Appendix 3 - 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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No. What will we do? Update @ 3 June 2025 Amendment required? RAG Section 1 - Continuous Improvement and Quality Assurance 1.1 We will use our Quality Assurance Strategy and Quality Assurance Schedule 2025 – 2028 to improve our services. Identified Lead – Julie Baker, Child Protection Interagency Coordinator (CPIC) Audit activity completed: • Multi-agency audit activity completed for 7 and 8 May 2025 on recognition and response to neglect – paper to go to QAWG on 11 June 2025. Inclusion of Children, Young People and Families • Feedback received from three children and young people and one parent as part of the Multi-agency Audit Checking that identified issues are being addressed: • Action Log of improvement actions kept under review by QAWG. • CFSW are developing their own quality assurance strategy and schedule which should ensure progress is tracked. No G 1.2 We will develop our Child Protection Community of Practice (CoP) to upskill practitioners on key issues Identified Lead – Michelle Nicol, Learning and Development Officer. CoP on Safeguarding Children and Young People with Disabilities held on 27 May 2025. Further CoP planned on Working Safely with Children and Young People (Positions of Trust) on 4 September 2025 Padlet of Resources developed for each CoP. Yes, EDMS site was not practical – resources have transferred to Padlet G CPC Improvement Plan 1 January 2025 – 31 July 2028 Progress Report 2 - 3 June 2025 Appendix 3
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No. What will we do? Update @ 3 June 2025 Amendment required? RAG 1.3 We will ensure that CPC guidance is clear, current, accessible and widely shared. Identified Lead – Julie Baker, CPIC Multi-agency group of practitioners have formed a group to work on the guidance with the CPIC. Practitioners devised idea of guidance in plain language, short video format and 7-minute briefing to capture different learning styles. The group are now working on what was formerly known as the ‘Hostile/Non-engaging’ guidance under the current working title of ‘Engaging with families’. CPC website in process of major overhaul to ensure ease of use and accessibility. Planned duration of work is 12 - 18 months. Instead of creating Easy Read Summaries, the group have opted to make short videos so that people can listen to the key points. G Section 2 – Strategic Planning and Connections 2.1 We will work towards a Whole Family, Whole of Life approach to Public Protection Identified Lead – tbc Regular meetings held with Public Protection Lead Officers provide opportunities for collaboration. Public Protection Coordinating Group (PPCG) reconvening after a hiatus in June 2025 which will support this piece of work. G 2.2 We will make our transitional safeguarding pathways compliant with new and revised legislation that applies to young people aged 16-21. Identified Leads: Sharon Cooper, Service Manager, CFJ and Alison Fairlie, Service Manager HSCP. The Social Work Governance and Assurance Group have been considering this piece of work and its complexities in terms of resources and a consistent approach for all 16 – 17 year olds. The Interim Transitions Guidance review has been postponed pending further discussion at this group. Timelines will require to be revised dependent on implementation dates of aspects of the Care and Justice Act 2024. A
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No. What will we do? Update @ 3 June 2025 Amendment required? 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. Identified Lead – Keith Main, Improvement Officer, Children and Families Social Work. Michelle Nicol, Learning and Development Officer, delivered her first set of Safe & Together Core Assessment Training over 4 days in May 2025 to a mixed group of practitioners from Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus. Dating Abuse Guidance Writing Group scheduled to begin in September 2025. 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. Identified Lead – Susie Turner, Principal Educational Psychologist. Christy Stevenson, Wellbeing and Inclusion Officer, delivered input on Safer Schools App and Internet Safety with the CPC on 30 April 2025 at Letham Primary School. An input on Financial Harm and Scams was delivered on 30 April 2025 in partnership with Trading Standards at Letham Hub. G 2.5 We will provide resources to support safeguarding of children and young people from minoritised groups, with disabilities and who are LGBTI*. Identified Lead - Julie Baker, CPIC SLWG on Children and Disability has met and members are taking forward areas of work over the summer months. The group will meet again in August with a planned completion date for the guidance to be live in January 2026. Meetings arranged with Perth Welfare Society and Perth Minorities Hub to discuss reference group involvement for the guidance on children and young people from minoritised groups. CPIC attending PKC Equalities Strategy Group in July 2025 to discuss LGBTIQA guidance and awaiting contact from LGBT Scotland. G 2.6 We will work to increase inclusion of Fathers, Male Carers and Social Fathers with services. Identified Lead – Sarah Fogg, Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross SLWG membership established and first meeting scheduled for September 2025. G
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No. What will we do? Update @ 3 June 2025 Amendment required? RAG 2.7 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. Identified Lead – To be confirmed Initial Meeting of group took place 29 May 2025. Work has commenced. Learning event – Positions of Trust Learning Review from East and Midlothian Public Protection Committee Webinar scheduled for 4 June 2025. Section 3 – Public Information, Engagement and Participation 3.1 Promote an understanding of our work within our communities. Identified Lead – tbc Test of Change undertaken week commencing 28 April 2025 involving events in the Letham area of Perth. This was met with limited success with very low engagement from the community. The joint CPC/APC questionnaire resulted in less than ten returns. Useful discussions took place at the CPC Development Session on 6 May 2025 regarding future engagement initiatives and planning is required. G 3.2 Provide opportunities for children and young people to be involved with the work of the CPC. Identified Lead – Julie Baker, CPIC Over 70 children from P5 – P7 in Letham and Goodlyburn Primary Schools took part in our competition to design a poster about staying safe online and in real life. There were two winners and three runners up. The children’s posters will be displayed at Perth Police Station and will be digitally displayed in schools and offices in due course. G
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No. What will we do? Update @ 3 June 2025 Amendment required? RAG Work with the Youth Forum has been delayed as there is difficulty in finding the best balance of meetings for the YP – hybrid/face to face and establishing a consistent membership. 3.3 Ensure that the Children and Young People’s workforce know about, understand and contribute to our functions. Identified Lead – Sharon Cooper, Service Manager, CFJ This was a key topic at the CPC Development Session on 6 May 2025 with those present reaffirming a commitment to further engage practitioners in the work of the CPC through supporting practitioners to attend the CPC, engage with SLWG and training events. A staff handbook will be put together in alignment with new strategic plan arrangements for 1 April 2026. G