Aberdeenshire

Children’s Services Plan

Annual Report (2018/19)

Summary

to

On behalf of Aberdeenshire’s Chief Officers, and the Executive Group for Public

Protection (EGPP), I’m delighted to share our Children’s Services Plan Annual Report

for 2018/19.

Children’s Rights remained front and centre this year; with Year of Young People

highlighting the amazing skills, talents and ambitions of Aberdeenshire’s young

people. This has strengthened an approach to delivery of local services rooted in an

ethos of empowerment, participation, and nurturing positive relationships with families.

Organisations across the partnership have delivered a range of high quality services,

development work, and improvement activity over the year. This individual and

collective action has helped to safeguard, support and promote all children and young

people’s wellbeing; with our strategic priorities reflecting a strong shared commitment

to address locally identified needs. Multi-agency action is beginning to address the key

issues identified by children and families, and to effect positive change.

Year 2 of Aberdeenshire’s story shows what progress we are making with our Plan.

Analysis of performance data shows us how local outcomes for children and young

people are improving, and a number of measures help us to reflect on how well we are

realising the vision of “making Aberdeenshire the best place in Scotland to grow up.” We

are by no means complacent, and recognise there is still more to be done.

We continue to evolve and adapt as a Children’s Services Planning Partnership through

learning and reflection on findings from self-evaluation and external inspection. We ask

children and families what they need, and listen to their lived experiences of local

services and supports.

We move into Year 3 with determination to build further on improvements, maximise

our impact through collaboration, and to provide services based on principles of care

and compassion.

Executive Foreword

ntroduction

More detail on our Plan can be found in the full version 2018/19 Annual Report on the GIRFEC Website

Jim Savege, Chief Executive, Aberdeenshire Council (EGPP Chair)

Amanda Croft, Chief Executive, NHS Grampian

Campbell Thomson, North East Divisional Command, Police Scotland

Angie Wood, Chief Officer, Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership

Dan Shaw, Chief Executive, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA)

Martin Tait, Local Senior Officer (Aberdeenshire & Moray), Fire & Rescue Service

Improving children and young people’s wellbeing 4

Children’s Services in Aberdeenshire: working in partnership 5

Supporting a competent, confident, workforce 6

Championing Children’s Rights 7

Our children and young people are Included & Respected 8

Aberdeenshire’s economy 9

Children and young people in Aberdeenshire 10

Our services support Healthy, Nurturing, Active, families 11

Aberdeenshire’s children are Achieving and Included! 12

Partnership with Parents and Carers 13

Helping children be Safe & Nurtured 14

Keeping children and young people Safe & Responsible 15

Early Years 16

Mental Health and Wellbeing 17

Children with a Disability 18

Substance Misuse 19

Corporate Parenting 20

Wellbeing: Outcome Indicators/Performance Measures 21

Refection on 2017/2018 and beyond… 29

To find out more 30

Key Contacts 31

Contents

Improving Children & Young People’s Wellbeing

The aim of a Children’s Services Plan, is to improve the wellbeing of all

children and young people who live in the Community Planning Partnership

area. The Year 2 annual report shows how services in Aberdeenshire have

been developed and delivered over 2018/2019, and reflect the action we are

taking to improve outcomes.

Chief Officers agreed 5 strategic priorities for the Children’s Services Plan,

based on organisational data, information from services, views of frontline practitioners, and

importantly, by listening to what children, young people and families told us mattered most.

These priorities drive community planning partners to focus effort and resource in those areas

where most difference is made by us working together:

Early Years

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Children with a Disability

Substance Misuse

Corporate Parenting

Over 2018/19, Thematic Subgroups have made good progress against a number of multi-agency

actions. These groups are key to how we work together to improve outcomes for children and

young people experiencing particular types of need; and says what steps we will take over Year 3

to build further on this.

4

Children’s Services in Aberdeenshire: Working in Partnership

17

Early Years

Forums

17

Local

GIRFEC

Groups

17

Local

Community

Learning

Partnerships

Organisations have continued to work closely in partnership, to deliver support

through our Children’s Services Plan which improves outcomes for every child

and young person.

In 2018/19 Local GIRFEC Groups ran Children’s Services Planning Network

Events in Mearns, Turriff, Stonehaven, Banff and Fraserburgh. These had an aim

of strengthening Public Sector/Third Sector collaboration and raised awareness

of locally available family supports.

