Perth and Kinross Integrated Children's Services Plan 2026-2029
Perth and Kinross Council · 27 May 2026
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 27 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Learning and Families Committee Date of Meeting: 27 May 2026 Report Title: Perth and Kinross Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2026-2029 Report Number: 26/137 Report Author: Sharon Cooper, Service Manager, (FBSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk) Organisational Lead: Arun Singh, Strategic Lead – Children, Families and Justice ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides the Learning and Families Committee with the finalised version of the Perth and Kinross Integrated Children’s Services Plan (ICSP) 2026-2029. Progress reports have been provided to the Children, Young People and Families Partnership (CYPFP) meetings on 5 December 2025 and on 27 February 2026. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendations 3. Background/Main Issues 4. Conclusion 5. Impact Value Assessment 6. Appendices 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Committee: 2.1 Considers and comments upon the new Perth and Kinross ICSP 2026- 2029 (Appendix 1); 2.2 Acknowledges oversight of the Council’s contribution to ICSP 2026-2029; prior to its approval at the Children, Young People and Families Partnership on 12 June 2026; and
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2.3 Requests that the chair of the Children, Young People and Families Partnership bring back an annual update report to the Learning and Families Committee to report on the progress of actions. 3. Background/Main Issues 3.1 The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, requires that the local authority and relevant health board must, in respect of each three year period, prepare a children’s services plan; and that after the end of each one year period they must publish a report on the extent to which children’s services and related services have been provided in accordance with the plan. 3.2 The current Tayside Plan for Infants, Children, Young People and Families (Report No. 23/279 refers) came to an end on 31 March 2026. A performance update was provided to the Learning and Families Committee on 4 February 2026 (Report no. 26/34 refers). The final Tayside Plan update will be presented to the Learning and Families Committee on 16 September 2026 to conclude the Tayside Plan approach and align with the new local Perth and Kinross ICSP 2026–2029. 3.3 Governance of the progress towards the actions in the Tayside Plans for the last nine years has been via the Tayside Regional Improvement Collaborative (TRIC) partnership leadership group. The TRIC has now ended. 3.4 In November 2023, the Scottish Government announced that it would taper funding allocated to regional collaboratives by the 2024-2025 academic year. Therefore, when the TRIC leadership met on 12 June 2025, agreement was reached for each local authority to return to single ICSP; this agreement has now led to the development of separate localised plans focused on local needs in each local authority area, whilst also retaining some elements of cross Tayside partnership planning and delivery of services, particularly around areas in health. 3.5 A local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) was undertaken as part of the development of the Perth and Kinross ICSP 2026–2029. This assessment was shared with the CYPFP on 5 December 2025. The JSNA provided a shared understanding of current and growing local needs. It also helped identify gaps in the provision of supports and services for infants, children, young people and families in Perth and Kinross. Our ICSP incorporates is a culmination of the quantitative data from the JSNA, as well as the qualitative data gained from consultations with local families. 3.6 A range of engagement activities have been undertaken with children, young people and families, with a particular focus on Priority Group Families (as defined by the Scottish Government Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026 - 2031). Engagement has involved 7 focus groups and 25 individual interviews covering topics around the experience of services, family wellbeing, mental health and the impact of poverty. A range of overlapping themes have emerged particularly around the availability of mental health and wellbeing support, availability of affordable housing, the lack of childcare as a barrier to employment and the importance of early help that is holistic in nature being easily accessible has been identified as a key priority.
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3.7 The Perth and Kinross ICSP 2026–2029 is the first local plan based on local need in nine years, and it is an exciting opportunity to be able to target areas specific to Perth and Kinross rather than the previous regional approach. 3.8 The Perth and Kinross ICSP sets out four priorities for improvement over the next three years, which overlap in places. These are: • Physical and mental health and wellbeing (including healthy weight, childhood immunisation and mental health) - led by colleagues in the health sector, as part of the Tayside approach. • Supporting equity (including transitions, child development and neurodevelopmental support) - led by the Perth and Kinross Council Education and Learning service. • Keeping children and young people safe - addressing a range of child protection concerns - led by social work colleagues. • Family support - focusing on early intervention to provide timely help and prevent escalation - led by third sector partners. 4. Conclusion 4.1 The Perth and Kinross ICSP 2026–2029 has been developed to respond to the specific needs of infants, children, young people and families in Perth and Kinross, drawing on the evidence set out in the JSNA and the views gathered through consultation with local families and partners. 4.2 As the first locally focused plan in nine years, it provides a clear framework for joint working and prioritised action to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. The Perth and Kinross ICSP 2026–2029 also recognises where continued collaboration across Tayside, particularly with health partners, remains necessary to address shared challenges and service gaps. 5. Impact and Value Assessment 5.1 The Impact and Value Assessment (IVA) undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed on the Perth and Kinross Council website via the link: Perth and Kinross Integrated Children’s Services Plan 5.2 The Equality and Fairness Impact Assessment (EFIA) undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed in the Equality and Fairness Impact Assessments area of the Perth and Kinross Council website. 6. Appendices 6.1 Appendix 1 – Perth and Kinross Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2026- 2029