Chamber
Plenary, 12 Dec 2002
12 Dec 2002 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Children and Young People (Services)
I will not set myself against the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. As Michael Russell will know, another report was published by the foundation this morning, which examines the picture across the United Kingdom. I am sure that during the debate and in summing up we will consider that in more detail.
Let us remember some of the other initiatives that are going on. There are the new community schools, free fruit schemes and breakfast clubs, which are all delivering for the children who most need our support. The educational maintenance allowance, which is to be rolled out, will allow more young people from low-income families to stay on at school and get the qualifications that they need for a better chance in life. Our children, particularly the most disadvantaged children, need a better start in life in their early years. They need better opportunities as they enter school and throughout adolescence, and they need better futures as they enter adulthood.
I do not accept that we are not making any progress; we are making progress, but we know that there is still more to do. I recognise that and do not shy away from it. However uncomfortable that is for us as politicians, it is critical for the children and families who have been failed in the past.
The recent child protection review and the recent reports by Audit Scotland and the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals into youth justice and children's hearings highlight some clear lessons. They emphasise the impact of child poverty; the need to continue to focus on the most disadvantaged children; the need for services to work better together; the need for services to focus on what children really need; the importance of listening to children; and the need to concentrate on face-to-face work with children and families, rather than processes and the needs of the bureaucracy.
The Executive is trying to practise what it preaches. We have set up a new Cabinet sub-committee to oversee children's services. We have established the changing children's services fund—not to add to what is already being done, but to help to reform fundamentally services at local level. Following the most recent spending review, we will double the resources that are available to the fund.
We have brought together social work, schools, police inspectorates and others to work on the interagency audit and review of child protection. We will ensure they continue to work together. Irene McGugan spoke about placing child protection committees on a statutory basis. We should consider that proposal seriously and examine how it may best be done in the future. I want to explore a number of issues related to that.
The child protection review made painful reading. As a former social worker, I felt a sense of déjà vu. We have taken immediate action. We have introduced a three-year reform programme for child protection services. The First Minister has not attacked child protection services, as has been suggested. He has sent out the clear message that every agency—not just social work—has a role to play and must deliver. An expert team will oversee reform and tackle poor performance. If people are not improving services, it is right that we should tackle that problem, because children's lives are at risk. There will be a tough new inspection system to ensure that reform is delivered and a children's charter that sets out the support that every child has the right to expect. There will be additional investment in helplines such as ChildLine Scotland and ParentLine Scotland to allow them to reach more people.
I want to say something about social workers and, in particular, about the number of social work vacancies. I emphasise that this debate is not solely about social work services—it is about every service and agency. Everyone must find solutions, rather than assuming that child protection is a problem only for social work or for someone else.
In several authorities the level of social work vacancies is unacceptable. However, let us remember the facts. In 1999, there were 1,552 qualified social workers in local authorities working with children and families, but in 2001 there were 1,749 such workers. That represents an increase of about 13 per cent. Between 1999 and 2001, the number of fieldwork staff for children and families rose. Many people have moved from area teams to specialised projects, sometimes in the voluntary sector. It is ironic that additional funding that has been invested to expand services has not been matched by the necessary work-force planning. I want to address that problem.
Each year since 1999, the number of people entering social work training in Scotland has risen. In 2002 there were more than 200 more new students than in 1998. Between 1998 and 2002, the number of students completing courses has increased by 35 per cent—from 339 to 518. The number of people applying for social work training has also increased each year.
The early response to the recruitment campaign has been promising. Some people will say that the campaign is too little, too late. However, like many social workers—a number of members of the Parliament have worked in front-line social work—I believe that, when we face a problem, it is better to find a solution, to draw up a plan and to do something, rather than simply to complain. That is what we have done.
Let us remember some of the other initiatives that are going on. There are the new community schools, free fruit schemes and breakfast clubs, which are all delivering for the children who most need our support. The educational maintenance allowance, which is to be rolled out, will allow more young people from low-income families to stay on at school and get the qualifications that they need for a better chance in life. Our children, particularly the most disadvantaged children, need a better start in life in their early years. They need better opportunities as they enter school and throughout adolescence, and they need better futures as they enter adulthood.
I do not accept that we are not making any progress; we are making progress, but we know that there is still more to do. I recognise that and do not shy away from it. However uncomfortable that is for us as politicians, it is critical for the children and families who have been failed in the past.
The recent child protection review and the recent reports by Audit Scotland and the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals into youth justice and children's hearings highlight some clear lessons. They emphasise the impact of child poverty; the need to continue to focus on the most disadvantaged children; the need for services to work better together; the need for services to focus on what children really need; the importance of listening to children; and the need to concentrate on face-to-face work with children and families, rather than processes and the needs of the bureaucracy.
The Executive is trying to practise what it preaches. We have set up a new Cabinet sub-committee to oversee children's services. We have established the changing children's services fund—not to add to what is already being done, but to help to reform fundamentally services at local level. Following the most recent spending review, we will double the resources that are available to the fund.
We have brought together social work, schools, police inspectorates and others to work on the interagency audit and review of child protection. We will ensure they continue to work together. Irene McGugan spoke about placing child protection committees on a statutory basis. We should consider that proposal seriously and examine how it may best be done in the future. I want to explore a number of issues related to that.