5

Supporting a competent, confident, workforce

150% increase in visitors to the

GIRFEC Website:

www. girfec-aberdeenshire.org/

294 practitioners (a 48% increase)

attended multi-agency GIRFEC Training

Modules over 2018/19

50,000+

Unique page

views of the

GIRFEC Website

Increased delivery of

scheduled multi-

agency GIRFEC

Training Modules from

64% to 81%

The GIRFEC Website remains a key multi-agency online resource for the partnership. Providing a range of resources for children, young people, parents/carers, practitioners and the general public, it has gone from strength to strength in 2018/19.

The website supports workforce learning and development, with practice tools and guidance, training opportunities, and online resources. Information on GIRFEC, Child Protection, Corporate Parenting and Children’s Rights is available.

The 2018/19 Child Protection Training

Calendar included new courses on:

Tackling Child Neglect, Online Safety, and

Domestic Abuse and the Protection of Children.

Website improvements included:

Improved accessibility & usability

Information on local Children’s Services

Planning arrangements

Resources on Youth Participation and

Children’s Rights

Year of Young People Signature Events

New multi-agency guidance

6

Championing Children’s Rights

Themes of empowering children and young people, promoting Children’s Rights,

and facilitating opportunities for participation have remained at the core of

Aberdeenshire’s Children’s Services Plan in 2018/19.

Development of the Children and Young People’s Section

of the GIRFEC Website this year includes resources on the UNCRC, local youth participation opportunities,

Aberdeenshire Children & Young People’s Charter, and

information on how to access your Rights

#52YouthVoices This online project was

open to anyone aged 8-25,

and provided a virtual

platform for children and

young people to share their

views, hopes, and

aspirations for young

people who live in

Aberdeenshire.

Young People sent in songs,

music poetry, mini-films,

prose and to-camera

pieces.

“I like Aberdeenshire because

it is safe and a beautiful

place.” (Abigail)

7

91

Schools are

registered for

Rights

Respecting

Schools Awards

The new

Children’s Rights

& Participation

GIRFEC Module

was co-created with

care experienced

young people.

51 practitioners

completed this

module in

2018/19.

Aberdeenshire’s Gypsy/Traveller representative on

Aberdeenshire Youth Council was part of a Government

Ministerial working group to discuss educational

improvements for young Gypsy/Travellers, met with

Young Scot about inclusivity and access to digital

platforms and talked with workers across Aberdeenshire

Council about Traveller culture, and how they can help

challenge prejudice and discrimination.

Aberdeenshire Youth Council met with the Chief Executive and Directors of

Aberdeenshire Council to raise issues which are important for young people

17 Community Youth Platforms delivered a range of events and projects over

2018/19: Turriff #YOYP Music Festival, Aboyne World Café Event, Celebrating 20

Years of Tarves Hut, Mearns Mental Health & Wellbeing Campaign

Meldrum LGBTQ+ Group created a quilt piece for inclusion in the National Pride

House Legacy Quilt

The Pupil Participation Forum won a COSLA Bronze Award for their youth volunteer

awards

I-CON Comicon was a huge success with over 400 attendees!

MSYP’s campaigned on issues such as transport, mental health, substance use

23 Youth Bank Applications were received (an increase on last year)

Police Scotland Youth Volunteers North Aberdeenshire undertook defibrillator

training and won Team Spirit Award at the Year of young People Games

Aberdeenshire’s Youth Participation framework

supports a range of forums where children and

young people are empowered to share their

views and to take action.

Our

children &

young

people are

Included

and

Respected!

Aberdeenshire Youth Forum developed and

conducted a survey with their peers in Spring 2019.

This had 2400 responses from young people

across Aberdeenshire. Drugs (64%) bullying

(35%) and alcohol (38%) were their top 3

concerns.

8

Aberdeenshire’s Economy

Aberdeenshire’s rate of youth

employment for 16-19 year olds 43%

is above the national average (37.8%)

6,180 people accessed

welfare, debt and employability

advice in 2018, with £4.3 million

client financial gain

7,023 (12.59%) children and

young people living in

Aberdeenshire experience Child

Poverty

110,296

Households in

Aberdeenshire

Tackling Child Poverty

is a priority in

Aberdeenshire’s Local

Outcomes Improvement

Plan

9

11,007 children are

registered/eligible for

free school meals

Children

& young people

In Aberdeenshire

203 children attend

Special Schools

4 Special Schools

150 Primary Schools

163 Early Learning &

Childcare Providers

(90 Council, 73 Partner Providers)

17 Secondary

Schools

10

166 Early Learning and

Childcare Providers

(90 Local Authority/76 Funded

Providers)

71 First-time parents (aged

19 or under) are

supported by the

Family Nurse

Partnership

13,000+ children aged under

5 (and their parents)

are supported by the

Universal Health

Visiting Pathway

70 Aberdeenshire

businesses are signed

up to the Welcome to

Breastfeed

programme (an

increase from 37 in

2017/18).

