Friday, 5 October 2007

Protecting youngsters more than child's play

Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0363.htm
PROTECTING vulnerable children in Edinburgh is a key issue for all elected members on the council. These children need all of us to keep them safe.
The Council's Child Protection service was inspected by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in February of this year when the Labour administration was in power and I welcome their recommendations. I am realistic about the improvements required but also heartened by the new systems already put in place by the director.
We now have a new regime in Edinburgh's child protection service, with a new director, new police chair of the independent child protection committee, a new children and families convener and a new council administration. We are allcommitted and determined to improve the ways in which we look after "at risk" children.
It will not be an easy task, as Edinburgh has a drug culture deeply embedded in society and there are currently 6000 addicts registered. Social workers and health visitors report a growing number of parents involved in some form of substance misuse and this partly accounts for the dramatic increase in child protection referrals over the past four years.

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