The child protection review made painful reading. As a former social worker, I felt a sense of déjà vu. We have taken immediate action. We have introduced a three-year reform programme for child protection services. The First Minister has not attacked child protection services, as has been suggested. He has sent out the clear message that every agency—not just social work—has a role to play and must deliver. An expert team will oversee reform and tackle poor performance. If people are not improving services, it is right that we should tackle that problem, because children's lives are at risk. There will be a tough new inspection system to ensure that reform is delivered and a children's charter that sets out the support that every child has the right to expect. There will be additional investment in helplines such as ChildLine Scotland and ParentLine Scotland to allow them to reach more people.
I want to say something about social workers and, in particular, about the number of social work vacancies. I emphasise that this debate is not solely about social work services—it is about every service and agency. Everyone must find solutions, rather than assuming that child protection is a problem only for social work or for someone else.
In several authorities the level of social work vacancies is unacceptable. However, let us remember the facts. In 1999, there were 1,552 qualified social workers in local authorities working with children and families, but in 2001 there were 1,749 such workers. That represents an increase of about 13 per cent. Between 1999 and 2001, the number of fieldwork staff for children and families rose. Many people have moved from area teams to specialised projects, sometimes in the voluntary sector. It is ironic that additional funding that has been invested to expand services has not been matched by the necessary work-force planning. I want to address that problem.
Each year since 1999, the number of people entering social work training in Scotland has risen. In 2002 there were more than 200 more new students than in 1998. Between 1998 and 2002, the number of students completing courses has increased by 35 per cent—from 339 to 518. The number of people applying for social work training has also increased each year.
The early response to the recruitment campaign has been promising. Some people will say that the campaign is too little, too late. However, like many social workers—a number of members of the Parliament have worked in front-line social work—I believe that, when we face a problem, it is better to find a solution, to draw up a plan and to do something, rather than simply to complain. That is what we have done.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Good morning. Our first item of business is a debate on motion S1M-3698, in the name of Irene McGugan, on children's and young people's services in Scotland....
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I start with a quotation that is at the heart of the Executive's programme:"Ensuring every young person gets the best possible start in life."I am sure no on...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
If Irene McGugan accepts that there is a link between poverty and children in need, would she care to comment on the difference between absolute poverty, whi...
Irene McGugan:
SNP
Robert Brown should be aware that redefining poverty does not make the least bit of difference. All those children are in poverty in Scotland today and littl...
The Minister for Education and Young People (Cathy Jamieson):
Lab
I acknowledge that, although the Scottish National Party motion and our amendment are not identical, they cover a lot of the same ground. That was meant to h...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I take the minister back to the issue of child poverty. Given what she has said, the minister presumably rebuts entirely the report of the Joseph Rowntree Fo...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
I will not set myself against the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. As Michael Russell will know, another report was published by the foundation this morning, whic...
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
Does the minister agree that, although in some local authorities the number of vacancies for social work is unacceptably high, there was never a golden era o...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
A number of other members worked in the same area of social work in which I worked. None of us would recall that time as a golden age of social work. We reca...
Irene McGugan:
SNP
I accept all of what the minister said about the number of people on courses increasing and the number of social workers increasing, but why then did 17 of t...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
In a sense, Irene McGugan answered that question in her speech. She will know that the situation has not arisen overnight. There has been a lack of work-forc...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
In many respects, the Executive is failing Scotland's children and the Scottish National Party has suggested few reasoned or reasonable alternatives. In a th...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Bill Aitken:
Con
Give me a minute. In an intervention, Mr Russell highlighted the content of some of the reports that have been produced. It might have been advantageous for ...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I do not know in which parallel universe the member is living. Although we hope and expect to be in government, we are not in alliance at the moment. The Lab...
Bill Aitken:
Con
Mr Russell might not be responsible, but I assure him that I do not live in another universe. The fact that I live in the real world is sometimes a disadvant...
Michael Russell:
SNP
Will the member give way?
Bill Aitken:
Con
I will finish this point before I again give way.The only way in which Mr Russell would be able to achieve a reduction in class sizes would be by filling the...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am sorry that Bill Aitken did not accept my intervention earlier because I frankly do not understand that last point, which was nonsensical. I am happy to ...
Bill Aitken:
Con
I assure Mr Russell that I will read with considerable interest whatever he sends me. Of course, I suffer from insomnia but I am sure that such reading will ...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
Is Bill Aitken saying that we should not invest £700 million in Glasgow's acute services?
Bill Aitken:
Con
I do not suggest that for a moment. We need to spend the money in a much more efficient and effective manner so as to improve patient care.
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member explain how?
Bill Aitken:
Con
This is not a health debate. If members want to debate health, I will be delighted to do so on a suitable occasion.
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
Bill Aitken said that today's debate is not on health, but I am sure that he would recognise that the health of our children is important. Does he recognise ...
Bill Aitken:
Con
I agree with the minister that the health of our children is a vital issue that should be addressed cogently and seriously. Where I take issue with the Execu...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
Why then did so many of those who contributed to both the national debate on education and the Education, Culture and Sport Committee's inquiry into educatio...
Bill Aitken:
Con
The usual suspects of course came up with that result. We must realise that the comprehensive education system needs to be looked at carefully. That realisat...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
I go back to the member's first point about the rise in the number of young people who are looked after in residential accommodation. Does the member recogni...
Bill Aitken:
Con
Yes, I freely concede that point. Nevertheless, it is depressing that there are so many looked-after youngsters in residential accommodation and that must be...