Our Services Support

Healthy, Nurturing, Active

Families

The Health & Social Care

Partnership Infant Feeding

Coordinator is working to keep

raising Aberdeenshire’s exclusive

breastfeeding rate at 6-8 weeks

(now 38.9%) to 46%, by 2021.

In 2018/19 there was

increased Active

Schools participation

by:

Children with a disability

Care experienced

children & young people

Children from low-

income families

(SIMD 1 & 2)

7869 children take part in Childsmile daily

supervised tooth brushing at Pre/Primary School

11

2,698

live births

We have extended local antenatal, maternity, and post-

natal support to families in local communities. Peterhead

Community Maternity Unit opened in August 2018, and

Inverurie Community Unit opened in January 2019

Aberdeenshire’s children are Achieving and Included!

We have increased

the number of SCQF

awards gained at:

S4 – 53.3 %

S5 – 40.2%

S6 – 35.7%

ALL 3, 4, and eligible 2

year olds were offered

their free Early Learning

& Childcare entitlement.

94.4%

We have above average levels of

school attendance

95%

of our young

people leave

school to go to

positive work,

training, or

further/higher education.

339 projects

involving

2989 young

people were

delivered by the

Community Learning

& Development

Service.

189 children achieved accredited awards (such

as Dynamic Youth Awards) supported by CLD.

And CLD facilitate 78 Youth Participation

projects including 1004 young people

The number of school

exclusions (incidents and

number of young people)

went down in 2018.

12

Partnership with Aberdeenshire’s Parents and Carers

Learning Together in Aberdeenshire: Parental Involvement and

Engagement Strategy (2018-2021) was launched in 2018.

3,500

Parents and Carers

took part in

Aberdeenshire’s

‘Big Conversation’

881

People were supported

through targeted CLD

Family Learning sessions

50+ Family Learning

Projects were

delivered across

Aberdeenshire in

2018/19

94% of parent/carer respondents in

2018 agreed they were satisfied with

their child’s school

87% said they would recommend

the school to other parents

13

97% of parents/carers said

their health visitor was

supportive

97% of parents/carers said

they would contact their

health visitor for advice

(February 2019)

Helping Children and Young People

to be Safe and Nurtured…

10 Family Resource

Centres

Secondary Schools

12 Children & Families Community

Support Social Work Teams

We have reduced the number of

children and young people

accommodated on an emergency

basis from 48% down to 29% in

2018/19

Positive Feedback

on our services

The Care Inspectorate gave

us positive feedback on the

quality of our Fostering and

Adoption Social Work

Services, our Children’s

Homes, and Taizali

Supported Accommodation

14

Over 2400

children and young people are supported by

Children’s Services Social Work

Our Children’s Homes

received 100% Care

Inspectorate gradings

at Good or above.

75% - Very Good

25% - Good

S4 – 50% 5

1129 Wellbeing

Topic inputs

were delivered

by Police

Scotland

School Liaison

Officers

40% of Child Protection registrations in

Aberdeenshire are due to domestic abuse.

Our Child Protection Committee took

steps to tackle this. We launched new

Domestic Abuse & Child Protection

guidance.

Helping children and young people

stay Safe and be Responsible… Internet

Safety and

CSE support is

provided by

ADA Green

Light Project

and Barnardos

CSE Worker

77 children & young

people are on

Aberdeenshire’s Child

Protection Register

229 Child Protection

Case Conferences were

held

We held 3 Cumulative Neglect Events as part

of the NE Child Protection Partnership

39 Child Protection Training Courses were

delivered to 632 multi-agency practitioners

Whole Systems Approach

An increased number of young

people were considered for

diversion from prosecution, keeping

them out of the criminal justice system.

