Appendix 2 - The Tayside Plan Report on Progress 2024-25
Perth and Kinross Council · 4 February 2026
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 4 February 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Appendix 2 Tayside Plan for Infants, Children, Young People & Families 2023-2026 Report on Progress 2024-2025 Introduction The report sets out progress by partners of the Tayside Children’s Services for Infants, Children, Young People and Families 2023-26, towards the outcomes set out in the Plan. Progress updates are provided for outcomes detailed in the ‘What will success look like’ column within the plan and where available, updates are also provided for baseline data. Some updates reflect progress made by individual local authorities, reflecting different practice in each area. The remaining updates are presented for all Tayside, reflecting operational structures of partner agencies. Narrative updates are provided for the time period August 2024 to July 2025. Baseline statistical data is presented against different reporting periods, depending on standard reporting cycles and how the data was articulated in the original plan. In general, all data relating to early years, attainment and attendance is reflective of academic years. Data provided for Children’s Social Work, Housing and NHS measures is presented by financial year.
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2 TAYPLAN-2326-001 Our children will have the best start in life Ensure clear pathways are in place for early identification of need in children pre-birth to age 3 With specific attention to: • Pre-birth support pathways • Transition pathways into early years settings for children with significant early concerns in relation to their development or emerging additional support needs Progress Updates (i)Families with identified needs are matched with support at an early stage:- Baseline data – unborn baby referrals per quarter. Data for Feb-April 2023: Angus 40; Dundee 46; Perth and Kinross 27 Data for Feb-April 2024: Angus 49; Dundee 44; Perth and Kinross 23 Data for Feb-April 2025: Angus 23; Dundee 46; Perth and Kinross 29 Each local authority has a well-established multi-agency approach to consider referrals for unborn babies. Angus receives referrals via the Pre-birth Resource Allocation Meeting (PRAM) with 6 monthly reports submitted to our Protecting People Angus Strategic Committee’s (PPASC) Practice and Policy subgroup. Between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025 133 women were referred to PRAM.
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3 The overall PRAM referral outcomes were: Direct referral to social work 37% Discussed at PRAM meeting 56% Non continuing/confirmed pregnancy 7% PRAM outcomes from meeting % of women discussed at PRAM % of total referral number Social work assessment 51% 28% Universal services – Midwifery with onward referral to 44% 25% FNP 12% 7% Glen Clova 3% 1.5% Perinatal Mental Health 5% 3% Aberlour 1% <1% AIDARS 1% <1%
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4 Dundee City Partners in Dundee implement the Tayside Concern for Unborn Baby Protocol and the Tayside Multi – Agency Practitioners: Concern for Unborn Babies Guidance as a means of identifying vulnerabilities and emerging child protection concerns for unborn babies. Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were 174 Unborn baby referrals submitted to Dundee’s Multi Agency Screening Hub. Following initial screening, 99 resulted in a direct referral to Children and Families Social Work for a full prebirth assessment and support. This support was provided by a New Beginnings Service, Care and Protection Intake Service and Locality Children and Families Teams when there was already an existing social work intervention with a parent and their children. The remaining referrals were supported by Universal Services. Throughout the year 2024-25, 19% of children subject to Child Protection Registration were Unborn Babies and 40% of Child Protection Orders related to infants within 1 week of birth. The reasons include baby being affected by parental mental Ill health, domestic abuse, parental drug abuse, alongside services finding it difficult to engage a parent. Following support, over the last 2 years 64% of unborn babies whose names were placed on the Child Protection Register are now residing in the care of a parent without any ongoing Child Protection Registration or other statutory intervention. Over 80% of children supported by New Beginnings remained with their birth parent or a Kinship Carer. Our partnership continues to support the development of the Voice of the Infant and the implementation of the Infant Pledge. This has included involvement in the production of “Hello in There Wee One”, a universal resource available to all parents to encourage bonding with their baby pre-birth. We are strengthening links / consultancy between our Social Work Teams and NHS Tayside Infant Mental Health Team. This promotes both the development of attachment between parent and child as well as the voice of the infant being better represented in social work assessments and decision making. As support to vulnerable families with babies and infants remains a key priority, the partnership has also allocated Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) funding to 2 initiatives focused on early years in Alternatives Counselling for
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5 women with emotional health concerns and the Birch Project for women who have previously experienced the removal of a child from their care. More details on these and other WFWF funding initiatives are outlined in Appendix 1 and going forward, the partnership will retain a focus on early years via the development of a multi-disciplinary local place-based approach programme, which will include a targeted approach towards the 6 Child Poverty priority groups. Perth & Kinross Early identification of need for unborn babies continues to take place in fortnightly meetings of the Unborn Baby Multi- Agency Screening Group (UBB MASG). Referral discussions in UBB MASG lead to early interventions with expectant parents, where required, to provide support and make safe plans for babies pre-birth. Where there is a need for Social Work intervention, our teams undertake robust assessment of the unborn baby’s needs and the parents’ ability to meet those needs. First Steps continues to be our specialist unborn baby assessment team and works with the majority of unborn baby cases in our service. First Steps has a strong focus on understanding the mental health needs of unborn babies and infants and consults closely with NHS Tayside’s Lead Clinician for Infant Mental Health in this regard. First Steps continues to focus on early intervention and prevention, and to this end the team provides high levels of support to expectant parents pre-birth to prevent escalation of identified risks and support needs. The team continues to work closely with the Integrated Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Treatment Team (IDART) to assess and understand risks in relation to parental substance misuse and the impact of this on babies and infants. A mental health worker continues to be part of the First Steps team, undertaking assessment of parent’s mental health needs and how this may affect their ability to care for their baby. Where risks and concerns for unborn babies are assessed as significant, our teams continue to hold Child Protection Planning meetings as part of usual practice. In less serious cases, multi-agency planning and support can take place in unborn baby planning meetings. For cases where it is assessed that a baby cannot safely be returned to the care of a parent, our teams will hold early discussions with the Kinship Team where there are potential family options for the baby or will refer to our Resource Panel for early identification of a foster placement. For children up the age of 3, our fieldwork teams continue to work closely with colleagues in Health, Education, the Police and others to support the early identification of need. Referrals to our Multi-Agency Screening Hub (MASH) can be made by Named Persons and colleague services for early family support where involvement from Social Work is not necessarily required. This results in families and infants getting the help and support they need at an early stage, hopefully preventing escalation of need and risk. Our third sector colleagues make up a significant part of the
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6 membership of MASH, with Barnardo’s and Aberlour being key partners in providing early family support. In more serious situations, early identification of needs and risks takes place in Initial Referral Discussions with the Police and Health, ensuring that there is a timely response where an infant has potentially been harmed. (ii)Reduced number of concerns identified at 27-30 month review compared to 13-15 month review: Baseline data: children identified with concerns at 13-15 and 27-30 months. 2020-2021: Angus 13.4%, 16%; Dundee 16.6%, 17.5%; Perth and Kinross 15%, 16.6% 2021-2022: Angus 12.4%, 16.3%, Dundee 16.3%, 17.3%, Perth and Kinross 15.2%, 17.3% 2022-2023: Angus 13.5%, 17.4%; Dundee 13.2%, 18.2%; Perth and Kinross 14.6%, 17.4% 2023-2024: Angus 15.3%, 17%; Dundee 16.4%, 17.9%; Perth and Kinross 12.17%, 16.7% 2024-2025 data is not yet available. 2024-25 data will be published later in 2025. Please see the updates below for detail regarding the work being progressed across Tayside. (iii)Increase the percentage of children aged 3-5 newly enrolled in LA ELC for whom significant concerns were raised prior to enrolment. Baseline Data: Percentage of children for whom significant concerns were raised prior to enrolment. Tayside 3-5-year-old intake TRIC 2022 2022% 2023 2023% 2024 2024% Newly enrolled 2,392 70% 1,722 39% 1,658 38% Significant early concerns 183 8% 251 15% 238 14% brought to attention prior 93 51% 128 51% 135 57% This is data for the three Tayside local authorities combined. In 2024, the percentage of children with concerns being identified prior to enrolment increased by 6 percentage points (pp).
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7 (iv) Infant mental health is understood and promoted This is an outcome of the Solihull training programme; further details are provided below. Our children will have the best start in life We will provide accessible, responsive, and flexible parenting support Progress Updates (i) Increased availability of the Solihull programme. Baseline data: number of staff trained: 2022-2023 Angus 52; Dundee 89; Perth and Kinross 103; NHS Tayside 147. 2023-2024 Angus 93; Dundee 32; Perth & Kinross 38; NHS 39. 2024-2025 Angus 109; Dundee 37; Perth and Kinross 40; NHS Tayside 47 Angus This year five Foundation Level Solihull Approach trainings sessions were delivered with 109 staff trained. Two Solihull in Practice sessions, to embed foundation training, were delivered with 25 staff attending. 28 people from Angus registered as learners on the Solihull Approach Online course. To improve direct parental access to Solihull in Angus, in September 2025 the Family Nurture Support team will be trained to lead Solihull Post Natal and From Toddler to Teenager groups in 2025-26 to increasing access to parental support. Dundee This year 15 staff have completed the Solihull Approach Foundation training. Use of the Approach is revisited when Parent Services Development Officers carry out support visits in addition to regular refresher training. Perth and Kinross Solihull Approach – Foundation 47 staff completed the foundation training.
