ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11 & BUISNESS PLAN 2011/12 Report available to download from www.invercydechildprotection.org A summary version of the report is also available 2 1 PREFACE It seem little time since last I noted in such a preface the completion of a successfully and creditably evaluated inspection by H.M.I.e. and yet once again inspection is one of the most prominent features of the year on which we now report. The inspection which was undertaken in October 2010 occurred much sooner than had been anticipated given the signal success reported upon in February 2009. The inspection was also undertaken on a different basis described as “proportionate”. Unfortunately as those intimately involved in the preparation for inspection would vouchsafe, this did not significantly reduce the range and volume of work involved. Once again I would pay tribute to the unstinting efforts of Miss Kerr and Mrs Allenby whose co-ordination of the inspection ensures the inspectors are afforded a clear and comprehensive picture of the services we all provide. This inspection was more specific, reported on fewer evaluated criteria and was described as evaluating our performance in the context of our previous inspection results. It is not inappropriate nor should it be construed boastful or complacent to describe The Inspection as an unalloyed success. Whilst this is undoubtedly extremely positive we must continue to guard against complacency and strive to maintain the services which have attracted such favourable responses at a time when all the agencies, whether statutory or voluntary, whether national or local, which contribute to the work of the C.P.C. are adversely affected by significant financial constraint. Each time I gratefully thank all who work to support Inverclyde’s most vulnerable children I remain acutely aware of the increasing pressures which affect and afflict services. The challenge for this and forthcoming years will be the maintenance of consistency which will require of us all adaptability, ingenuity and creativity if we are to make these crucial services not only deliverable and sustainable but also aspirational. I am delighted along with my colleagues in The Child Protection Chief Officers’ Group, Child Protection Committee and all its sub-groups to present this report. 3 2 SETTING THE SCENE Inverclyde is one of Scotland's smallest local authority areas, falling within the geographical boundaries of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and Strathclyde Police. The authority borders Renfrewshire council to the east and North Ayrshire council to the west. The main towns of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock sit on the Firth of Clyde. The towns provide a marked contrast to the small coastal settlement of Inverkip and Wemyss Bay which lie to the South West of the area and the villages of Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village which are located further inland. A strong sense of community identity exists within Inverclyde and to local neighbourhoods in particular. Local citizens are proud of their area, and its history which is steeped in centuries of maritime and industrial endeavour. Inverclyde has a population of approximately 79,770, of whom 17% are children under 16, 4% are young people aged 16-18 years, 61% are adults 19-64 years and 18% are older people, 65 years and over (ONS Midyear Population Estimates 2010). This represents a small decline in the total population of 0.6% on the mid-year estimates from 2009. Challenges for Inverclyde Inverclyde continues to face a number of significant challenges. These have been identified as follows1 :- • Depopulation and an Aging Population • Coping with De-industrialisation • Poverty, Deprivation and Area Renewal • Employment • Health • The Natural and Built Physical Environment and Housing Stock • Transport Inverclyde Alliance Single Outcome Agreement (2009-11) identified that:- ‘Our key challenges are to tackle head on the problems of worklessness and lack of skills development, health inequalities, economic regeneration, poverty, poor environment, depopulation and social regeneration.’ The Inverclyde Alliance Single Outcome Agreement Annual Report for 2009-102 identifies that significant progress has been made in delivering the Single Outcome Agreement despite the economic downturn. 