The For Scotland's Children report was launched in October 2001. It reported on the findings of a multi-disciplinary Action Team drawn together by Scottish Ministers to look at ways to better integrate children's services.
For Scotland's Children sets out the range of evidence considered by the Action Team and includes detailed findings and background analysis. The report also contained a six point Action Plan directed at local statutory and non-statutory agencies (local authorities, health boards and voluntary organisations) setting out a range of ways in which they could work together to achieve better integrated children's services. The six Actions Points are that local agencies should:
- consider children's services as a single service system
- establish a joint children's services plan for each area
- ensure inclusive access for all children to universal services
- co-ordinate needs assessment
- co-ordinate intervention
- target services to meet needs and reduce inequalities.
There is wide-spread support amongst statutory and voluntary sector agencies for the principles and practical proposals set out in For Scotland's Children.
Following publication of the report, the Scottish Executive established the Changing Children's Services Fund, to help local agencies re-configure and enhance their services for children. Revised guidance was also issued to local agencies in preparing local integrated Children's Services Plans.
Scottish Executive Ministers and officials are continuing to work with local agencies and organisations to assist them in taking forward the Action Plan and to tackle barriers to effective joint working on children's services, including through the draft Integrated Early Years Strategy, Child Protection Reform, work on shared assessment and information sharing, supporting and strengthening the children's services workforce and through pilot Local Outcome Agreements.
Section 3
Scottish Executive Ministers have announced that they will re-issue the child's/ young person's plan early in 2007.
Scottish Ministers expect every child going to a Children's Hearing by December 2007 to have a plan based on the proposals set out in Getting it Right for Every Child.
The Plan is being accompanied by guidance which will be followed shortly by further guidance on implementation and training.