Joint Inspections of Services for Children and Young People at Risk of Harm ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 30 October 2025
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 30 October 2025 and its agenda
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Page 1 of 6 To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 30 October 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Joint inspections of services for children and young people at risk of harm - review of findings from the joint inspection programme 2021 – 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. This report presents the key findings from the Care Inspectorate’s review of joint inspections conducted between 2021 and 2025 across 15 community planning partnerships in Scotland. The review can be accessed here. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1. The Board is asked to note the content of the report and the findings of the review. 2.2. The Board is asked to note that the joint inspection of services for children at risk of harm in Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership found major strengths with very few areas for improvement. Areas for improvement are being addressed through the current Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee (RCPC) Improvement Plan. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. Between 2021 and 2025, the Care Inspectorate led joint inspections of services for children and young people in need of care and protection across 15 local authority areas. 3.2. The inspections assessed how well services work together to identify and respond to risks, support wellbeing, and improve outcomes for children and families. 3.3. In August 2025, the Care Inspectorate published a review summarising the findings from these inspections to provide a national overview of strengths,
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Page 2 of 6 challenges, and areas for improvement. Thirteen full inspections formed the basis of the national review, providing a broad picture of service effectiveness across Scotland. The findings of the joint inspection of services for children at risk of harm in Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership which concluded in October 2024 are included in the overview. ___________________________________________________________________ 4.0 Previous inspection programme 4.1 The 2018–2020 joint inspection programme covered eight areas and focused on the impact of services on children in need of protection and those with corporate parenting responsibilities. 4.2 In 2020, the Care Inspectorate published a report summarising joint inspections from 2018–2020 across eight community planning partnerships. Key findings included strong trauma-informed relationships and effective multi-agency protection processes, but weaker responses for older children and care leavers. 4.3 In response to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Care Inspectorate revised its scrutiny framework to reduce the burden on partnerships while maintaining public assurance. Changes included a narrower inspection focus, virtual and hybrid activities, smaller on-site teams, and streamlined methodologies. 4.4 From 2021 to 2025, the inspection programme was refocused on services for children and young people at risk of harm. Fifteen joint inspections were carried out, including in Renfrewshire. ___________________________________________________________________ 5.0 Previous inspection programme 5.1 The 2018–2020 joint inspection programme covered eight areas and focused on the impact of services on children in need of protection and those with corporate parenting responsibilities. 5.2 In 2020, the Care Inspectorate published a report summarising joint inspections from 2018–2020 across eight community planning partnerships. Key findings included strong trauma-informed relationships and effective multi-agency protection processes, but weaker responses for older children and care leavers. 5.3 In response to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Care Inspectorate revised its scrutiny framework to reduce the burden on partnerships while maintaining public assurance. Changes included a narrower inspection focus, virtual and hybrid activities, smaller on-site teams, and streamlined methodologies. 5.4 From 2021 to 2025, the inspection programme was refocused on services for children and young people at risk of harm. Fifteen joint inspections were carried out, including in Renfrewshire. ___________________________________________________________________
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Page 3 of 6 6.0 Evidence base 6.1 During each joint inspection, evidence was drawn from staff surveys, reviews of records and direct engagement with children, families, and professionals. For each of the 13 joint inspections, the Care Inspectorate evaluated one quality indicator from their quality framework: Quality Indicator 2.1 the impact on children and young people. ___________________________________________________________________ 7.0 Findings 7.1 A summary of the review findings is provided below: • Quality Indicator 2.1 – Impact on Children and Young People - 85% of partnerships were rated ‘Good’ or above (Renfrewshire was rated as ‘Very Good’. - Strengths included relational and rights-focused practice, service availability, and involvement of children and young people. - Challenges included inconsistent access to services, staff turnover, limited advocacy support, and inadequate responses for older young people. • Statement 1: Early Identification and Response to Risk - Early help was effective and aligned with strategic priorities including The Promise and GIRFEC. - Staff were confident and competent, supported by training and supervision. - IRDs were generally effective but inconsistently applied. - Responses to older young people and cumulative harm were identified as areas for improvement. • Statement 2: High-Quality Planning and Support - Improvements were noted in assessment, planning, and reviewing processes. - Relationships between staff and families were strong. - Mental health support remains a significant challenge due to capacity issues. • Statement 3: Involvement in Decision-Making - Children’s involvement in care planning was improving. - Strategic influence by children was limited, especially for those in protective processes. - Independent advocacy was inconsistently available and understood. • Statement 4: Collaborative Leadership and Management - Most partnerships had clear visions and values. - Governance and quality assurance were stronger in high-performing areas. - Staff valued support from first-line managers but had mixed views on strategic leadership. - Data use for service improvement remains an area for development. ___________________________________________________________________
