; and
  6. improvements in performance.

Services in the Shetland Islands council area were given 2 evaluations of very good, 2 evaluations of good, 1 evaluation of satisfactory and 1 evaluation of weak.

Inspectors found the following key strengths in how well children were protected and their needs met in the Shetland Islands council area.

  • Very prompt and effective action by staff to help keep children safe.
  • Effective communication with children and families helping to build trusting relationships.

Inspectors agreed with services in the council area the following points for improvement.

  • Improve the consistency of planning to meet individual children’s needs fully.
  • Further develop joint approaches and understanding of self evaluation to improve outcomes for vulnerable children.
  • Strengthen leadership, support and challenge given to the CPC by Chief Officers.

We are confident that the services will be able to make the necessary improvements in light of the inspection findings.  As a result, we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection.  Our link inspector will maintain contact with services to support and monitor improvements.