Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 March 2017
02 Mar 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Child Protection Improvement Programme
I point to headcount in relation to the Scottish social service workforce, particularly in children’s services. Data collected for us by the Scottish Social Services Council shows that from 2012 to 2015, the number of social workers who work in children’s services has increased from 5,550 to 5,960. I also highlight to Monica Lennon, as I have highlighted either to her or to her colleagues in previous debates, work done by Audit Scotland that shows that there have been real-terms increases in spending on social work in Scotland. Put together, those pieces of evidence demonstrate a collective focus and a collective will to ensure that services are not just available but well resourced.
Beyond that, I have highlighted a number of other areas where this Government is taking forward work on early intervention. I highlight to Monica Lennon the children and young people early intervention fund, which the Government has established. As I announced during the debate on the care review, a large part of that fund is being specifically targeted at how we work with children who are either in care or on the edge of care.
The Government is taking forward all those areas of work so that we can intervene early to protect children and prevent them from coming to harm and from having to come into contact with the system in the first place.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
Good afternoon. The next item of business is a statement by Mark McDonald on the child protection improvement programme. The minister will take questions at ...
The Minister for Childcare and Early Years (Mark McDonald)
SNP
A year ago, the then Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning set out the Government’s intention to implement a child protection improvement pro...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the Scottish Government for early sight of the statement and for its constructive engagement on what is obviously a very serious issue on which I am ...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I am grateful to Liz Smith for her constructive and consensual approach to the steps that I have outlined. Liz Smith will be aware of the evidence that Aile...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, thank the minister for early sight of his statement. We certainly welcome any progress towards protecting our children, and the two reports that have...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I thank Iain Gray for his comments on the Government’s approach to the recommendations. On the 2014 Brock report and the subsequent statement, if he looks at...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
As a former social worker, I am glad to see that children and families are at the heart of the Scottish Government’s child protection improvement programme. ...
Mark McDonald
SNP
The children’s hearings improvement partnership was asked to scrutinise the impact of recent legislative and practice changes on the children’s hearings syst...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I was interested in the minister’s response to Liz Smith about the PVG scheme. First, I ask him to clarify the timescale for the review of that scheme. Secon...
Mark McDonald
SNP
As Donald Cameron knows, I said at the Health and Sport Committee that, if legislation is required off the back of the review, we expect to pass it by 2019. ...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the setting up of a working group to consider how joint inspections might better focus on outcomes for children. Can the minister outline his views...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I want to ensure that joint inspections of services for children and young people are underpinned by prevention, early intervention and partnership working. ...
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
In his statement, the minister said: “We must also continue to invest in activity that supports families and intervenes early to prevent difficulties from a...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I point to headcount in relation to the Scottish social service workforce, particularly in children’s services. Data collected for us by the Scottish Social ...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
The minister will be aware that the Education and Skills Committee has begun its own exercise to take stock of the reforms to the children’s hearings system....
Mark McDonald
SNP
I welcome the committee’s interest in and input to the child protection improvement programme. I will be more than happy to engage with the committee and pro...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I thank the minister for early sight of the report and commend its good work, which will clearly enhance children’s rights. As he will be aware, I am hoping ...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I thank John Finnie for his question, although I should correct him—I think that he mentioned section 11 of the 1937 act, when what we are looking at is sect...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I, too, thank the minister for early sight of the statement and welcome his willingness to accept the recommendations. I also put on record my thanks to Cath...
Mark McDonald
SNP
If Liam McArthur wishes to write to me with any specific questions about funding implications as a result of actions that the Government is taking forward, I...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
Violence against women and girls has significant consequences for the lives of children and young people. I see from the minister’s statement that the Govern...
Mark McDonald
SNP
Last month, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and I met groups representing children and victims of domestic abuse to discuss how the law can be reformed to ...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I also remind the chamber that I am a councillor in the City of Edinburgh Council. A lot of the ...
Mark McDonald
SNP
Jeremy Balfour is correct in saying that, as well as strategic leadership, in the form of local authority officers, there is political leadership and directi...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
There are a number of recommendations that will place additional responsibilities on the Care Inspectorate; indeed, the minister has spoken of an “expanded r...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I had discussions with the Care Inspectorate before we produced the recommendations, so I am confident that it is in a position to accommodate the role that ...
Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
The minister has explored the range of areas on which the programme focuses. I have, however, a question on a particular area. Can the minister outline what ...
Mark McDonald
SNP
I want all children and young people to be able to benefit from the opportunities that the internet has to offer. However, we must also ensure that they are ...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Figures that have been published by the Scottish guardianship service have highlighted that 40 per cent of the 262 unaccompanied children that it has registe...
Mark McDonald
SNP
The approach that we will take will be to ensure that we raise awareness among the public and professionals about the services that are available to children...