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8 NHS Tayside 47 staff completed the foundation training. (ii) Increased range and uptake of supports and services available to families in local communities. Baseline data - local monitoring of Whole Family Wellbeing Plans Angus The Family Nurture Support (FNST) team deliver ‘Connecting with Parents’ Motivation’ training to staff which supports them to link with parents and support them. This further supports practitioners to extend their knowledge and application of learning through Solihull training. From August 2024-July 2025 3 courses were delivered with 38 staff have trained. The Family Nurture Support team also engage with parents and carers across Angus through a number of programmes.
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9 From August 2024- July 2025: Group Number of Groups Number of Parents Carers Outcomes Incredible years 7 55 87% have an improved strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) score at the end of the groups. Incredible Years Autism and Language Delay pilot 3 25 34% improvement in tool to measure parenting self-efficacy (TOPSE) for attendees. Five to Thrive 10 85 Parental knowledge of brain development increased by 36% after attending a Five to Thrive Group. 100% of parents who attended would recommend the group to others. PEEP 14 113 89% of parents reported Peep had helped them support their child’s talking and listening skills. 100% reported the group had helped their child with confidence, singing, speech and focus. EWPW 1 5 75% of parents increased their skills in planning and preparing healthy food for their families. Triple P Online 42 42 7 families have completed all 8 modules with support from the team. Triple P Group 2 12 100% of families have improved in SDQ score following attendance at a group. Holiday Food & Fun Sessions 42 172 Parents enjoyed the opportunity to try new foods with their child and learning how to make foods together.
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10 The introduction of the Incredible Years autism and language delay pilots have been welcomed by parents. The team continue to diversify support to meet the identified needs of the parents in communities. In 2024-25, a decision was made to refresh plans for use of the WFWF, with an agreement that the revised focus would include redesigning early support services for pregnant women and families expecting a child. The year began with the continuation of the Enhanced Whole Family Wellbeing Support Project, targeting families with children aged 0–3. A key development was the integration of Aberlour’s perinatal team into the delivery group, ensuring more robust support for expectant families and those with newborns. By May and June, planning was underway for the Synergy Sparks initiative, a collaborative effort involving 17 third sector organisations. The goal was to co-produce transformational solutions to address systemic gaps in family support. This period also saw the design of a new grants programme, with two tiers: Small Grants (up to £25,000) administered by Voluntary Action Angus Large Grants (up to £50,000) managed by Angus Council Optional Start-Up Support of £20,000 for new initiatives In July and August, Synergy Sparks delivered five co-production workshops, generating ideas and identifying barriers to effective service delivery. Simultaneously, the team began developing monitoring and evaluation tools, including referral tracking and qualitative feedback mechanisms. Between October and December, procurement began for a new co-ordinator post to lead multi-agency collaboration and streamline service pathways. The Glen Clova Project stepped in to provide interim support and lead on data collection and evaluation during this transition. As the year closed, enhanced support services continued, including integrated housing and welfare rights assistance. Strategic planning for Year 4 began, informed by lessons learned around procurement delays and data capacity challenges.
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11 WFWF spending programme is as follows:
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12 Dundee Details on the allocation of WFWF funding and activity are outlined in Appendix 1 and show a range of activity designed to either maximise the impact of existing services or provide new support to priority groups. It includes 6 initiatives which will either build the capacity of and/or reconfigure and/or improve access to services, such as: 1. Out-of-hours Social Work support 2. Development of an Advocacy Strategy 3. Development of a Volunteer Strategy 4. New multi-disciplinary hub for adolescents 5. Together to Thrive focus on enhancing workforce skills to address neurodevelopmental concerns 6. Fast Online Referral Tracking triage system Other projects are focused on early years, children with a disability, transitions from primary to secondary school, healthy eating, employability and family literacy. They are each actively supporting families and showing promise in respect of engagement and improved outcomes. Perth & Kinross The Families Empowering Communities project was awarded funding from the whole family wellbeing fund. This enabled our early intervention, community based family support project to expand the offer of support into 3 new communities across Perth and Kinross. The project is operational in Letham, Crieff, Bertha Park, Muirton & North Muirton, Blairgowrie and Rattray Voice is central to this ensuring that children, young people and adults are heard and have influence and decision- making power empowering them to design the supports they need. The project promotes positive wellbeing through supportive, connected communities. By being place-based and easily accessible support is given at an early intervention stage rather than waiting until crisis point. Our Whole Family Support focusses on supporting families who are on the edge of statutory involvement or who are no longer requiring statutory intervention. Our support also enables parents to be more engaged with their children’s learning through offering SCQF national level 2 & 3 and 4 qualifications, thus reducing the attainment gap and promoting family learning opportunities.
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13 Taking a holistic viewpoint highlights the interconnected needs of all family members, thus enabling tailored support, unique to each family and responsive to their changing circumstances. Universal activities enable families to feel connected to their wider community thus promoting a sense of wellbeing, inclusion and purpose. Working in partnership with families, local services and organisations ensures that we are making best use of existing community supports. This further allows communities to be more empowered and able to influence and shape future supports. Our one-to-one parental support is designed to enable parents to feel more confident, capable and supported in their parenting role, and to promote positive outcomes for both parents and children. Our offer has 4 differing support themes, these include, Building parenting skills/strengthening the parent/child relationship Providing emotional support Addressing specific issues Support to access other relevant services Our project also has a commitment to upholding the articles within the UNCRC with a particular emphasis on the following articles.2, 3, 12, 13, 15, 19, 27 and 31 are firmly imbedded in practice. Our one-to-one parental support another of the many ways in which we can ensure children’s rights are upheld. This can be by supporting parents to have a more involved role in their child’s education, health, and other key development needs. The rights of children to play, grow, and prosper as they should with the support of safe, loving caregivers is this project. As a new project how we gather our data has changed and improved. One measure of who we are working with is to use the priority families classification.
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14 October 23- March 25 1to 1 support only 3 4 1 10 10 5 20 18 5 3 10 7 Childre n from ethnic minorit y groups Care experience d children and young people Youn g carer s Children supporte d by a Children' s Plan Childre n with ASN Children who have undergon e significan t transitions , for example starting ELC, primary or secondar y Lone pare nt famil y Childre n from other low- incom e families Childre n from families with a disable d adult or child Childre n from families with a young mother (under 25) Childre n from families with a child under 1 year old Childre n from larger families (3+ childre n) April 2025- September 2026 (for All FEC activities) 6 6 9 19 16 11 26 30 23 5 8 23 Childre n from ethnic minorit y groups Care experience d children and young people Youn g carer s Children supporte d by a Children' s Plan Childre n with ASN Children who have undergon e significan t transitions , for example starting Lone pare nt famil y Childre n from other low- incom e families Childre n from families with a disable d adult or child Childre n from families with a young mother (under 25) Childre n from families with a child under 1 year old Childre n from larger families (3+ childre n)
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15 ELC, primary or secondar y YEAR October 2023 – March 2024 Families Adults Children Individuals 1 to 1 with Families (targeted) 69 Events ( universal) October Events (all areas) 24 95 December Events (all Areas) 63 170 individuals Groups Goodlyburn PS after school club 11 For 6 weeks Letham PS after school club 15 For 6 weeks Our Lady’s PS after school club 14 For 8 weeks YEAR April 2024 – March 2025 1 to 1 with Families 49 Events Easter (All Areas) 26 84 December Event with Santa (All Areas) 35 110 Groups After school club 15 For 8 weeks
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16 Letham Family Group 16 16 30 46 individuals Place Standard in 3 Primary Schools 108 Me Time 132 Instances of participation Beyond Incredible 231 instances of participation (105 being children) CARE Group 135 Instances of participation Family Games Night 2 6 individuals Employability Drop In Tea Time Toasties 4 13 individuals In Stitches 14 Messy Play 3 10 individuals YEAR April 2025 – September 2025 1 to 1 17 Groups Mens Group CAMHS & Coffee 1 Small Steps Big Smiles 13 28 instances of participation over 4 weeks Events Easter Events (all areas) ? Summer Events (all areas) 54
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17 (iii) Evidence of engagement and involvement of fathers/those in a fathering role in children's health, education and child's plans. Angus Angus continues to lead nationally in its multi-agency approach to the Involving Dad’s agenda, with the dedicated group meeting regularly to drive improvements in support for fathers. During the year, two training sessions were delivered using the Roots to Change toolkit, which has helped build capacity and strengthen direct work with men around concerning behaviours. Although a development day was initially planned, it was rescheduled to September 2025 to allow for more strategic planning and alignment of priorities. Scoping work is also underway to explore funding opportunities for gender-specific support, recognising the need for tailored interventions. Despite strong progress, the group faces challenges with inconsistent representation from larger agencies, which has impacted continuity and shared ownership. Looking ahead to 2025–26, key recommendations include securing consistent agency engagement, piloting a gender-specific support model, and using the upcoming development day to finalise an improvement plan and address identified gaps. Angus is encouraged to continue its national engagement, sharing its multi-agency model as a best practice example to influence wider system change. Social work services have been undertaken work to identify the extent to which fathers are being included and contacted about their child’s social work involvement. Case management has been a focus to ensure that each father’s details are known at the point of initial contact with families, allowing involvement from the start of the journey. Focused work has been undertaken with all duty coordinators to ensure consistency. This has allowed more opportunity for fathers to be made aware of, and attend, meetings and discussions about the plans for their child. Where mothers and fathers are unable to participate in meetings about their child together, social work are offering split meetings to ensure their participation and views are heard. NHS partners have had a focus on communication and have put systems in place to ensure fathers who do not reside with their child can opt to receive health information relating to their child. Health are also developing a father’s record for early years services to mirror the information held about mothers.
