We have published our joint inspection report on the protection of children and young people in the Perth & Kinross 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 Perth & Kinross Council area were given 3 evaluations of excellent and 3 evaluations of very good.

Inspectors found the following key strengths in how well children were protected and their needs met in the Perth & Kinross Council area.

  • The exceptional leadership and direction provided to staff.
  • Exceptionally high quality and trusting relationships with staff.
  • Outstanding individual support provided to children and families at an early stage and for as long as it is needed.
  • The high quality support available in evenings and at weekends.
  • Very positive improvements in the lives of children in need of protection.
  • A strong culture and ethos of improving outcomes through integrated services and partnership working at all levels.

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

  • Continue to build on the very effective practice to improve services to protect children.

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 improvements.