The number of 16/17 year olds committing a crime has reduced. We

also want to reduce the number of 8-15

year olds committing a crime

95% of our children and young people

feature in 3 or less crimefiles

Inspection of

15

We also developed and

delivered companion

training to support use of

the guidance and raise

awareness of coercive

control

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service

Crash Live Events have taken

place at Aberdeenshire Secondary

Schools. These use virtual reality

technology to simulate a 360

experience of being the front seat

passenger during a car crash and

target young people in 4th year

where statistics reflect a need for

action and education

A lower % of children in

Aberdeenshire are identified

with one or more areas of

developmental concern at their

27-30 month Health Visitor

Assessment. (All domains is

9.12% (Aberdeenshire)

compared to 27.79% (Scotland)

Next steps for 2019/2020…

Build opportunities to develop earlier

phonological awareness through

play, rhyme, song and stories, to

close the gap

Sustain engagement in Early Years

Forums

Refine performance measures and

our data-set

77.3% of

Aberdeenshire’s

Primary 1

children are a

healthy weight

(above the

national average)

12,843 Baby, Toddler, and

Explorer Bookbug Bags were gifted.

Rhymetime Story Sessions were

delivered to 10,824 children and

8762 parents/carers.

The Northern Alliance Highland Literacy Project saw

Speech & Language Therapists work with Education

colleagues to collect data on early literacy. This showed

a 20% gap in listening/attention, auditory

discrimination, and rhyme awareness between the

most/least deprived P1 children.

The number of Early Years

Forums (EYF)

with an active

improvement

plan reduced

in 2018/19.

We increased delivery of

Triple P Groupwork to reach

133 Families & 148 Caregivers.

96% children showed improved

Strengths & Difficulties

Questionnaire scores post-group

Early Years

82 Early Years practitioners in 8 schools were

trained to use TalkBoost – a targeted intervention

that narrows the gap in language delay between

identified children and their peers.

16

47 Pop-up Play sessions were delivered at 46 locations

The Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management

(LIAM) Project ran successfully in 3 pilot

areas of Aberdeenshire.

44 multi-agency professionals are now

trained by CAMHS in the approach, which

enables staff such as teachers, social

workers and school nurses to provide early

intervention support for low level anxiety to

young people in their local community.

Young people reported reduced anxiety

symptoms post-LIAM intervention.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

case study by Audit Scotland in the Policy and

Strategic Direction section of Audit Scotland’s

Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Report (September 2018).

Next steps for 2019/2020…

Establish meaningful data to refine measures and

inform improvements

Roll out LIAM Project training and delivery in new

areas of Aberdeenshire

Launch the mental health e-learn modules

Development of a

professional

learning matrix has

continued with an

aim of enhancing

practitioner

knowledge, skills

and confidence in

supporting improved

mental health and

welbeing outcomes

for children and

young people.

A suite of e-learning modules has

been developed which aim to raise

awareness of every day support

strategies in the following areas:

Depression and low mood

Bereavement

Anxiety

Self-harm

Aberdeenshire Pupil Participation Forum (PPF)

are interested in developing mental health

resources for young people and provided

feedback on mental-health e-learning modules

developed by the Mental Health Group.

Young people co-produced a film

highlighting the role of

leadership at all levels to

address mental health &

wellbeing. This is being released

for World Mental Health Day

17

Aberdeenshire

Children & Young

People’s Mental

Health and

Wellbeing Strategy

was highlighted as a

Children with a Disability

Every school cluster has

enhanced provision

which includes a sensory

room, therapy room and life-skills spaces. All new

schools include a low

sensory stimulation area.

359 children and young

people received a Self-Directed

Support

Package

Next steps for 2018/2019…

Parent focus groups in conjunction with Autism Parent Support

Groups are being planned to inform Autism-Friendly Schools

Collation of ASD resources and streamlining Autism Diagnostic

Pathways

Post-16 transitions support

Aberdeenshire Children & Young

People’s Charter has been made widely

available in a widget symbol version.

A multi-agency resource on child protection

and disability was developed and launched.

This raises awareness on the recognition of,

and response to concerns; support for children

and young people with disabilities before,

during and after the investigation process.

It has a range of linked resources for

practitioners, and the presentation has been delivered annually in every Aberdeenshire

school from August 2018, as part of Child

Protection input by Head Teachers.

18

Widget symbols are

used in all schools, and

other alternative visual

communication

approaches such as

TEACCH and PECS are

commonly used.