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18 A pilot group (test of change) has been set up in one primary school in Arbroath. Fathers are being supported to actively engage in sports activities around the school, supported by the Active Schools coordinator. Fathers involved in the scheme also have access to additional wrap-around support with appointments, benefits or housing issues and it is hoped that they will be able to participate in a scheme which will see them train and build skills for employment through their volunteering in the schools. This scheme is at an early stage with one father now actively involved in school sports activity delivery. Dundee In Dundee, procedures relating to planning meetings to ensure that both parents are proactively involved in planning for their children have been updated. Data of attendance at meetings is positive. Senior Officers meet with any parent when it is assessed they cannot attend meetings to ensure they are involved in planning processes. Perth & Kinross From 01.04.24 to 31.12.24 there were 28 applications for support from fathers.
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19 Our children will have the best start in life We will refine the Early Years tracking tool and embed use across Tayside from 2024-25 Progress Updates Angus All Angus Council and contracted provider ELC settings use the Pupil Tracking tool to track developmental milestones and attainment for funded children aged 2-5. Contracted childminders use a similar format which is accessible to them. This enables all providers to track children’s progress and development. Settings use the data to plan targeted support and challenge for individuals and groups of children. All staff had the opportunity to engage in training, moderation and support to deepen their understanding of assessing children’s developmental milestones; how to deliver high quality interventions; and ensure effective support as they transition into primary one. In response to tracker data in 2025-26 staff will engage in training to deliver effective targeted support with a focus on Early Language and communication. Quads and triads will be established to build on moderation of the tracker data across Angus. Dundee Tools for capturing children’s learning, development and progress for children aged 2 – 3 years and 3 – 5 years are fully implemented and embedded across all Local Authority Early Years settings. All Funded Provider settings have access to both tools, with implementation being optional. Professional dialogue and reference to traces of learning continues to be essential when completing and using these tools. Effective use of the tool is considered within a wider approach to capturing children’s learning, development and progress. Ongoing support and training sessions are available to all settings. As a result, settings are supported to consider the sensitive and meaningful interpretation of information available within the tool and use this to inform planning and improvements as part of a cyclical approach to child centred pedagogy and improvement. It is noteworthy that all ELC setting have been graded as Good or better in inspections.
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20 Perth & Kinross All ELC Settings in Perth and Kinross continue to use the 3-5 Tracking tool created following collaborative work with the TRIC Tracking Group. 48 Local Authority and 33 Funded Provider Nurseries completed the excel tool in November 2024. 12 Childminders complete paper copies which are collated centrally to ensure all children taking funded places in PKC are included in the data set. ELC settings have now embedded robust tracking processes and are reporting an increased confidence in completing and using the tool to analyse the data. All ELC settings have clear timelines. Assessment and moderation activity has been a focus for improvement with collegiate activity and ELC Community Networks held in Term 2 across 11 geographical communities. Nursery Teachers and Early Years Support Teachers skills, knowledge and confidence to support and challenge the assessment and moderation in all our ELC settings has been strengthened. The aim this year is that by June 20205 effective tracking processes are in place with accurate data informing the intentional planning for improvements in outcomes for children aged 2-5. Improvements have been made to current excel trackers to allow data to be pulled through from the individual excel documents as one PKC data set. This is allowing for pivot tables to be created to provide more detailed reporting to of the cohort of children in PKC, regarding, gender, level of ASN, school the children will move to in Primary 1 for transition purposes. Improvement work takes place in settings informed by the 3-5 ELC tracker. For example, settings with Maths on their improvement programme have undertaken small tests of change. ELC Communication Champions are currently using the data from the tracker to analyse the Attention and Speech and Language statements identifying aspects for improvement in the learning and teaching. This is work carried forward from CYPIC Improvement programme.
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21 Our children will have the best start in life We will repeat the transitions survey in 2024-25 to measure the impact of new pathways and inform next steps Progress Updates The transitions survey was repeated in 2024-25. The combined Tayside data is set out below: New Start Transitions Survey August 2024 Intake Tayside Tayside 3-5-year-old intake TRIC 2022 2022% 2023 2023% 2024 2024% How many enrolled 3,420 4,432 - 4,334 - Newly enrolled 2,392 70% 1,722 39% 1,658 38% Significant early concerns 183 8% 251 15% 238 14% brought to attention prior 93 51% 128 51% 135 57% Support plans in place 38 41% 45 35% 78 58% In 2024, there was a slight decrease of children with identified significant early concerns. In the same year there was an increase of the percentage of early concerns raised with ELCs prior to starting. Significant increase in 2024 in the percentage of support plans in place for those children for whom significant concerns were raised with ELCs prior to starting. The increase in children’s support needs being communicated and planned for corresponds with the increase in the promotion of the transition pathway for children with emerging additional support needs with health visitors, ELC practitioners, and allied health professionals.
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22 TAYPLAN-2326-002 Our children and young people will achieve and make positive contributions to communities We will implement effective strategies to increase school attendance Progress Updates (i) Increased attendance across all groups. (ii) Increased attendance and attainment for children living in SIMD 1 and /or looked after at home Baseline data (Reported in LGBF, data is combined for primary and secondary): Overall attendance 2020-2021 – Angus 92.8%; Dundee 90.6%; Perth and Kinross 91.9% Data not published in 2021-22 Overall attendance 2022-2023 – Angus 90.5%; Dundee 88.6%; Perth and Kinross 90.4% Overall attendance 2023-2024 – Angus 90.7%; Dundee 88.9%; Perth and Kinross 90.2% Data for 2024-25 will be published in December 2025. Attendance gap between SIMD 1 and SIMD 5: 2020-2021 – Angus 5.1pp; Dundee 6.4pp; Perth and Kinross 4.8pp 2022-2023 – Angus 5.9pp; Dundee 6.8pp; Perth and Kinross 5.3pp 2023-2024 - Angus 5.8pp; Dundee 6.8pp; Perth and Kinross 6.6pp Data for 2024-25 will be published in December 2025. Attendance gap for looked after children (Reported in LGBF; data is for all children who are ‘looked after’ by the local authority and is combined for primary and secondary. Children may attend school in a different local authority area): 2020-2021 – Angus 6.6pp; Dundee 2.3pp; Perth and Kinross 2.9pp Data not published in 2021-22 2022-2023 – Angus 7.7pp; Dundee 5.5pp; Perth and Kinross 3.6pp 2023-2024 – Angus 5.1pp; Dundee 6.1pp; Perth and Kinross 4.2pp Data for 2024-25 will be published in summer 2026.
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23 Angus In session 2024-25, average attendance at both primary school and secondary school increased compared to 2023-24. Average attendance at both primary and secondary school by children who live in SIMD Q1 increased in 2024-25, compared to the previous year. In 2024-25, average attendance at primary school increased for children looked after at home and decreased for young people at secondary school who are looked after at home. Five engagement officers (EOs) and a resource worker (RW) are funded through Attainment Scotland Funding. Bespoke support is provided to care experienced children and young people, with the intended outcome of increasing attendance, engagement and participation at school. In 2024-25 the EOs worked with a total of 80 children and young people. Of these, 65% (52) improved their attendance during the session. 44 of the children engaging in the service lived in SIMD Q1, and 17 of the children supported were care experienced. There was evidence of improved outcomes for all, including increased attendance, engagement with learning and stronger relationships in school. Dundee The Council has formed a multi-agency strategy group to consider our policy and practice. Our overarching improvement strategy of Every Dundee Learner Matters focuses on improving our 3Ps - presence, participation and progress. Each school was tasked with forming an inquiry question around attendance. In addition, five schools have participated in Cohort 1 of Education Scotland's National Improving Attendance Programme and a further seven are participating in Cohort 2. Provisional local data evidences that almost all stretch aims for attendance have improved for session 2024/25. Improving attendance remains a key priority for Dundee schools. The group referenced above have produced revised attendance procedures and guidelines and these will be launched in a planned Attendance Summit in November 2025.
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24 Perth & Kinross There have been a number of interventions aimed at improving attendance across Perth & Kinross. Three “forum” events were held, focussing on attendance through local, national and international perspectives. These well-attended events, with delegates including school staff: PKC elected members; representatives from other local authorities; and representatives from Education Scotland, provided an opportunity to discuss and share good practice and consider evidence-based approaches to support improving attendance. School staff made public promises to implement approaches which would improve attendance. These included parental engagement to raise awareness of the impact of non-attendance on outcomes; monitoring and analysis of attendance data; and targeting interventions to effect improvement. A literature review of attendance interventions, undertaken by the Educational Psychology Service provided an evidence base for the Staged Intervention Framework for Attendance as well as informing and enabling the delivery of specific projects to support families and staff in schools with addressing non-attendance. One of these involved the use of Strategic Equity Funding to provide support for a few families whose children and young people are struggling with attendance. A poster campaign with the strapline “Miss School, Miss Out” was also undertaken.
