Appendix 2 - Perth and Kinross CPC Improvement Plan 1 January 2025 - 31 July 2028 and Progress Report as
Perth and Kinross Council · 14 January 2026
Back to Perth and Kinross Council — 14 January 2026 and its agenda
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1 CPC Improvement Plan 1 January 2025 – 31 July 2028 Appendix 2
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2 Welcome to our refreshed and refocused Child Protection Committee (CPC) Improvement Plan, which covers the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 July 2028 This plan has moved from its previous format, which was based on the Tayside Six Priorities For Practice, to being organised around the three main statutory functions of Child Protection Committees, as set out in the Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer Responsibilities (Scottish Government: 2019): 1. Continuous Improvement 2. Strategic Planning and Connections 3. Public Information, Engagement and Participation In order to ensure continuity of planning and ensure clear links between the previous plan and the new plan, a paper was presented to the CPC on 2 December 2024 which demonstrated where existing actions had been completed, transferred or deemed to be no longer necessary. Local and national context On a local level, this improvement plan is aligned with the Tayside Plan for Infants, Children, Young People and Families 2023 - 2026 and the Perth and Kinross Community Plan (Local Outcomes Improvement Plan) 2022 – 2032 which clearly sets out how the Perth and Kinross Community Planning Partnership will achieve its aims and objectives. Three key national child protection policy documents underpin this plan: • National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 - updated 2023 (Scottish Government: 2021 and 2023) • Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer Responsibilities (Scottish Government: 2019) and • A Quality Framework for Children and Young People in Need of Care and Protection (Care Inspectorate: November 2022). The principles of Getting it Right for Every Child, the Promise Plan 24-30, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which was incorporated into Scottish domestic law in July 2024, are fully included within this plan. The table below maps out how improvement actions relate to these three documents. Mapping of Actions Table
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3 We have also taken the opportunity to clarify our governance arrangements, as shown in the diagram below, and the functions of our subgroups. Updated Terms of Reference are available for all three subgroups.
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4 Quality Assurance Strategy and Schedule This document should be read in conjunction with the Quality Assurance Strategy and the Quality Assurance Schedule 2025 – 2028. The strategy articulates our values with respect to quality assurance and continuous improvement, focusing on outcomes for unborn babies, babies, children and young people in need of care and protection. The schedule sets out the calendar of self-evaluation activity for the period, whilst retaining space to consider new issues that may arise. Action Leads Each action will have a lead officer and this will be indicated through their name being in bold print. Monitoring of the plan/Production of Progress Reports The CPIC will be responsible for coordinating this plan on behalf of the CPC and providing regular updates on its progress to its members. To ensure that the plan remains clear and easy to read, a separate progress report will be created on a quarterly basis and the RAG (Red, Amber or Green) status will provide a quick guide to progress on this plan. On an annual basis, the CPIC will ensure that a full update of the plan is included within the CPC Standards and Quality Report. Responsivity This plan is designed to be a working document with space and scope for flexibility to respond to new legislation, guidance or new or emerging threats to children, young people and their families. 2025.02.14%20CPC %20Improvement%20Plan%20-%20Progress%20Report%201 Progress Report March 2025 Bill Atkinson, Independent Chair Perth and Kinross Child Protection Committee
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5 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG 1.1 We will use our Quality Assurance Strategy and Quality Assurance Schedule 2025 – 2028 to improve our services through: • An enhanced programme of quality assurance which includes a minimum of 3 desktop audits per year. • The inclusion of children, young people and family members views within the annual multi-agency audit. • Remitting identified improvement actions from audits to services to progress. • Ensuring the findings of audits are widely shared with practitioners within our partnership. • Planning to check on progress through agreed follow up actions. • Escalating any identified systemic issues locally or nationally as required through the appropriate forums. Unborn babies, babies, children, young people and their families benefit from improved service delivery when they need some help or additional support to ensure they are cared for and protected. Children and young people and their family members who have used services have an opportunity to provide feedback and have their say. Julie Baker, Child Protection Interagency Coordinator (CPIC) Team of Multi-Agency Reviewers QAWG CPC Quality Assurance Schedule (2025 – 2028) Updates Dissemination of Findings Follow Up Activities Evidence of Engagement with Families 2025 - 2028 G 1.2 We will develop our Child Protection Community of Practice (CoP) to upskill practitioners on key issues. After a test of change in 2024, CoPs will now be delivered to first line practitioners and managers on issues that have arisen from Learning Reviews. The L&D Officer will prepare a 7-minute briefing on the topic after each CoP which will be distributed as a resource for teams with a request for feedback, creating an iterative learning process. A Padlet will be Children and young people benefit from first line staff who have benefited from additional learning in Child Protection and are part of the CoP online community where resources can be shared. Michelle Nicol, Learning and Development Officer CPIC CPC Members Delivery of CoP 7 Minute Briefings Surveys to assess impact on practice. Timing - Three times per year 2025 to 2028 G
