Child protection referrals have continued to increase across Dundee.
Members of the Dundee Integrated Joint Board (IJB) were told that this was down to greater awareness among both the public and partnerships and a growing confidence that agencies are able to recognise and respond to abuse and neglect.
The annual report for 2019 said there were 1,115 referrals to the child protection intake service in 2018-19, a 10% increase on the previous year.
A total of 410 child protection investigations were recorded — an increase of 135 (33%) on the previous 12 months.
The board’s outgoing independent chairwoman Norma Ritchie said a great deal of progress had been made and praised staff for making it possible.
“In our last report we stated that we aimed to have in place a refreshed and updated website – that has been achieved,” she said.
“We also stated that we aimed to publish updated multi-agency child protection instructions – that has been achieved.
“Each of these considerable achievements would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of those staff to whom the tasks were assigned.”
She acknowledged there was “more work to be done to fulfil the city’s ambition of providing its children, young people and families with the protection they need.
However, she said the commitment by all multi-agency partners and staff, to achieve that goal was “without doubt, in place”.
In addition to the rise in referrals and investigations, the Children and Families Service reported an increase in young people reporting concerns relating to themselves and their peers.
The report said this may be a result of the distribution of awareness raising materials and the launch of the public facing website.
The number of child protection case conferences and joint investigative interviews have stabilised with only a marginal increase on the previous year.
An initial child protection case conference (ICPCC) is held if a youngster is assessed as being at risk of significant harm.
Every local authority area in Scotland has a child protection register, which is a list of children who may be at risk of current or future harm.
The number of children whose names are on the register at any given time will vary.