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25 Our children and young people will achieve and make positive contributions to communities We will implement plans focused on raising attainment and meaningful engagement (participation). Progress Updates (i)Reduced attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged children and young people. Angus Baseline data - local authority stretch aims: In 2023-24, the annual trajectory targets for achievement of 1 or more award at SCQF Level 5 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure decreased. In 2023-24, the annual trajectory targets for achievement of 1 or more award at SCFQ Level 6 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure decreased. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory target for the achievement of literacy in P1,4,7 combined for children in SIMD 5 was achieved. The targets relating to all learners, those living in SIMD 1 and the attainment gap were not achieved. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory target for the achievement of numeracy in P1,4,7 combined for children in SIMD 5 was achieved. The targets relating to all learners, those living in SIMD 1 and the attainment gap were not achieved. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory targets for primary school attendance by all children, and those who live in SIMD Q1 and 5 were achieved. The target for the primary school attendance gap was not achieved. The targets for secondary school attendance by all young people, and those who live in SIMD Q1 and 5 were achieved. The target for the secondary school attendance gap was also achieved. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory targets for the annual participation measure were achieved for 16–19-year-olds living in SIMD 1, and for the overall attainment gap. Targets relating to all 16–19-year-olds and those living in SIMD 5 were not achieved. 2024-25 stretch aims data for the senior phase indicators will be available in February 2026.
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26 Dundee Baseline data - local authority stretch aim: In 2024-25, the annual trajectory targets for achievement of 1 or more award at SCQF Level 5 by all pupils and those living in SIMD quintile 1 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure increased. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory targets for achievement of 1 or more award at SCFQ Level 6 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure decreased. In 2024-25 the annual trajectory targets for achievement of literacy in P1,4,7 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure decreased. In 2024-25 the annual trajectory targets for achievement of numeracy in P1,4,7 were, mostly, not achieved. The exception was the poverty related attainment gap for this measure which decreased and met its annual trajectory target. In 2024-25 attendance improved but did not achieve its annual trajectory target. The poverty related attainment gap decreased. The poverty related attainment gap met its annual trajectory target in primary schools. The gap between Care experienced children and young people looked after at home, and other pupils also met its annual trajectory target. In 2024-25 overall participation by 16-19 yr olds improved but did not achieve it annual trajectory target. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure increased. Perth & Kinross In 2023-24, the annual trajectory targets for achievement of 1 or more award at SCQF Level 5 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure decreased and the stretch aim was exceeded. In 2023-24, the annual trajectory targets for achievement of 1 or more award at SCFQ Level 6 were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure decreased and the stretch aim was exceeded. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory target for the achievement of literacy in P1,4,7 combined was achieved. The poverty related attainment gap for this measure increased and the stretch aim was not achieved. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory target for the achievement of numeracy in P1,4,7 combined for was achieved. The poverty related attainment gap decreased, but the stretch aim was not achieved. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory target for primary school attendance was not met. The target for the primary school attendance gap was not achieved. Both were 1% adrift from stretch aims. In 2024-25, the annual trajectory target for secondary school attendance was not met. The target for the secondary school attendance gap was also not achieved.
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27 In 2024-25, the annual trajectory targets for the annual participation measure were not achieved. The poverty related attainment gap decreased but the stretch aim was not achieved. 2024-25 stretch aims data for the senior phase indicators will be available in February 2026.
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28 TAYPLAN-2326-003 Our children and young people will enjoy good physical and mental health. We will ensure full implementation of the Child Healthy Weight Tayside Strategy. Progress Updates (i)Increased proportion of children with a healthy weight Baseline data: Percentage of primary 1 children classified as being of a healthy weight. 2021-22 – Angus Council 70.9%; Dundee 72.0%; Perth & Kinross 73.4%; Tayside 72.1% 2022-23 – Angus Council, 76.8%; Dundee 74.6%; Perth & Kinross 79.4%; Tayside 76.8% 2023-24 - Angus Council 71.7%; Dundee 74.3%; Perth & Kinross 75.6%; Tayside 74.0% 2024-25 data will be published in December 2025 (ii) Reduced inequality in healthy weight between children living in the most and least deprived areas in Tayside. Baseline data: gap between children living in SIMD 1 and children living in SIMD 5 2021-22: Angus 28.0pp; Dundee 8.7pp; Perth and Kinross 2.0pp; Tayside 10.3pp 2022-23: Angus 10.8pp; Dundee 10.7pp; Perth and Kinross -1.1pp; Tayside 9.2pp 2023-24: Angus 7.2pp; Dundee 1.5pp; Perth and Kinross 8.5pp; Tayside 4.1pp 2024-25 data will be published in December 2025 Work has continued over the last 12 months to help realise the five ambitions and associated calls to action of the Child Healthy Weight Strategy. This has included: In alignment with Ambition 2 ‘Children have the best start in life’ of the Child Healthy Weight Strategy, NHS Tayside Public Health Directorate have developed and launched a Tayside Infant Food Insecurity Pathway that aims to provide a supportive resource to ensure parents and carers can access timely, sustainable support if they face food insecurity for their infant. The pathway upholds the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which affirms every child’s right to the best possible health (Article 24) and an adequate standard of living (Article 27).
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29 The NHS Tayside Nutrition and Dietetics Community Food and Health Team’s ‘Community Cooking Padlet’ has been created to support community cooking groups through the provision of cooking skills information and resources. This has been accessed more than 500 times since its launch. Angus Continued activity in Angus with a whole systems approach to addressing child poverty and health inequalities in infants, children and young people. This remains embedded within the Best Start Bright Futures Group and seeks to support a co-ordinated approach to action planning and strategic alignment with a focus on child poverty and related health inequalities including healthy weight. Nine multi agency colleagues in Angus have been supported to complete a systems practice training course, the aim for this is to build capacity for whole system working in Angus by developing a clearer understanding of how systems thinking and systems tools can be used to address many of the complex and shared issues we all grapple with and to help embed systems thinking as the prevailing approach in addressing public health issues. Dundee In Local Authority Early Years Settings, a Food and Nutrition Policy developed by a short life working group, is now in place and has been implemented from August 2025. A partnership between the Soil Association, NHS Tayside and the Council was established to support schools to implement a whole setting approach to Food and Health. Five schools obtained funding and a Food and Health Padlet resource for schools and early years settings was developed to support delivery of the food and health curriculum. This includes guidance on the updated ‘Setting the Table Guidance. Nutritional Standards and Practical Guidance for Early Learning and Childcare Providers in Scotland’. A short life working group has now been established to develop a Food & Nurture policy for children and young people in Primary and Secondary school settings, building on the work in Early Years.
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30 Perth & Kinross The Best Foot Forward Programme is delivered across Tayside in schools and communities in partnership with local sports groups, clubs and services. The most recent cohort of programmes delivered in Perth & Kinross has been supported by P&K Active Schools, Live Active Football and Cricket development team and Sustrans Scotland.
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31 Our children and young people will enjoy good physical and mental health. We will work collectively to support uptake of immunisation for children across Tayside. Progress Updates (i) Increased proportion of children receiving immunisations. Baseline data: percentage of children receiving immunisations (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) 2022-23 Angus 91.4%; Dundee 89.7%; Perth and Kinross 92.6%. 2023-24 Angus 93.2%, Dundee 88.0%; Perth and Kinross 92.5% 2024-25 Angus 93.2%, Dundee 89.1%, Perth and Kinross 91.7% NHS Tayside Immunisation Steering Group continues, with contribution from the NHS Tayside Childhood (CH) immunisation Leadership Group. The CH Immunisation Leadership Group has now been embedded in practice and meets regularly to provide operational and leadership direction to the CH Immunisation service. It continues to focus on the optimisation of the childhood immunisation service to ultimately improve immunisation uptake. Partner colleagues are invited to attend to discuss issues or feedback as information and planning is required. Activity continues to ensure systems and processes are in place to support the schedule changes expected in 2025-2026 which includes the roll out of Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV). A number of working groups have been established to focus on: Schedule changes: Improving update: Accessibility including translation and interpretation support. The working group for improving immunisation uptake has been established. The group will establish and works in collaboration with Public Health, Childhood Immunisation Team and Education colleagues. The CH Immunisation team continue to work closely with Health visitors, FNP and school nurses to encourage the promotion of immunisations at each contact with families. Challenges for the Childhood Immunisation service remain around access to suitable accommodation in community care settings, clinic space, secure fridges and storage. The introduction of the new Child Health System, due to go live in mid-October 2025, is also presenting some challenge around transition of systems. There are various implementation groups in place both locally and nationally to take this forward.
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32 Our children and young people will enjoy good physical and mental health. We will implement the Tayside Action Plan to reduce suicide in children and young people Progress Updates (i) Reduced number of children and young people completing suicide. Baseline data: number of young people under the age of 20 completing suicide 2017-2021: 12 (of which, 6 were under the age of 18) 2019-2023: 8 (of which, 6 were under the age of 18) Note: The numbers are small so no interpretation can be placed on these figures. (ii) Increased number of staff trained in suicide intervention. Across Tayside there has been a co-ordinated approach to increasing provision of suicide prevention training in professionals and members of the public. This is co-ordinated in each Local Authority area by the Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator with additional training support provided from NHS Tayside Public Health and the third sector. There has been specific work undertaken to develop appropriate training for those working with children and young people and training delivered to staff working in this area. (iii) Increased satisfaction with information sharing from child death/suicide review An information sharing pathway between Child and Adolescent Mental Health services and the Named Person has been in place for over a year. This is used to alert the Named Person when there has been a crisis presentation to CAMHS within 1 working day. The system has continued to improve based on ongoing evaluation that has highlighted operational issues. It is valued by all in terms of improved partnership working and risk management. Named Person staff greatly value the new protocol as it makes such a difference to them feeling valued, safer in their practice knowing the risk is being shared and managed as part of a professional multi agency response.
