Inspection report praises 'very good' work of East Lothian Partnership

The final report has found that children and young people were safer as a result of East Lothian Partnership staff’s effective response to risks and concerns.

Inspectors, including volunteer young inspectors with care experience, met directly with children and young people, parents and carers, staff and senior leadership teams, committees and boards.

They reviewed practices through file reading and evidence reports and considered responses to surveys shared with staff, children, young people and families.

The partnership comprises of East Lothian Council, Police Scotland, NHS Lothian, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, Volunteer Centre East Lothian and Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

The report highlighted positive working relationships between partners using inter-agency referral discussions to plan responses if children and young people were at risk of harm, as well as positive relationships between staff and children and young people that helped to keep them safe.

Children and young people felt that staff listened to them and respected their views, while staff had confidence in leadership who worked with clear governance and reporting structures.

The results of the inspection were presented during an East Lothian Council meeting by Lindsey Byrne, the council’s head of children’s social work.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms Byrne said: “Inspectors found important strengths and were confident that children and young people were positively impacted upon by services to protect them.

“East Lothian received the grade of ‘very good’ – which I am sure everyone will agree is a fantastic endorsement of our work in this complex and high-risk area.

“Staff and leaders across the partnership are delighted with the inspection findings and it is testament to the hard work of colleagues across all agencies who work tirelessly to support and protect children and young people in East Lothian.”