Council welcomes fourth edition "For Highland's Children"

30th August 2014

Members of The Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have approved the final draft of an integrated children's services plan for the Council’s Care and Learning Service.

The plan titled, "For Highland’s Children 4" (2014-2019) also incorporates as far as possible the contribution of children’s services delivered by NHS Highland. It is the fourth edition of the Plan, which commenced in 2001.

Under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill of February 2014, public bodies have new requirements to coordinate, plan, design and deliver services for young people; improve the wellbeing of young people and report on how this is being achieved.

The Highland Council, NHS Highland, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, Police Scotland, third sector partners and elected members will oversee the work of For Highland’s Children 4, which sets out service priorities for the next 5 years for meeting the needs of children and their families in the Highlands.

Improvement groups will drive the work across a number of areas including in schools, early years, child protection, looked after children services, mental health, additional learning needs, young carers and wellbeing, and supporting parents.

The impact of For Highland’s Children 4 will be measured in terms of how safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected and responsible and included children and young people are as a result of the implementation of the plan.

Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee said: "We are achieving good outcomes for children and families in the Highlands. That was clear from the recent very good inspection report of children’s services. However, we aspire to do even better. For Highland’s Children 4 sets out an ambitious agenda of service development and elected members are committed to getting this delivered."

Councillor Linda Munro, who is the Council’s Children’s Champion, said: “This is an excellent plan - a plan of inclusion that is forward thinking. I know that development of the plan has involved consultation with children’s groups, families and other stakeholders across the Highlands. I am keen that we can demonstrate the difference it will make in the years to come, as services continue to support families to improve outcomes for children.”