Work of partnership to keep children safe earns praise

A partnership to keep children in Perth and Kinross safe has been praised.

A quality report of the district’s child-protection committee said extensive work is taking place to support vulnerable children.

The committee helps youngsters through protection plans when parents are suffering issues including poor mental health, domestic abuse and substance misuse.

The quality and standards report was scrutinised by councillors who were pleased to read there is confidence in the work of the committee.

Perth and Kinross Council leader Murray Lyle said: “The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is and always will be a key priority for us as a council, together with our partners in the child protection committee. It really is everyone’s job to protect them from harm, abuse and exploitation.

“The detail of this report, placed alongside the extremely positive assessment of our services for children and young people from the Care Inspectorate earlier this year, clearly indicate everyone involved has one aim: to safeguard, support and protect children and young people in Perth and Kinross, enabling them to be the best they can be and ensuring this is a place where they can have the best possible start in life.

“That means we must remain vigilant and continue to seek improvement in the work we do and the services we provide.”

The Care Inspectorate’s report said inspectors “were confident that the life chances and wellbeing of children, young people and families in Perth and Kinross are improving.”