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33 Our children and young people will enjoy good physical and mental health. We will continue implementation of ‘Connected Tayside; an emotional health & wellbeing strategy for children & young people’ (2021-23) Progress Updates (i) Tayside mental health pathways are fully implemented, and supports are accessible. Neurodevelopmental Update: A Tayside Neurodevelopmental (ND) Pathway Improvement Programme is being established to strengthen multi-agency collaboration across health, education, and social care partners, as well as the third/voluntary sector, ensuring clear accountability and shared decision-making. The aim is to ensure that all key partners are fully engaged and share ownership in developing a new Neurodevelopmental (ND) pathway for children and young people across Tayside. GAP Analysis - ND Needs Assessment Plan The needs assessment and mapping of services and supports across the three local authorities and within NHS Tayside is now nearly complete. A report will be collated over September that will help outline the opportunities and gaps that currently exist within services. The aim is to better understand how to meet the needs of the ND population across Tayside. We continue to gather insights from Scottish Government funded tests of change in other health boards to inform positive learning and also opportunities for improvement in developing a future ND pathway in Tayside. This will help ensure that the pathway is both needs-led and appropriate, while also being sustainable. Review of current CAMHS ND Waiting List Learning from review of the current ND waiting list has highlighted the need to redesign the pre-assessment pathway in collaboration with multi-agency partners so children are directed to the most appropriate services from the outset.
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34 (ii) The Health and Wellbeing survey will show an increase in pupils who say they feel positive about the future Baseline data: The percentage of pupils who agreed or strongly agreed that the feel positive about their future. 2021-22: Angus, 70.2%; Dundee 74.6% and Perth & Kinross 71.9% The Health and Wellbeing Census took place in 2022. 16 local authorities participated, including Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross. Data was published as ‘experimental’ in May 2023. In June 2025, the Scottish Government published a Background Report reflecting on the development of the census and lessons learned. No future date has been communicated for this census to be rerun.
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35 TAYPLAN-2326-004 Our children and young people will have their rights protected and their voices heard We will support the multi-agency workforce to promote rights, choice and control for children and young people on how their views are heard and represented and how they are involved in decisions that affect them. Progress Updates Baseline data: number of Tayside schools with Rights Respecting Schools accreditation As at 23 October 2025: 10 registered; 70 Bronze; 64 Silver; 25 Gold; Reaccreditation 5 (i) Children and young people will have access to independent advocacy, informal advocacy, and digital tools to support participation. Angus Over the course of the year, Angus successfully met its target to increase advocacy provision by 10%, with advocacy partners reporting an average of 70 young people receiving support—up from 50 the previous year. In total, there were 78 new individual referrals and 29 referrals for family advocacy. It’s important to note that these figures exclude referrals directed by the Children’s Hearing system, meaning the actual number of young people supported is even higher. The recent inspection highlighted Angus’s strong partnership approach to independent advocacy, praising the seamless pathways that enable children to maintain consistent advocacy relationships as they navigate multiple agencies and processes. However, challenges remain. There has been a noticeable rise in referrals related to education, and Who Cares has reported ongoing difficulties for children placed out of area in maintaining relationships with separated family members. Looking ahead to 2025–2026, Angus will align its advocacy work with the proposed Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, currently under consultation. The focus will be on ensuring that every child involved in child protection or the care system—regardless of age or ability—has their voice heard and access to an independent advocate. Plans are in place to increase advocacy engagement by a further 10% and to review current
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36 funding arrangements to enhance system capacity. Angus will also continue to share its multi-agency model nationally as an example of best practice. Dundee In Dundee, children and young people are increasingly having their voices heard in more systematic and meaningful ways. For younger children, the New Beginnings Team has been trained in using a Mental Health Observational Indicator Set to make observations of children with their main care giver and inform support. To help drive measurable improvements, the service has started to gather quality assurance data on the proportion of 0-5’s who either attend or, more frequently, have their views represented at key decision-making meetings. The first audit completed in June 2025 established a 50% baseline for this age group compared with 65% overall and this informs an action plan, which includes the development of resources to enable their views to be heard. For older children, Mind of My Own (MOMO) forms one of several ways of obtaining children and young people’s views to inform support. It provides an alternative option to 1:1 methods and Champions Boards have commented positively this year on its use. Where they need additional support to be heard, a Who Cares? advocacy service engaged with 83 children and young people. It retains a strong presence in all Children’s Houses and advocated for 11 young people in external Foster Care and residential care. The audit of views provided at key meetings showed that 81% of children over 6 years attended or had their views represented. The WFWF also contributes towards the delivery and evaluation of What Matters to You, which the Council continues to coordinate with the Hunter Foundation, BBC Children in Need and local communities. Increasingly, the approach involves the use of Cafe Conversations to pro-actively listen and respond to the needs of local communities, including how they might lead or contribute towards developments. Communities play a central role in the allocation of a Make it Happen Fund to enhance support. Perth & Kinross Through attendance at the local School Champions Boards (a group for CE Young people during school time) the Children’s Rights Officer has engaged with and built relationships with young people across Perth and Kinross. Through engagement with Local Youth Forums and council wide participation events Perth and Kinross now has a Youth Strategy which was adopted by the Learning Families Committee in October 2024. An operational governance
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37 group attended by a variety of partners will ensure that the voice and participation of young people remains paramount throughout its delivery. Rights respecting ambassadors sees peer and collective advocacy empowering children and young people to participate actively, understanding their rights and responsibilities. (ii) Attending child's planning meetings will be supported and the environment will be inclusive. Angus Data showed that 51% of children and young people had their voices heard within their meetings. It also highlighted that 44% did not attend their meetings preferring to share their views other ways. There is currently a degree of flexibility, but it is unclear if we are getting it right for young people. From 1 April 2024, Angus began formally reporting on child and young person participation in child planning meetings, with a total of 551 meetings recorded over the year. Data showed that 51% of children and young people had their voices heard within their meetings. It also highlighted that 44% did not attend their meetings preferring to share their views other ways. This marked a significant step forward in capturing participation data and understanding how children engage in decisions that affect their lives. To support children in attending planning meetings and ensure the environment is inclusive, Angus practitioners use the PREpare model, which helps children understand the purpose of the meeting, what will be discussed, and how their views will be represented. This approach encourages children to feel more confident and informed before participating. Inclusive environments are created by offering flexible formats for engagement, such as informal settings, visual aids, and opportunities for children to contribute in ways that suit their communication style—whether verbal, written, or creative. These efforts aim to make participation meaningful and ensure every child feels safe, respected, and heard. However, several challenges emerged. Staffing changes impacted consistency and capacity, and there remained uncertainty about the effectiveness of current engagement methods. Practitioners highlighted the need for better tools
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38 and training to interpret non-verbal cues and alternative forms of communication, as well as the importance of adapting approaches to suit individual preferences. Despite these challenges, meaningful progress was made. New tools were developed, and participation data began to inform practice more directly. Looking ahead to 2025–2026, the focus will be on improving engagement strategies tailored to individual children, enhancing staff training to recognise both verbal and non-verbal expressions, and listening closely to feedback from children and professionals to refine approaches. To reflect this evolving focus, the improvement aim will be updated to: “We will improve the quality of data recorded in respect of participation and develop our participation strategy.” This will help ensure that children and young people are not only given opportunities to participate but also feel genuinely heard in the decisions that shape their lives. Dundee Out of 2,452 Team Around the Child Meetings during academic year 2024-25, 1,381 (56.3%) had child’s views recorded. Perth & Kinross Perth and Kinross use several different environments to ensure that meetings take place in child/youth friendly premises. This variety ensures the participants active participation making them valued and heard. Our CASA and TCAC Young people’s reviews take place within our Youth base increasing a welcoming and age-appropriate venue.
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39 (iii) Children with additional needs will share their views and be involved in decisions. Angus A variety of approaches are used in Angus to gather learner voice. In line with our GIRFEC approach, the wellbeing web is used to capture children and young people’s views using the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators. The wellbeing web includes a symbolised version for learners who require visual support. For learners who are non-speaking or who have communication difficulties a range of supports are available including photographic, Boardmaker visuals, Makaton, and Talking Mats. Capturing pupil voice is also done through the use of sensory stories and face-to-face and online surveys. Interpreters and online translators are used for children and young people who have English as an additional language and BSL for children and young people who are deaf. Over session 2024/25, 4 sessions of multiagency training on the GIRFEC refresh have included advice for professionals delivering the Named Person role on how to use a variety of methods, including the Wellbeing Web, to capture the voices of children and young people with a range of needs to support them in co-creating Child Plans. These sessions also offered advice on how to support the meaningful inclusion and participation of children and young people in meetings. Parents and carers are offered support to engage with third sector organisations who may provide advocacy services for children with ASN through our Connecting Parents Angus portal. Dundee Children with additional needs are supported to share their views and participate. Translators are used for children where English is not their first language.
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40 Perth & Kinross Staff within Children, Young people, families and justice are trained in the use of Talking Mats, Boardmaker and Makaton to capture the thoughts and feelings of young people with communication difficulties. This tool allows young people to visually organise their responses to a variety of topics. The tool can be used both physically and digitally, making it versatile in capturing the views of young people for different settings. For those who are profoundly disabled and unable to engage with these tools we make use of observations and speak to a wide range of people who are close to the young person such as teachers, parents and personal assistants. The Children’s Rights Officer continues to engage with both statutory agencies and third sector groups who support those young people with disabilities ensuring the voice of young people is included in their developments and evaluations of their services. Special attention to children with additional needs will ensure their views are heard and considered in decision-making. “Using non-instructed advocacy, where a person is unable to give clear indication of their views or wishes in a specific situation. The non-instructed advocate seeks to uphold the person’s rights; ensuing fair and equal treatment and access to services; and make certain that decisions are taken with due consideration for their unique preferences and perspectives.” (SIAA Guidelines, 2009) Where English is not a young person first language translators are used to capture their views and explain their rights. Perth and Kinross continue to work in partnership with Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross to support young people within a variety of meetings to ensure that their voice and feelings are taken into consideration when any outcomes are agreed.
