We have published our joint inspection report on the protection of children and young people in the Dundee City 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. 

  1. Joint inspection reports give an evaluation of the effectiveness of services using a published quality indicator framework focusing on 6 key areas:   
  2. how well children and young people are listened to, understood and respected;
  3. how children and young people benefit from strategies to minimize harm;
  4. how children and young people are helped by the actions taken in immediate response to concerns;
  5. how well children’s and young people’s needs are met;
  6. service improvements through self-evaluation; and

 improvements in performance. 

Services in the Dundee City Council area were given one evaluation of very good and five evaluations of good.   Inspectors found the following key strengths in how well children were protected and their needs met in the Dundee City Council area.   

  • Staff identifying and supporting vulnerable pregnant women and their unborn babies.  
  • The help and support provided through partnership working with voluntary organisations. 
  • Joint leadership and direction supporting improvements.  Inspectors agreed with services in the council area the following points for improvement. 

Strengthen initial assessments of risks for new concerns about children already receiving a social work service. 

  • Improve the coordination of support for children following de‑registration from the Child Protection Register.  
  • Continue to develop approaches to joint self-evaluation which lead to improvement in outcomes for vulnerable children and families.  

We are confident that 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 the inspection.  Our link inspector will maintain contact with services to support improvement.