An online ALDO E-Learn: Understanding Sensory

Behaviours was launched to enhance understanding

of children and young people with sensory needs and

awareness of how to support those needs. Over 500

cross-sector teaching and non-teaching practioners

have registered

100% of respondents said they would recommend the Universal Support,

Targeted Support, and Adapting the Curriculum Modules. 97% said they

would recommend the Using Sensory Spaces Module.

Substance Misuse

27% of Aberdeenshire

Child Protection

registrations are

due to parental drug use

The rate of

alcohol-related

hospital stays for

11-25 year olds

in Aberdeenshire is 28 out of all 32

local authorities

Aberdeenshire’s

rate of drug-

related hospital

stays for 11-25

year olds is the lowest in

Scotland

Next steps for 2019/20…

ADP Funds have commissioned a needs

assessment exercise to map supports, services

and interventions for children and families

affected by drugs and/or alcohol, and establish a

data-set to inform future planning.

Operation Corner tackled County Lines exploitation of

young people in Peterhead, and instances of cuckooing

(where drug dealers take over vulnerable individual’s

accommodation). Partnership working helped to

identify vulnerable adults and young people who were in

need of support from services.

Young people told us that drugs (64%), alcohol (38%)

and bullying (38%) are their top 3 worries:

Peterhead Local GIRFEC Group piloted a workforce knowledge

skills/survey. This now will be rolled out Aberdeenshire-wide, with results informing effective future planning to meet learning and

development needs on drug and alcohol use impacting on families.

School

exclusions due

to alcohol and

suspected drug use fell in

2018/19

Changing Aberdeenshire’s relationship with

alcohol is a priority in our Local Outcomes

Improvement Plan (LOIP)

19

Trends suggest good use of early intervention with:

Steady referrals to the Children’s Reporter

A continued high rate of referral conversions (where

the Reporter agrees with the need for a Hearing)

Next steps for 2019/2020…

Continue our efforts to recruit foster carers/adopters

Recruit a Virtual Head Teacher for care experienced

Improve school attendance rates for children and

young people who are Looked After at Home

Set up a system to record % successes in reports

Corporate Parenting

98.8% Of Looked After

children had an

allocated Social Worker

100% Of young people

leaving care had

a plan addressing health needs

100 Children have

used our

Children’s Rights Service

223 children are on

a Compulsory

Supervision Order (CSO)

80% Of young people

leaving care had

a pathways assessment/plan

243 referrals

made to the

Children’s

Reporter (non-offence)

“I feel like I get treated

very well and people

treat me as my age,

and I respect that and

therefore I am the

same back.”

(young person’s views

on living in an

Aberdeenshire Children’s Home )

We held our first ever

bespoke awards

evening for care

experienced young people: Celebrating

Success

“Being nominated for

the award was great,

even though I was

surprised. We were all

treated as though we

were really special!”

We increased Our

Family Firm referrals

from 54 to 73

We increased

recruitment of foster

carers and maintained

our level of adopter

recruitment in 2018/19

20

The % of Looked After

children attending

Active Schools

activities increased

from 13 to 23%

Our Young People’s

Organising &

Campaigning Group are

working on a guide for their

campaign: Coming into Care

and Moving Placements –

Getting it Right

KEY: Requires improvement Satisfactory or in progress Performing well Developing measure

WELLBEING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Rate of Smoking in pregnancy1

11.6% [2014/15-2016/17] (16%)

Perinatal Mortality Rate per 1,000 births (stillbirths plus deaths in the first week of life)2

10 stillbirths/10 neonatal deaths [2017] (3.7/1000 births & stillbirths)

% of children exclusively breastfed at 6-8 weeks3 38.9% [2018]

Number of businesses engaged in the Welcome to Breastfeed scheme 70+ [2019]

% of eligible children with no concerns at their 27-30 month health review4 87% [2016/17] (66%)

Number of mothers/toddlers supported by Family Nurse Partnership5 71 mothers/toddlers

ELC take-up of eligible 2 year olds (estimated as a % of the Central Health Index (CHI) August intake)6

44.8% [2018]

ELC take-up of 3, 4 and 5 year olds (estimated as % of the Central Health Index (CHI) August intake)7

96% [2018]

% of local authority ELC Settings achieving good or better at the most recent inspection8 (not all areas inspected at each setting)

28 inspection reports Quality of care and support: 89.3% -25/28 Quality of environment: 93.3% -14/15 Quality of staffing: 95.2% -20/21 Quality of management and leadership: 58.8% -10/17 [2018/19]

