Public Performance Reporting

Children and Families Service

To deliver the best possible outcomes for the social, emotional, physical health and well being of children, we deliver social work and social care services in partnership with their parents / carers, the children themselves, and our partner agencies.

This has approach has been assisted by the introduction of an integrated assessment process, and is reflected in the way we have developed an integrated Children’s Service Plan.

We look after children in need, those with or affected by disability, and children who cannot live at home. We also look after children whose care at home has to be supported, and provide services for those who have previously been looked after and accommodated.

We assess the needs of children and young people and offer a range of support to individuals and their families.

We prepare reports for Children’s Hearings and the Court. We provide somewhere for children to stay, support and review children’s care plans and provide fostering and adoption services.

We have child protection responsibilities to provide immediate and long term family support.

Our services are independently inspected, and during 2007, areas such as Child Protection, Learning Disability, Fostering and Adoption, Residential Care and Throughcare have all been examined. These have reported very positively on our direct service provision.

Last year we completed 1,394 Children’s Hearing reports, 165 Child Protection investigations, with 264 children Looked After on a statutory order and 29 children on the Child protection Register.