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41 (iv) Views are well represented at child's planning meetings Angus The update for this outcome is detailed above in “(ii) Attending child's planning meetings will be supported and the environment will be inclusive.” Dundee As above Perth & Kinross With the introduction of Mosaic, PKC has implemented Pathway Assessments and plans which shall be completed for compulsorily supported young people within Throughcare and Aftercare. These assessments and plans have the young person’s views at the forefront, concentrating on areas such as accommodation, health and wellbeing, relationships, personal support, education/employment and financial management. Our reviewing officers and fieldworkers ensure that preparation for planning meetings is as important as the participation within them. Children/Young people are well supported to have their voice heard and their views considered. If a child/young person does not want to attend their meeting, consideration is given to how to obtain and represent their views, such as by letter or email. Strategies are implemented to make the meetings child friendly and language appropriate.
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42 (v) Children's hearing decisions are fully informed by the views of children and young people Angus The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) continues to advance its commitment to children's rights and participation, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). A series of developments are being implemented to ensure that children’s voices are central to decision-making throughout the Hearing process. SCRA now seeks the views of children prior to a Hearing being convened. This ensures that every decision made by a Reporter is informed by the child’s perspective. Children who are deemed capable are invited to share their views in any format they choose, including written, verbal, visual, or digital methods. Where appropriate, face-to- face meetings may be arranged to support this process. Children’s views continue to be recorded in social work Hearing reports. Panel Members have a procedural obligation to verify the accuracy of these views during Hearings. The growing presence of Independent Advocates has significantly enhanced the ability of children to express their views confidently and independently. SCRA works in partnership with social work teams and other professionals to deliver this. Developments planned for 2025-26 onwards include the roll-out of Child Friendly Scheduling and a training programme to enable all SCRA staff to engage effectively with children and young people from the outset. Dundee As above with Angus and SCRA. Perth & Kinross A variety of methods are used to gather the view of young people throughout their Hearing Journey. This is broken down to the 3 stages of a Hearing - Pre- Hearing they have the “Hearing about me form,” the offer of an advocate from Perth and Kinross Independent Advocacy, Chair greeting the Child and pre-Hearing visits. The Hearing endeavours to use language that families and young people understand and have Hearing centres that are more child friendly with age-appropriate equipment. Post Hearing- the Hearing outcome letter has a QR code asking for feedback from young people.
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43 (vi) Staff will have access to training on UNCRC, The promise, engagement and feel confident in supporting young people. Angus In response to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, Angus Council has made e-Learning available to support employee knowledge of this area. ‘How we protect children’s rights with the UN convention on the rights of the child’ has been made available on Always Learning. This e-Learning is mandatory for all employees to complete. UNCRC is included in Angus Council’s Equality Impact Assessment process. Advocacy services have been embedded into practice to ensure all young people have access to this service, with training opportunities being made available to staff. Advocacy has been a focus of input within the Children Families & Justice practitioner development forum and all children now attending children’s hearings in Angus are afforded the opportunity to have an independent advocate. Training has been provided to staff and organisations that fall within the remit and responsibilities of being corporate parents. This training has been embedded into our online learning system in Angus Council. The training explains and helps promote understanding of our duties and responsibilities as corporate parents. Training now includes UNCRC which staff are required to undertake and is included as part of induction for new staff joining the council. Work is underway to ensure that Angus Council has a system in place which is child friendly, accessible to anyone under 18 years of age enabling them to raise a complaint in the same way as adults do respecting Article 12, Right to be heard. Youth engagement guidance has been developed by our Vibrant Communities team in partnership with young people. Dundee
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44 A UNCRC self-evaluation and improvement plan is currently being developed and will be finalised in the autumn of 2025. The plan will then form a key part of the next Children’s Services Plan 2026-29. The self-evaluation highlights existing good practice in relation, for instance, to: 1. Children’s rights considered as part of Integrated Impact Assessments 2. Child Protection training including reference to UNCRS 3. School Improvement Plans including reference to UNCRC 4. Our Promise 2023-26 including a clear focus on Voice 5. Listening mechanisms such as What Matters to You, MOMO, Planet Youth and Youth Leadership 6. Infant Pledge 7. Implementation of Child Friendly Complaints Procedure 8. All schools registered for the Rights Respecting Schools Accreditation Programme In addition, Dundee work in partnership with UNICEF to support the Rights Respecting Schools programme and there are two staff currently undertaking training to become accreditors of this programme. There is an action plan for this work and all schools are registered for the programme with a target of all having the Bronze award by the end of this academic session. A number of schools already have the Silver award and some have achieved Gold. The Citywide Pupil Voice group are also integral to ensuring the young person’s voice is considered in developing policy and practice in line with the UNCRC and the Promise. Perth & Kinross A variety of training inputs have taken place covering the Promise and UNCRC. The Children’s Rights officer has presented to the Professional Development Award for Youthwork (6-month course for trainee youth workers from partner agencies); team development days for Services for Young People and Justice fieldworkers; full service inputs; and child protection inter- agency input. Digital development through the P&K Essential Learning Modules has seen the introduction of the Corporate Parenting e-module. Development is underway with a scheduled launch of July 2025 of the UNCRC Essential Module for P&K employees.
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45 To further promote the UNCRC our Children’s Rights Officer has developed and promoted an online learning module for council staff, partners and young people.
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46 Our children and young people will have their rights protected and their voices heard We will promote and protect relationships that are important to children and young people when children are separated from their families and it is safe to do so. Progress Updates (i) When children are separated from people who are important to them, there are clear plans to maintain and promote safe family time. (National dataset for siblings will be implemented and monitored) Angus Angus has made progress in implementing the National Definition of Brothers and Sisters, embedding practices that support siblings to remain together or maintain meaningful relationships. This includes recognising and planning for non- biological sibling-type relationships formed in care settings, reflecting a broader understanding of sibling bonds beyond biological ties. Practice now aligns with national guidance and promotes continuity of relationships even after placement changes. Despite these improvements, supporting non-related sibling relationships presents challenges, particularly in tailoring care arrangements to meet individual needs. To strengthen this area in 2025–26, Angus will formalise guidance on supporting non-biological sibling relationships, monitor outcomes for children affected by sibling separation or placement changes, and continue staff development to embed the national definition into assessments and planning. In parallel, Angus has also progressed in implementing National Data Reporting Requirements. As of May 2025, 44.6% of looked-after children with looked-after siblings were living with at least one sibling. Data is now regularly collated and reported to TRIC, and fostering criteria have been reviewed to reduce barriers and increase local capacity to support sibling groups.
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47 However, sibling separation remains a concern for a significant proportion of children, and data tracking on sibling placements and changes due to LAC status requires refinement. For 2025–26, Angus will enhance data systems to better track sibling placements over time, monitor the impact of revised fostering criteria, and develop targeted recruitment of foster carers who can accommodate sibling groups locally. These efforts aim to ensure that sibling relationships are protected and prioritised throughout the care journey. Angus supports children to have good quality time with parents and siblings they cannot live with by ensuring that contact is thoughtfully planned and tailored to each child’s needs. This includes using technology such as video calls and messaging platforms to maintain regular and meaningful connections, especially when in-person contact is not possible due to distance or placement arrangements. These interactions are designed to be child-centred, with flexibility around timing, format, and content to ensure they feel safe and supported. We have spent time and resources enhancing our spaces for children and their families. We have a dedicated building due to be completed in 2025 for this purpose. Oversight of these arrangements is maintained through child’s planning meetings, where practitioners review the effectiveness of contact and make adjustments based on the child’s feedback and wellbeing. Dundee In 2024/25 we implemented a Staying Connected procedure. We held training and development sessions for staff to ensure this was embedded. When children are separated from their families, we seek care arrangements where siblings can be together if possible and safe. Assessments are undertaken for all children who are Looked After and include the need to promote and protect relationships that are important to them. Plans are put in place to ensure this and reviewed at scheduled meetings. The Family Time Procedure was also reviewed and refreshed during this period. Our data shows for 2023-24: Overall - 47.2% of children live with at least one sibling At home with parents – 80% Kinship Care – 55% Foster Care – 31.3% Children’s Houses – 11% External residential care – 0%
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48 This is a key reason why the service prioritises local family-based care, where children are more likely to live with or near their brothers/sisters. It also reinforces the importance of building local Foster Care capacity so they can be together or remain close. Some children and young people with more complex needs are cared for in care external residential settings, where it is not appropriate and/or possible for their brother or sister to stay. In these circumstances, regular contact is supported It should also be noted that ‘having a sibling’ includes half-siblings living with the other birth parent and adult brothers and sisters, where it is often not appropriate and/or possible for a care experienced child to stay. For CSO home and kinship care, there was an increase of children living together, involving slightly more reunifications than separations. Conversely, foster and residential placements more frequently led to siblings being separated. In this context, when children or young people require alternative care, teams identify and assess potential Kinship Carers. The service has an established Kinship Care Team and a range of supports have been developed, including 2 Clinical Psychologists funded by Corra to help promote attachments, capacity and resilience within families. Perth & Kinross The CREST team along with the support of social work colleagues and speech and language specialists have developed a Connections Toolkit which they are now piloting and developing. The toolkit will support the work of CREST, but also the service as a whole, to support children and young people who are separated from their families to stay connected with those that are important to them, where it is safe to do so, including brother and sisters who are not able to live together. The toolkit supports children and young people to map out important relationships, led by the child, ensuring they are listened to and their rights are being upheld. The process supports professionals to create a connections plan, helping to maintain these important relationships where safe to do so. It supports engagement with children and young people, understanding their world, the value of their relationships, and how they change over time. It also supports children, young people, and their families to utilise resources within their identified network, where safe to do so, in the hope of saving on resources, and having ongoing support and connections post social work intervention.