% of Funded/Private ELC Settings achieving good or better at the most recent inspection (not all areas inspected at each setting)

40 inspection reports Quality of care and support: 82.5% -33/40 Quality of environment: 81.2% -26/32 Quality of staffing: 76.7% -23/30 Quality of management and leadership: 68.6% - [2018/19]

Wellbeing

21

WELLBEING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

ChildSmile Daily Supervised Brushing: Number of settings/children engaged9 131 Preschools/5,792 children 36 Primary Schools/ 2,077 [2018/19]

% Primary 1 children receiving a letter 'C' (no obvious dental decay) at basic inspection10

77.1% [2017/18] (70.4%)

% of Primary school inspections achieving satisfactory or better at the most recent inspection11

66.7% (4 of 6) [2018/19]

% children achieving Early Level Literacy and Numeracy by end of P112

Literacy 74% (59% SIMD Q1, 80% Q5) (75%) [2018] Numeracy 86% (76% SIMD Q1, 88% Q5) (85%) [2018]

% children achieving First Level Literacy and Numeracy by end of P413

Literacy 66% (39% SIMD Q1, 73% Q5) (National 69%) [2018] Numeracy 74% (50% SIMD Q1, 81% Q5) (National 76%) [2018]

% children achieving Second Level Literacy and Numeracy by end of P714

Literacy 69% (50% SIMD Q1, 75% Q5) (70%) [2018] Numeracy 76% (69% SIMD Q1, 81% Q5) (75%) [2018]

% young people achieving Third Level Literacy and Numeracy by end of S315

Literacy 83% (17% SIMD Q1, 93% 5) (National 87%) Numeracy 91% (73% SIMD Q1, 94% Q5) (National 89%) [2018]

% young people achieving 5+ awards at SCQF level 5 by S416

50.1% (14.3% SIMD Q1, 57.4% Q5) (National 46.0%) [2017]

% school attendance (All Sectors, and Primary/Secondary/Special)17

All Sectors 94.4% (93.3%) Primary 95.7% (94.9%) Secondary 92.6% (91.2%) Special 92.4% (90.3%) [2018]

Number of Exclusion Incidents and number of Young People Excluded18 Exclusion Incidents 772 Young People 498 [2018]

% Secondary School inspections achieving satisfactory or better at the most recent inspection19

N/A No Inspections [2018/19]

% school leavers in a positive destination from each SIMD quintile20

96.3% [2018] (91.4% SIMD Q1, 97.3% Q5)

WELLBEING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Number of work placements and extended/flexible work placements

2556 work placements 650 extended/flexible work placements

No of Activity Agreements % Positive Post-Activity Agreement Destination21

45 Activity Agreements (AA) [2018] 80% Post-AA Positive Destination

Youth Employment Rate (16-19 and 20-24 year olds)22

16-19 year olds: 53.9% (37.8%) 20-24 year olds: 78.1% (71.6%) [2018]

Child Poverty: % children in combined material deprivation and low income before/after housing costs (below 70% of UK median income)23

7.69% before housing costs 12.59% after housing costs [2017]

Child Poverty: Number of children in receipt of free school meals24 11,007 children [2018]

Gap in Child Poverty rate between least/most deprived communities 4.71% - 20.89% (decreasing) [2018/19]

Number of Active Schools School Sport Awards achieved25 5 Gold | 3 Silver | 0 bronze [2018/19]

% participation in Active Schools activities by priority group children/young people26

14% children from low income families 16% looked after children 21% children with a disability [2018]

Number of CLD projects delivered/number of young people engaged/Externally accredited awards achieved27

339 projects/2989 young people/189 externally accredited awards [2018/19]

Engagement in youth participation projects (projects delivered/young people)28 78 projects/ 1004 young people [2018/19]

Number of Police School Liaison Officer Wellbeing inputs to schools29 1129 wellbeing inputs [2018/19]

Number of young people engaged in Safe Drive Stay Alive SFRS Events30 6000 young people [2018]

Number of home fire safety visits undertaken31 1582 [2018]

Number of children on the child protection register32 77 [2018/19]

WELLBEING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Number of child protection conferences33 229 [2018/19]

Number of new child protection registrations and de-registrations34

130 new registrations 128 de-registrations [2018]

Aberdeenshire Child Protection Training: Number of courses delivered/participants35