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6 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG created and updated as a resource for practitioners. 1.3 We will ensure that CPC guidance is clear, current, accessible and widely shared. The CPC will update all its guidance publications, in partnership with first line practitioners, in 2025 and 2026 to ensure that they are: • Up to date with current guidance, legislation and best practice. • Easily accessible to practitioners • Easy to use and find information quickly. New guidance will be written as required to reflect practice or legislative changes and where any gaps are identified in existing guidance. Children and young people benefit from first line practitioners and managers having easy access to the guidance practitioners need to follow to help keep them safe. Julie Baker, CPIC CPIC Publications SLWG CPC Members Prior to publication, a focus group of practitioners will be asked to check each guidance document for ease of understanding and accessibility. Guidance which has been updated will be in a new format on the CP website – as a webpage rather than a pdf file. Creation of summary pages for each guidance. Distribution of information regarding updated policies – ‘Spotlight on….’ Timing – to be completed by 31 July 2027. G Section 2 – Strategic Planning and Connections 2.1 We will work towards a Whole Family, Whole of Life approach to Public Protection The Public Protection Coordination Group (PPCG) provides a forum to identify shared priorities and gain collaborative advantage through working together with one or more of Children and young people live in families and communities where people of all ages face challenges to their safety and wellbeing which can directly or indirectly adversely affect them. Lead to be confirmed @1 Apr 25 PPCG CPC Creation of a shared PP strategy Creation of a tiered training framework G
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7 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG the other public protection partnerships. The overall aim will be towards embedding a whole family, whole of life, Public Protection Approach in Perth and Kinross. Working closely with the other PKC Partnerships will promote a safer environment for children and young people at home and in their wider communities. APC VAWP Community Safety Suicide Prevention Alcohol and Drugs partnership Mental Health Wellbeing Oversight Group Children, Young People and Families Partnership Completion of Public Protection Strategy Clear evidence of shared workstreams and collaborative advantage. Ongoing through plan 2.2 We will make our transitional safeguarding pathways compliant with new and revised legislation that applies to young people aged 16-21. Through the Joint Children and Adults Social Work Governance and Assurance Group, a set of agreed operational guidance between agencies to safeguard young people aged 16 - 21 who are in need of care, protection and/or are in conflict with the law will be created. This is likely to require a short-life working group to ensure that processes dovetail with child protection procedures. Training will be devised and delivered to the workforce to ensure their competence and confidence in supporting young people. Young people benefit from clear pathways to help keep them safe, transition between services and, where appropriate, manage the risks they may pose to themselves or others. Alison Fairlie, Service Manager, Health & Social Care Partnership and Sharon Cooper, Service Manager, Children, Families and Justice CPC APC Children and Adults Social Work Governance and Assurance Group Pathways created through operational guidance. Delivery of training Timing 31 December 2026 G
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8 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG 2.3 We will work with our partners to increase knowledge of the Safe & Together model and raise awareness of how to recognise and respond to domestic abuse and dating abuse. The CPC’s Learning and Development Officer will qualify as a Safe & Together Trainer in 2025. The L&D Officer will then: • Deliver regular, short information sessions on Safe & Together to the wider1 workforce. • Provide annual opportunities for the intensive2 workforce to complete the Core Module of Safe & Together. In cooperation with its partners, the CPC will develop guidance for practitioners on safeguarding young people being subjected to dating abuse. Unborn babies, babies, children and young people benefit from support workers who partner with their non-abusive parent or caregiver to make sure that they are safe and protected from harm. Young People who may be being subjected to dating abuse have practitioners around them who can recognise and respond effectively to this issue. Keith Main, Improvement Officer Children, Families and Justice L&D Officer (Safe & Together Trainer) CPIC Wellbeing Coordinator, Education VAWP Perthshire Women’s Aid Number of information sessions delivered annually from 2025/2026. Number of Core Modules delivered. Dating Abuse Guidance (to be completed by 31 July 2027) Information sessions and Core Training to run annually through plan 2025/2028. G 2.4 The CPC will support and amplify the work undertaken by Education and Learning to ensure safer use of digital technology by children and young people and their parents and caregivers. • Support and contribute to the development of guidance by Education and Learning. Children and young people are supported to use social media, mobile phones and the internet (in accordance with their parents and caregivers’ wishes) in safer ways. Children and young people are less vulnerable to exploitation online. Susie Turner, Principal Educational Psychologist, Education and Learning CPIC Wellbeing Coordinator Guidance Documents Internet Safety event (planned for April 2025) Family Practitioner Support Network Annually through to 2028 G 1 As defined in the National Child Protection Learning and Development Framework 2024 2 As above
