The HMIE report on child protection services in Dundee, published yesterday, made very concerning reading. As reported in last night's 'Evening Telegraph' and today's 'Courier', I made the following comments:Dundee City Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, today said that he was very concerned by the conclusions of the HMIE report on child protection services in Dundee.
Cllr Macpherson said, “The report’s conclusions are of significant concern, highlighting ‘major weaknesses in the identification of children who needed protection.’ Eight indicators showing that child protection services are weak and one unsatisfactory indicator is without any shadow of a doubt requires immediate improvement.
“A cross-party meeting of councillors to meet with the inspectors has already been agreed. The inspectors’ report is to be considered by a Council Committee on 1st July. It is vital that immediate action is taken to improve services and an action plan agreed to allow this to be achieved as soon as possible.
“The Council Leader has already been asked by opposition councillors to arrange a meeting of City Council Group Leaders with Adam Ingram, the Children and Early Years Minister. I agree with the Minister that the findings of the inspection show child protection services in Dundee are ‘simply not good enough’ but we urgently need to hear from Mr Ingram how Scottish Government is to help in real and practical terms.
“Scottish Government has a role to play here, particularly in providing additional resources. Service improvements will undoubtedly require increased resources over and above the additional £1.3 million the City Council has earmarked for 2009/10 and we need assurances from government that it will fund any additional services and resources needed to ensure that the action plan the City Council will hopefully swiftly approve can be fully implemented.”