Appendix 4 - CPC S&Q Executive Summary 2024-2025
Perth and Kinross Council · 19 November 2025
Back to Scrutiny and Performance Committee — 19 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 1 Perth and Kinross Child Protection Committee Annual Standards and Quality Report 2024/2025 Executive Summary Preface This year’s Annual Standards and Quality Report is presented in a new format to align with the refreshed and refocused Improvement Plan (2025 – 2028). The report has three main sections covering the prescribed functions of Child Protection Committees in Scotland – continuous improvement, public information, engagement and participation and strategic connections. Acknowledgements The Child Protection Committee (CPC) wishes to extend its sincere thanks to Bill Atkinson for his dedicated leadership of the CPC as Independent Chair from 2018 until June 2025. We wish him well for his retirement. A warm welcome is given to Graham Binnie as the new Independent Chair of the CPC, who brings a wealth of experience in public protection from his many years of service in Police Scotland and familiarity with Perth and Kinross following his time working in its Tayside Division. Section1 - Continuous Improvement 1.1 Performance Management Information. The CPC’s performance data for 2024/2025 shows a stabilisation in Child Concern Reports (CCRs) and a continued downward trend in formal child protection processes including Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs), Joint Investigative Interviews (JIIs), and Child Protection Planning Meetings (CPPMs). This continued decrease in the use of formal child protection processes has been kept under review and interrogated by the Quality Assurance Working Group (QAWG). Exploration by QAWG identified four main areas which had contributed to the redirection (please see Section 1.1 in main report for detailed information). These are the implementation of GIRFEC and the Promise, the innovations enabled by the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF), realignment of service level agreements towards early intervention and the implementation of the Safe & Together™ model within Perth and Kinross. Given that Children and Families Social Work continues to work with similar numbers of unborn babies, babies, children and young people as previous years, it seems that it is the basis on which the service engages with families which has changed, with earlier intervention helping to prevent escalation to child protection. Appendix 4
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2 2 1.2 Audit activity. The CPC’s Quality Assurance Strategy and Schedule now underpin a structured and transparent approach to self-evaluation, with findings disseminated widely across the partnership. Desktop audits explored the voices of children and young people in protection processes, the implementation of the Safe & Together™ model, and the effectiveness of IRDs. A multi-agency audit focused on responses to neglect, highlighting strong immediate responses and relationship-based practice, while identifying areas for improvement such as SMARTer planning and better inclusion of the views of babies and pre-verbal or non-verbal children and young people. 1.3 Learning and Development. The CPC’s Learning and Development Officer (LDO) has delivered a comprehensive training programme, including in-person courses, webinars, and eLearning modules. Despite a reduction in attendance, feedback indicates a strong impact on practitioner confidence and practice. The CPC has undertaken a Training Needs Analysis and the development of an interactive Pathways Toolkit to support workforce development for 2025/2026. Innovative formats such as Speed Learning Sessions and thematic Community of Practice events have enhanced accessibility and engagement. The CPC continues to align its learning offer with national frameworks and guidance. 1.4 Guidance development and updates. Practitioners have been working to update existing CPC guidance and to create new guidance where gaps have been identified, including the additional child protection risks faced by children and young people with disability/complex needs and guidance on working safely with children and young people. Section 2 - Public Information, Engagement and Participation 2.1 Public engagement, which is meaningful, rather than tokenistic, remains challenging for the CPC but efforts have been made to work towards this goal. Webpages for children and young people were redesigned to be more accessible and developmentally appropriate, with positive feedback from users. Engagement efforts included a test of change in the Letham area of Perth, which, despite low turnout, fostered valuable connections and insights. 2.2 Participation from families in audit processes, while limited, was meaningful, with efforts made to ensure trauma-informed approaches and inclusive feedback mechanisms. The CPC continues to explore innovative ways to involve children, young people and families in shaping services and will be moving forward with this aim in partnership with its key public protection partners.
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3 3 Section 3 - Strategic Planning and Connections 3.1 The CPC’s governance and subgroup structure remain strong, with the QAWG, Practice Improvement Working Group (PIWG), and Case Review Working Group (CRWG) providing the ‘engine rooms’ which drive the work of the CPC forward. Strategic connections with Public Protection partners have been a strong focus in 2024/2025 with collaborative work on transitions, domestic abuse, and forced marriage. 3.2 The Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder Project and the implementation of the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) have become embedded in 2024/2025 ensuring trauma-informed support for children and young people who are involved in child protection investigations. 3.3 Partnership updates are provided in this section of the report, including updates on: • NSPCC Speak Out. Stay Safe safeguarding programme in schools. • The Children’s Rights Officer, Champions Boards in schools and support for care- experienced children and young people. • Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross and the support they provide to children, young people and adults to have their say in key processes. • The CREST team supporting families through Family Group Decision Making and Lifelong Links. • The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund and how it is supporting early and effective intervention through a range of initiatives. • Barnardo’s Hopscotch and Space4U projects, offering support to children, young people and their parents/carers across Perth and Kinross. Conclusion and Future Plans The CPC has demonstrated a strong commitment to quality assurance, inclusive practice, and strategic collaboration. Looking ahead, the CPC will continue to strengthen its public protection arrangements, enhance participation, and build on its progress to ensure that unborn babies, babies, children, young people and families receive the best possible support. The CPC remains guided by the principle that protecting children and young people is everyone’s responsibility and will continue to work in partnership to uphold this commitment.
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