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Page 4 of 6 8.0 Reflections, conclusion and next steps 8.1 The final section of the review encourages partnerships to reflect on the following: • Understanding local needs and risks. • Addressing poverty and deprivation. • Using data effectively. • Capturing and acting on children’s views. • Supporting staff and ensuring equitable participation. • Evidencing capacity for improvement. 8.2 The report highlights improvements in relation to the impact of services on many children and young people. It also praised relationship based and trauma informed practice across services and noted staff in a wide range of universal services working well together to support families. There were strengths in multi-agency responses to early indications of concern and the ways in which children and young people were involved in decision making in relation to their own planning and support. Improvements were noted across key processes of assessment, planning and reviewing. 8.3 It also highlights variability across partnerships in relation to some areas of practice. These included: multi-agency responses to risk in relation to cumulative harm, poverty, deprivation, domestic abuse and mental health; responses to risks for older young people; the wider collation of children’s and young people’s views to help shape the development of services was not taking place systematically in every partnership area; and the extent to which partnerships could measure and demonstrate the difference they were making to children’s lives varied. 8.4 Future inspections will focus on children subject to compulsory supervision orders living at home, where outcomes remain poorer. The Care Inspectorate started the new programme of scrutiny in summer 2025 and aim to complete up to four inspections with this focus by April 2026. ___________________________________________________________________ 9.0 Renfrewshire position 9.1 Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership was subject to a joint inspection of services for children at risk of harm in 2024. The inspection report was published on 22 October 2024. It was extremely positive and the grade of Very Good was awarded for Quality Indicator 2.1 – this means there were major strengths with very few areas for improvement. 9.2 The two areas for improvement are being addressed through the RCPC Improvement Plan. These are: • the availability of resources for children experiencing mental health problems. While they saw examples of good practice and children being helped to improve their wellbeing, they observed that such resources were not always readily accessible. However, the inspectors highlighted recent service developments which were showing potential for improving this, namely the new CAMHS/Education liaison officer and the resources available via the REN10 website.
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Page 5 of 6 • The use of data collated by the partnership. While inspectors noted the plethora of data we gather about our service priorities, they suggested the need to strengthen how this data is used to identify impact for children at risk of harm. 9.3 It is not anticipated that Renfrewshire will be inspected during the first round of the new inspection programme, however, work is ongoing to gather information about the new inspection methodology to inform the partnership’s preparation for a future inspection and RCPC’s approach to self-evaluation. 9.4 In October and November 2025, the Depute Chief Social Work Officer will undertake the role of Associate Inspector during one of the first inspections using the new methodology. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial None. 2. HR and Organisational Development None. 3. Community/Council Planning Our Renfrewshire is safe - The review provides learning for continuous improvement and helps to protect vulnerable local children. 4. Legal None. 5. Property/Assets None. 6. Information Technology None. 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report because it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety None. 9. Procurement None.
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Page 6 of 6 10. Risk None. 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Climate Risk None. 13. Children’s Rights This report demonstrates compliance and promotion of Article 3 (best interest of child), Article 9 (keeping families together), Article 12 (respect for children’s views), Article 20 (children without families), Article 22 (refugee children) and 25 (review of a child’s placement) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 14. Cosla Policy Position None. List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1: Joint inspections of services for children and young people at risk of harm Review of findings from the joint inspection programme 2021 – 2025 The foregoing background papers will be retained within children’s services for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Michelle McCargo, Strategic Manager Children and Justice & Depute Chief Social Work Officer (michelle.mccargo@renfrewshire.gov.uk) ___________________________________________________________________ Children’s Services 7 October 2025 Author: Michelle McCargo, Strategic Manager Children and Justice & Depute Chief Social Work Officer (michelle.mccargo@renfrewshire.gov.uk) ___________________________________________________________________