1Tackling Poverty, Sustaining Growth- Inverclyde Alliance Single Outcome Agreement 2009-2011 2 Tackling Poverty, Sustaining Growth - Inverclyde Alliance Single Outcome Agreement 2009-2010 Annual Report 4 Despite this progress the scale of the challenges facing Inverclyde means that the work of Inverclyde Child Protection Committee (ICPC) and the child protection services represented on ICPC remains vitally important to help protect some of the most vulnerable children and young people in this community. Child Protection in Inverclyde The number of children on the Child Protection Register in Inverclyde on 31st March 2011 was 37. The number of children on the Child Protection Register fluctuates throughout the year. Registrations at the end of each quarter in 2010-11 have ranged from 24 - 37 children. A total of 101 children's names appeared on the Child Protection Register between 1st April 2010 and 31st March 2011 with one family group of 3 appearing twice during the year. The graph below plots the number of registrations in Inverclyde on 31st March of each year since 2005. Number of children on child protection register on 31st March 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Year Between 1st April 2010 and 31st March 2011 a total of 114 Child Protection Investigations were completed. During this same period 46 Initial Child Protection Case Conferences, 68 Review Child Protection Case Conferences and 21 Case Discussions took place. This is compared to statistics from previous financial years in the graph below. Child Protection Meetings April 07-March 11 80 60 Initial CP Conference 40 Review CP Conference 20 Case Discussion 0 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 The statistics show a slight increase in the number of initial child protection 5 conferences and a slight reduction in the number of review conferences. The following table shows the category of registration of children on the Child Protection Register at the end of each quarter since 31st March 2010. Category of 31st March 30th June 30th Sept 31st Dec 31st March Registration 10 10 10 10 11 Physical 17 12 12 12 12 Neglect Physical 6 2 8 10 10 Injury Sexual 0 1 1 0 1 Abuse Emotional 12 9 5 8 14 Abuse Total 35 24 26 30 37 This data shows that the increase in emotional abuse registrations noted last year has levelled off with registrations under this category remaining high. Sexual abuse registrations remain very low within Inverclyde. This continues to be an area of concern where we have taken action to increase awareness of the issue and to provide advice and support for staff who have concerns that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse. The most recent date for which national comparison figures are available is 31st March 2010. On this date within Inverclyde the rate of children on the Child Protection Register was 2.5 per 1,000 population aged 0-15, a decrease from 3.0 the previous year. Within Scotland the population rate on this date was slightly higher than that in Inverclyde (2.8 per 1,000 population aged 0-15) however the rate of children on the Child Protection Register in Scotland also decreased slightly between 31st March 2009 and 31st March 2010. The table below shows a comparison between Inverclyde and Scotland for category of registration as at 31st March 2010. Category of Inverclyde Scotland Registration 31st March 2010 Physical Neglect 17 (49%) 1098 (44%) Physical Injury 6 (17%) 485 (19%) Sexual Abuse 0 (0%) 202 (8%) Emotional Abuse 12 (34%) 727(29%) Registrations for sexual abuse have been between 0 and 2 children since March 09. This has represented between 0% and 9% of registrations at the end of any individual quarter. 6 Ethnic Group In Scotland an ethnicity of White was recorded for 85% of children on the Child Protection Register on 31st March 2010. An undisclosed or unknown ethnicity was recorded for a further 12% of these children. All other ethnic backgrounds accounted for 4% of children on the Child Protection Register in Scotland on this date. Within Inverclyde for the same date an ethnicity of White was recorded for 91% of children on the Child Protection register. An ethnicity was recoded for all children on the register. All other ethnic backgrounds accounted for 9% of children on the child protection register in Inverclyde although it should be noted that this was only 3 children. Numbers of Child Protection referrals subject to Case Conference and Registration Within Inverclyde there were 209 Child Protection referrals, resulting in 84 children subject to a case conference i.e. 40% of referrals were subject to a case conference. Nationally 34% of referrals were subject to a case conferences putting Inverclyde slightly above the national average. Of these 84 children 50 were registered on the child protection register (60%). Nationally 76% of those subject to case conference are registered, putting Inverclyde below the national average. Referrals Received by SCRA The table below shows the number of children for whom referrals were received by the Reporter for offence grounds and non offence grounds (including failure to attend school) over the last three years. As can be seen referrals received for non offence grounds are consistently higher than those received for offence grounds. A small but increasing number of children have been referred for both offence and non-offence grounds. Referrals Received by SCRA April 08-March 10 700 600 500 Number of 400 Non-Offence referrals 300 200 Offence 100 Both 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Year Of the 437 referrals received by the reporter over the financial year 10/11 for grounds a-g (non-offence grounds excluding failure to attend school) 320 (73%) included lack of parental care grounds.