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49 We know that grandparents, other family members, and important people within the child or young person’s community can play a significant part in offering ongoing love and support. Review Team: The role of the Review Officer is central to ensuring that when children and young people are separated from their loved and important family members, that, where it is safe do so, their relationships are maintained, promoted and supported. At the review meeting which takes place within 6 weeks of a child becoming ‘looked after’ either at home or away from home, the Review Officer will ensure that a Connections Plan/Toolkit has been undertaken, or is scheduled to be completed. Review Officers record data on all children and young people who cannot stay with their primary care givers and who become looked after away from home either in kinship, foster or residential care. We aim to map and record the reasons why a child may be separated from their brothers and sisters and what endeavours are being made to ensure that they can live together, where it is assessed that this is safe and in their best interests, and if not, ensure that their relationships with their brothers and sisters is prioritised and promoted. We are also recording information about children and young people who have initially been living together in foster care or kinship care and who have to move for any reason, or if one of the children has had to move. Emphasis is placed on brothers and sisters living together and where this is not possible ensuring that they are closely connected to one another and their wider family network. For some children and young people it is not only important to consider their relationships with their own brothers and sisters, but also those children who they have grown up with in foster care. We refer to these relationships as “sibling-like relationships”. The Review Officer will also highlight this within the review forum. At review there is discussion about the responsibilities of the Foster Carers, Residential Workers, Social Worker and family members to ensure that the child’s connection with their family is prioritised. A Family Time agreement may be used. Family Based Care and Adoption Teams:
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50 When the decision has been made that children or young people can no longer live at home with their parents, kinship options will be assessed as a first option to maintain important family and friends links where safe. If there is a need to be accommodated with foster carers, we will always try to place brothers and sisters together where it is safe to do so. Where brothers and sisters cannot be placed together due to risk assessments, or resources, then kinship carers and foster carers will be supported to promote and enable safe family time and sibling contact (either formally or informally). If children are placed for adoption, we have discussions with the adopters as early as possible about their willingness to consider any future siblings being placed with them at a later date. Where this is not an option, we ensure adopters are aware of the understanding that sibling contact may be something they need to consider in the future. We are currently in the early process of developing a private outdoor space that can be used for sibling contact when brothers and sisters have been unable to live together. This will be somewhere that will accommodate all ages of siblings in a safe and fun environment. The development of this space is in consultation with foster carers, kinship carers, workers and young people. TAYPLAN-2326-005
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51 Our children and young people will be safe and feel loved We will ensure appropriate housing options are in place for vulnerable families including pregnant women and families with children Progress Updates (i) Children and families are secure in good quality accommodation that meets their needs. (ii) Reduction in the number of children growing up in temporary accommodation. Baseline data: households including children or pregnant women in temporary accommodation Published September 2022: 100 households with a total of 245 children Published September 2023: 115 households with a total of 255 children Published September 2024: 90 households with a total of 190 children. 2024-25 Mid-year update as at 30.09.24: 105 households with a total of 245 children. Full year data will be published in February 2026. Angus Many care leavers face independence alone and feel isolated as many lack a ‘safety net’ of family and friends. A trauma informed approach is therefore essential when supporting care leavers, with relationships at the heart of good practice. In Angus, a person-centred decision making with support approach is taken to ensure the most appropriate accommodations options are made available to our care leavers. This is to increase the likelihood of the young person sustaining the accommodation in the longer term. Housing and the Horizon team (TCAC) worked in partnership to develop a join housing protocol in 2013 to support their corporate parenting responsibilities by jointly addressing the diverse accommodation and support needs of care leavers and other young people engaged with the Horizon team. The joint housing protocol recognises that living independently does not always work out for some individuals, services need to be more responsive to individual need with a return to care being an option where appropriate. This year the Housing protocol was reviewed and updated. Since the protocol was introduced the number of care experienced young people (looked after less than 5 years ago) applying as homeless has reduced by 62%. The joint protocol ensures services work together to be responsive to the individual needs of young people.
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52 Dundee In Dundee, there were 25 households with pregnant women or dependent children in temporary accommodation at 31 December 2024 compared to 105 on 31 December 2023. There were 227 children contained within these households in 2024 compared to 245 in 2023 (7% decrease). All temporary accommodation for families in Dundee is provided in the form of network flats. These are our mainstream Council properties that are used as temporary accommodation for families. There are no families staying in shared accommodation or hostel type accommodation. In total 852 cases have secured permanent accommodation as an outcome during the first 3 quarters of 2024/2025. This is an increase of 325 cases or 62% compared to the same period in 2023/2024. The percentage of cases securing permanent accommodation is 81% compared to 73% in 2023/2024. Overall, good progress is being made in this area however we acknowledge that homelessness pressures across the country is presenting challenges and as a result B&B use continues. Where possible, we will always look to accommodate families in a network flat. The Council has also stipulated that no 16–17-year-olds will be placed in homeless accommodation when presenting to homelessness services. They will be prioritised for tenancies and/or referred to the Multi Agency Screening Hub to coordinate support. Perth and Kinross
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53 In Perth and Kinross our ‘Home First’ approach has resulted in the lowest prevalence of people requiring temporary accommodation in Scotland in the last 5 years (by population). There has been particular success in enabling families with children to directly access secure tenancies, avoiding the need for temporary accommodation. When this is not possible, a furnished temporary flat in the community is provided on the basis that this could subsequently be transferred to a secure tenancy. There is a strong partnership with Perthshire Women’s Aid who provide refuge accommodation using properties leased from the Council which again can be transferred to a secure tenancy if appropriate. A Common Housing Register provides a single route into approximately 97% of social-rented accommodation in Perth and Kinross provided by the Council and 3 Housing Association partners. The Common Housing Register is underpinned by a Common Allocations Policy, reviewed in early 2025. This includes a Strategic Need pathway, enabling the prioritisation of care experienced young people and families with children in certain circumstances. Our children and young people will be safe and feel loved We will further develop approaches to identifying, responding, and managing risk to young people aged 12–18 This will include:
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54 • Young people at risk of secure care • Young people subject to Care and Risk Management (CARM) planning. • Young people who go missing Progress Updates (i) Young people in our settings feel informed that their rights have been respected. Angus In October 2024, Angus launched a new website designed to be accessible and engaging for children, young people, and families. The content was tailored to a 12-year-old reading age and shaped by direct feedback from children and young people, who requested simpler language, more colour, and interactive video content. To promote the site, QR code posters and cards were distributed across Angus and Dundee, helping to drive traffic. Between January and March 2025, the site recorded 624 visits and 1,362 page views for children and families, and 162 visits with 513 page views for justice-related content. The website has received positive feedback from young people, particularly around its accessibility and relevance. A multi-agency promotion and feedback loop has been established, allowing for ongoing updates based on user input. The platform plays a key role in helping children understand their rights by presenting information in a child-centred format and offering clear pathways to support. However, sustaining engagement and keeping content current remain ongoing challenges, alongside the need for clearer access to support and complaints processes. Looking ahead to 2025–26, the focus will be on broadening promotion, monitoring usage, and enhancing the site’s functionality. This includes adding a child-friendly complaints procedure, developing a dedicated Support Services page, and continuing quarterly IT reviews and feedback collection. These improvements will ensure the website remains a trusted and informative resource that empowers children and young people to understand and exercise their rights. Dundee Please see the updates above and below on vulnerable adolescents.
