Child protection in Western Isles improving

Child protection has improved in the Western Isles since a damning report last year into the abuse of three girls, inspectors said today.

The Social Work Inspection Agency report found the council had developed new child protection guidelines and the child protection committee was functioning better.

However, the Western Isles’ lead child protection nurse, whose post was created last year, did not always receive minutes of child protection committee meetings that she did not attend.

Last year’s SWIA report found 220 indicators of abuse and neglect between 1990 and 2000, and said the council had not taken the children into care quickly enough despite ample evidence of abuse.

Today’s report found the council’s social work department delivered some effective services, but leadership, management and capacity to improve were all weak.

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