Scottish Government guidance, standards and strategies: Social services
Changing Children's Services Fund
Scottish Executive consultation (February 2001) on priority objectives and mechanisms for allocation of funding to achieve the aim of improving integration of services for children and young people.
Community Planning: statutory guidance
Collected guidance and advice to help local authorities fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the delivery of public services under the terms of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003.
Draft National Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce in Scotland 2005-2010 (consultation)
This 'plan for action' looks at the challenges facing the workforce, e.g. recruitment and retention, meeting registration requirements, integrated working, skill gaps, and career paths.
For Scotland's Children: better integrated children's services
This document sets out the requirement for integrated planning of children's services through the development of children's service plans, joined-up delivery on the ground, and single system delivery of children's services.
Growing Support: a review of services for vulnerable families with young children
This report describes the findings and conclusions of an inter-disciplinary review of social work and health services in Scotland to support vulnerable families with young children aged 0-3 years. It also takes account of other important services such as early education and childcare, housing, health services for adults, and children's hearings.
'It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright'
The aim of this document is to promote the reduction of abuse or neglect of children and to improve the services for children who experience abuse or neglect. It pays particular attention to the needs of the small number of children whose family or environmental circumstances are so poor that their future wellbeing is placed at serious risk.
Meeting the Childcare Challenge: a childcare strategy for Scotland
Document that set out a vision for services. It aimed to ensure good quality, affordable childcare (formal and informal) for children aged 0 to 14 in every neighbourhood.
National Care Standards: early education and childcare up to the age of 16
These standards apply to services which operate in the public, private and voluntary sectors, in domestic or non-domestic premises, and which provide care for over two hours a day and for six days or more each year. Services include: nursery classes; crèches; childminders; after-school clubs; and playgroups.
National Care Standards for Childcare Agencies
These are standards for agencies which supply or introduce to parents a childcarer who looks after a child or young person up to the age of 16, wholly or mainly in the home of that child's parent or parents. Childcare agencies include nanny services and sitter services.
Protecting Children – A Shared Responsibility
This guidance is addressed to all agencies who work with children and families in the statutory, voluntary or independent sectors, and who may have to respond to information or allegations that a child is at risk of serious harm or abuse. It should help agencies and professionals to understand each other's roles and functions, and to make the best use of their experience and expertise in safeguarding children.
Protecting Children and Young People
This Scottish Executive leaflet provides advice on 'What you can do to help if you are worried about a child or young person'.
Safer Recruitment and Selection for Staff Working in Child Care
The Scottish Executive commissioned this 'tool-kit' to help social work employers improve processes for the recruitment and selection of staff working with children. This covers foster carers and staff working in residential care and day care settings.
Social Justice ... a Scotland where Everyone Matters
The report sets out a vision of a Scotland where everyone matters, using targets and milestones. There are six milestones relating to children in this document.