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55 Perth & Kinross Young People’s right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and to have their voices heard is promoted in daily practice by practitioners in Perth and Kinross. Meetings such as Looked After Reviews and Child Protection Planning Meetings can be adjusted as required to make it comfortable for the young person to participate. We work closely with Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross (IAPK) to ensure that young people have access to an Independent Advocate as needed. Microsoft Teams is utilised to give young people the option of being able to participate in their meetings online. Within our REACH team, a dedicated Speech and Language Therapist has been available to undertake speech and language assessments of young people in order to better understand their communication needs and promote inclusive communication for these young people. This has enabled appropriate adjustments to be made in how we communicate and share information with these young people, thereby upholding their right to participate and have their views heard. Independent Advocacy is offered to young people within the children’s hearing system to ensure that their right to participate and have their views heard within hearings is respected. The Perth and Kinross Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnership (CHIP) was established in November 2024 and consists of representatives from Social Work, IAPK, SCRA and Children’s Hearings Scotland. A key improvement priority for the partnership is improving children’s participation in the hearing system. Since December 2023, young people have not only had access to Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross, but also to our Children’s Rights Officer. This is a full-time permanent post within Services for Young people. This role will work alongside IAPK at a more strategic level, ensuring that the voice of young people is – where appropriate - included within both strategic and operational guidance for Perth and Kinross. (ii) Young people at risk of harm have access to appropriate support and clear plans to address need and risk. Angus
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56 The Care and Risk Management (CARM) framework in Angus has played a pivotal role in supporting young people aged 12–17 who are at risk of harm to themselves or others. Recognising that these young people were often not represented in traditional child protection processes, the CARM project broadened its criteria to include those at risk of self-harm and focused on developing the capacity of the multi-agency workforce to respond in a trauma-informed and proportionate way. Through regular multi-agency training, reflective discussions, and the introduction of a practitioner forum, professionals have become more confident in identifying and managing risk-taking behaviours at an earlier stage. The project’s quality improvement approach, including the use of Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles and a tiered training framework, led to a 10% increase in the number of young people considered for CARM by April 2024. Notably, there has been a reduction in the number of young people entering secure care, indicating earlier and more effective intervention. The involvement of young people in designing resources, such as the CARM logo and information cards, and the development of accessible materials (including a short film), has further enhanced engagement and understanding for both young people and their families. Ongoing data collection and reflective practice have ensured that the approach remains responsive to emerging needs, while the focus on co-production with third sector partners aims to embed lived experience into future developments. Overall, CARM has fostered a more coordinated, rights-based, and relationship-focused response to supporting young people at risk in Angus, with clear evidence of improved workforce confidence and better outcomes for those involved. Dundee Please see update below. Perth & Kinross
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57 Young people at risk of harm in Perth and Kinross continue to have their needs supported through multi-agency Young Person’s Plan meetings. Statutory and third sector supports are identified to address risk and need for individual young people. Youth Services play a significant early intervention and prevention role by allocation of targeted youth work to young people who are at risk of harm in their communities. Our REACH team continues to provide intensive support to many young people who are at risk of harm and for whom family breakdown is a real possibility. The REACH team employs a range of supports and specialisms to address risk and need. These include START AV risk assessments and AIMS 3 assessments. All young people at risk of harm in Perth and Kinross who require to be joint interviewed under the IRD process are interviewed using the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM). This is a trauma-informed and child-centred model which takes account of the young person’s individual needs before, during and after the interview itself. This is consistent with the Bairns Hoose approach, which is being implemented in Perth and Kinross and across Tayside, which has been chosen as a Pathfinder area. As part of Bairns Hoose in Perth and Kinross, all young people who are considered under the IRD process have access to therapeutic support from Includem, Mindspace and Relationship Scotland. In late 2024, we implemented our Care and Risk Management (CARM) process. Young People whose behaviour has caused, or may cause, serious harm to themselves may be considered under CARM. CARM provides a framework for assessing and managing risk to the young person, as well as ensuring that supports are provided to meet the young person’s care and well-being needs. Initial planning takes place in a multi-agency CARM Referral Discussion, followed by an Initial CARM meeting if it is deemed that a more substantive care and risk management plan is required for the young person. Our Throughcare and Aftercare Team continues to offer support to care-experienced young people at risk of harm as they transition to independent living post-16. And our CASA Team (Children Alone Seeking Asylum) provide specialist help and support to young people who are unaccompanied Asylum Seekers, and who may have been victims of human trafficking. (iii) Secure care standards will be implemented with evidence of rights-based practice. Baseline data (CARM data set under development)
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58 Angus March - August 25 CARM Tiered Training Framework to be incorporated into the Assessment Strategy Dundee (i) Young people in our settings feel informed that their rights have been respected. (ii) Young people at risk of harm have access to appropriate support and clear plans to address risk need and risk. (iii) Secure care standards will be implemented with evidence of rights-based practice. The Vulnerable Adolescent Partnership has been reviewed and renewed its Terms of Reference and membership with a new Action Plan for 2025-2026. The strategic group has been rebranded as Dundee’s Young People’s Strategic Group with the aim of more positive framing and to capture the age group who are targeted through our approaches. The priorities for the group include establishing The Hub, a new multi-agency facility for young people to ensure more streamlined and specialist approaches for this age group and improve multi-agency practice pathways for 16-17 yr olds who are at risk and have the need for safeguarding in relation to harmful behaviours towards or from them. The group will be a formally constituted subgroup of the Protecting People Partnership with regular reporting into both the Children and Adults at Risk committees. The Hub is due to go live by early 2026 but partnership practice and approaches are already being developed in advance of this, including: Joint triage of SCRA referrals Interface between MASH and the Hub for new referrals Development of Contextual safeguarding approaches, including Missing Persons. Over the last 12 months, there has been 5 Secure Care admissions on either welfare or offending grounds via CSWO or Court decisions. The Care and Justice (Scotland) Act 2024 has increased the number placed in Secure Care as an alternative to a custodial remand and the service continues to work with the Sheriff Court to promote alternatives.
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59 The Hub will include Community Justice Service staff and a new Pre-Court Team is being established to provide a single locus for Bail Supervision and the provision of Court Reports for both young people and adults. The Secure Care Policy will be reviewed and updated by Autumn 2025. A case file audit focused specifically on support to vulnerable adolescents rated over 80% of cases as Good or better overall and work continues to support teams to make further improvements in the quality of assessments, plans and chronologies. For 2024/25, 3 young people were subject to CARM, all for sexual offending. They had and initial CARM meeting and a review CARM but no further reviews, noting that risk could be managed within the TATC process. All meetings were multi-agency, including attendance by Police Scotland, NHS, Social Work, Education and third sector. So far this year, there have been 7 young people subject to CARM process. Two are for violent offending and 5 are for sexual offending. Two had an initial meeting with no requirement for review and the other 5 had at least 1 review meeting. The CARM protocol is being reviewed in the context of an anticipated Scottish Government review. Other services provided in response to the specific needs of young people include Bairns Hoose and SCIM interviews; Includem; AFC Supported Accommodation; two bespoke DCC Supported Accommodation facilities; and Hillcrest Substance Use support. In 2025-26, the local partnership took a key decision to stipulate that all 16–17-year-olds needs to be viewed as young people and where there are concerns about risk of harm, supported in the context of Child Protection arrangements. In addition, no 16–17-year-old will access homeless accommodation. Perth & Kinross
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60 We have clear guidance on secure care in Perth and Kinross, which outlines the requirements we must follow in relation to seeking the views of the young person and their parents and keeping them informed of decisions. Secure authorisations are kept under regular review as per statutory requirements, and Looked After Reviews for young people in secure care are chaired by Service Managers rather than Review Officers. This helps to ensure that a young person’s liberty is not deprived for any longer than necessary and provides direct oversight of the plan by senior management. Our service’s visiting guidance asks practitioners to undertake placement visits to young people in secure care no less than every two weeks. The ensures that there are regular opportunities for the allocated worker to meet with the young person to check on their well-being, to seek their views, to keep them informed, and to remind them of their rights. Secure care is only used in Perth and Kinross when the secure criteria is met and all other options to keep a young person/others safe from the young person’s high-risk behaviours have been unsuccessful. Where secure care is required, planning immediately becomes focused on putting supports and plans in place to reduce risk in order that the young person can be removed from the secure setting at the earliest opportunity. Young People in secure care have access to the IAPK service and to our dedicated Children’s Rights Officer. Our children and young people will be safe and feel loved We will make progress toward the implementation of Bairns’ Hoose Principles Progress Updates (i) Provide trauma responsive supports and services to children and young people involved in child protection. The Tayside Bairns Hoose stakeholders continue to work towards implementation of the Bairns Hoose Standards. The Operational Delivery Group continues to meet to plan and monitor activity across the 3 LA’s, Police and NHS. Funding secured for 2025/2026 to continue to support the implementation of the Bairns Hoose, extended timeline of the pathfinder has been agreed up to March 2027.
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61 Improvement work will continue with the majority of the capital expenditure for physical improvement to the 3 sites across Tayside having been completed. In the last year: ‘Includem’ have been contracted to provide additional support to families impacted by Child Protection issues WRASAC have been contracted to provide specialist support for younger children who have been victims of sexual abuse. Speech and Language Therapists are now in place across Tayside following a successful test of change in Dundee. A range of health services delivered at the Corner in Dundee have now been expanded to include children and young people across Tayside. Our children and young people will be safe and feel loved We will introduce the Scottish Child Interview Model for children and young people. Progress Updates (i) Reduce the requirement for children and young people to attend court. Baseline data: to be established as part of the implementation programme. The Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) went live in Tayside in May 2024.
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62 The national SCIM Implementation Group continues to provide local support to practitioners and maintains oversight of progress and quality assurance. The Perth and Kinross Bairns Hoose site is now fully set up as a Category A site with all IT working well. The Dundee Bairns Hoose site is now fully set up, with Category A and Category B site capability. The Angus Bairns Hoose site was already set up as a Category A site; new cameras are to be installed in the next few months (financed from funds secured for 2025/2026). The target for the 1st year of SCIM was to conduct a minimum of 70% of child interviews under SCIM across Tayside. We are currently at 78%. The other 22% of interviews have been conducted using the previous 5-day model by the Investigation teams. From May 2024 to April 2025 SCIM interviewers have conducted 238 child interviews across Tayside. 86% resulted in disclosures and subsequent Police investigation. On average the interview takes place within 6 days of the initial referral discussion (IRD). Training and resilience across Tayside continues to be monitored to ensure we can protect and support children and young people who have been exposed to harm. We continue to operate a ‘soft border approach’ across the 3 LA areas to ensure we continue to be responsive to the needs of children across Tayside. Our children and young people will be safe and feel loved We will jointly commission the development of local learning review guidance for all Protecting People arrangements Progress Updates Angus and Dundee Local shared guidance between Angus and Dundee has been prepared and is in use, although has not been shared publicly. Angus have a learning review group established who have oversight of all learning review referrals. This reports to Protecting People Angus Strategic Committee.
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