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9 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG • Promote internet safety through public-facing events in partnership with Education and Learning. • Work with the APC and Community Safety to highlight risks of Social Media use to parents and carers, in respect of themselves and their children (such as scams and sextortion). Children and young people are supported to use social media and phones in ways that are not harmful to others. Children and young people’s family members are supported to protect themselves online, reducing the impact on their children, as well as themselves. Adult Protection Inter- Agency Coordinator Community Safety Team Leader Community Mental Health Programme Manager 2.5 We will provide resources to support safeguarding of children and young people from minoritised groups. The CPC will do this through developing specific safeguarding guidance and training modules to assist practitioners to support: • Children and young people with disabilities. • Children and young people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members. • LGBTi young people Children and young people from minoritised groups are supported to be included and protected through practitioners having a better understanding of the specific difficulties they may face, such as adultification. Julie Baker, CPIC PIWG Equality Officer Consultation with Youth Groups and relevant specialist groups. Creation of guidance and training modules Guidance by 31 July 2026 Training Modules by 31 December 2026 G 2.6 We will work to increase inclusion of Fathers, Male Carers and Social Fathers with services. The CPC will work closely with its partners to ensure that the role of fathers, male carers and social fathers is recognised and their involvement in their children’s lives is Unborn babies, babies, children and young people benefit from services routinely engaging with Sarah Fogg, Advocacy Manager (IAPK) CPIC PIWG Publication of Guiding Principles for Working with Fathers, Male Carers and Social Fathers G
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10 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG supported, where safe and appropriate to do so, through: • The sharing and publication of its guidance document Guiding Principles for Working with Fathers, Male Carers and Social Fathers. • Coordinate a Short Life Working Group to look at operationalising the Guiding Principles through tests of change, engagement with parents, children and young people to create wider traction and a plan of work to increase awareness. their father, male carer or social father positively. Wellbeing Coordinator. Education Parenting and Learning Family Team Leader Creation of Short Life Working Group and evidence of longer- term plan 2025 to 2028 2.7 **NEW TASK ADDED 1 APRIL 2025** We will work within and across agencies to ensure workers understand the importance of and how to work safely with children and young people and what to do when they have concerns or suspicions regarding the behaviour of a colleague towards a child, young person or vulnerable adult through: • Creation of Working Safely/Position of Trust Guidance. • A training module on this subject which should be completed on induction and biennially by the children’s workforce. The safety of babies, children and young people’s is enhanced through workers increased awareness of the safeguarding significance of maintaining professional boundaries and how to any report concerns effectively. Julie Baker, CPIC Multi-Agency Short-Life Working Group. Publication of Guidance Roll out of Training 31 December 2026 G
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11 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG Section 3 – Public Information, Engagement and Participation 3.1 Promote an understanding of our work within our communities. • Engagement events through the Family Support Practitioner Network • An engagement campaign to seek the views of the community on concerns they would like information and support with. Children and young people and their parents and caregivers understand the work of the CPC and can contribute to its work and agenda. TBC @ 1 Apr 25 CPC members Independent Chair CPIC Whole Family Wellbeing Fund Programme Manager Evidence of annual events Evidence of feedback from the community Annually throughout the duration of the plan 2025 - 2028 G 3.2 Provide opportunities for children and young people to be involved with the work of the CPC. We will do this through: • Working with our local youth groups such as Youth Forum, Young Carers and others to seek their input on new policies. • Provide an opportunity through activity for feedback from children and young people who have social work involvement to share their views of what works and what needs to get better. Children and young people have opportunities to have their say on policies created by the CPC and to tell the CPC about things they think we should be working on. Julie Baker, CPIC CPC Members Children’s Rights Officer Youth Forum and local groups Children and Young People involved in audit activity Evidence of engagement with groups – CPIC will write Highlight Reports from visits to groups. Evidence of children and young people being provided with feedback opportunities through audit. Annually throughout the duration of the plan 2025 - 2028 G
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12 No. What will we do? What will the impact be on unborn babies, babies, children and young people? Who will be involved? How will we know it is completed? What is the target date? RAG 3.3 Ensure that the Children and Young People’s workforce know about, understand and contribute to our functions. We will engage with the staff to promote knowledge of our work through: • Community of Practice events and its EDMS site • Engagement events through the Family Support Practitioner Network • Contribute to a handbook for partnership staff. • Contribute to Partnership Intranet content to highlight the work of the CPC. Children and Young People benefit from staff who have a clear understanding of partnership working and its importance in child protection. Sharon Cooper, Service Manager, CFJ. CPC members CPIC L&D Officer Whole Family Wellbeing Fund Programme Manager CoP 3 to be held 3 times per annum. Family Support Practitioner Network Events 2025 Handbook by 31 December 2025 Ongoing through 2025 - 2028 G