39 courses 632 participants) [2018]

% Aberdeenshire GIRFEC Modules/Modules delivered36 80% (16% increase)[2018/19]

Multi-agency workforce engagement in Aberdeenshire GIRFEC Modules37 294 (increase from 103) [2018/19]

% GIRFEC Module Learning Outcomes Achieved (<80% positive feedback)38

Module 1: 84% Module 2: 100% Module 3: 100% Module 4: 89% Module 5: 90% Module 6: 100% [2018/19]

User Engagement with GIRFEC Website39

User Sessions: 24, 811 Unique Page Views: 50, 527 [2018/19]

Number of Schools engaged with UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Awards40

Total Schools Registered: 91 Bronze: 38, Silver: 24, Gold: 14

EARLY YEARS Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

% P1 children at a healthy weightxli 77.3% (76.5%) [2017/18]

% eligible children identified as having 1 or more concerns at the 27-30 month reviewxlii

9.12% (27.8%) [2017/18]

% Early Years Forums with Active Improvement Plansxliii 47% [2018/19]

Engagement with Bookbug (Children/Adults attending Bookbug Sessions/Bookbug Bags/Bookbug Library Challengexliv

856 Bookbug Sessions: (10,824 Children/8762 Adults)

57 Bookbug Makaton Sessions: (646 children/432 Adults)

4779 Bookbug Baby Bags

4990 Bookbug Toddler Bags

3074 Bookbug Explorer Bags

Library Challenge: 919 children (2795 visits) [2018/19]

EARLY YEARS Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Triple P Groupwork Outcomes (engagement, and % children with an improved SDQ score)xlv

133 families | 148 caregivers | 96% improvement [2018]

Engagement in Pop-Up Play sessionsxlvi 47 sessions delivered 1674 parents/carers [2018/19]

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Waiting time: NHS Grampian CAMHS Performance against 18 week waiting time target xlvii

35-45% fluctuation over the year [2017/18] (not currently available for Aberdeenshire specifically)

SALSUS: Scottish Adolescent Substance and Lifestyle Survey (SALSUS)xlviii

Data not currently available at local authority level. Awaiting 2018 SALSUS data [last data 2015]

Number of children and young people with ASN where the reason recorded for support is ‘mental health problem’xlix

530 children/young people [2018]

CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

% school leavers with ASN in a positive destinationl 93.7% (90.5%) [2018]

Number of children in receipt of a Self-Directed Support Packageli 359 [2018/19]

CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Engagement and impact of Understanding Sensory Behaviours ALDO Courselii (% who would recommend the course)

Practitioners registered: 500+ Module evaluations: [2018/19] M1: 100% M2:100%, M3:100% M4:97% Self-reported improvement in post-course practitioner confidence levels: 20%

SUBSTANCE USE Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

Rate of maternities with drug use (per 1000 maternities)liii

14 per 1000 (14.5 per 1000) [2015/16-2017/18]

Rate of drug-related hospital stays for 11-25 year oldsliv

40 per 100,000 (just over 100 per 100,000) [2014/15-2016/17]

Rate of alcohol-related hospital stays for 11-25 year oldslv Under 200 [2014/15-2016/17]

Referral to SCRA where young person’s alcohol/substance misuse is a factorlvi

Alcohol <5 Substance misuse <5 [2018]

Number of children/young people excluded for reasons related to substance misuselvii

Alcohol 12 Not Alcohol 19 [2017/18]

CORPORATE PARENTING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

% attendance/unauthorised absence of looked after childrenlviii

Attendance 90.4% Unauthorised absence 3.5% [2017/18]

% School-leavers Looked After (for the whole year) achieving 1+ awards at SCQF level 4lix

96% (76%) [2017/18]

% of looked after school leavers in a positive destinationlx 80.9% (80.4%) [2018]

CORPORATE PARENTING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

% of care leavers accessing supported accommodation together via T/C teamlxi

20% [2018]

Number and % of care leavers sustaining their own tenancies engaged with the servicelxii

30 (53%) [2018]

Number of new carers approved for adoptionlxiii 8 [2018]

Number of new carers approved for fosteringlxiv 15 [2018]

Number and % of looked after children with an allocated social workerlxv

416 children/young people 98.8% [2018]

% of young people leaving care with a plan addressing health needslxvi 100% [2018]

% of young people leaving care engaged in education and employmentlxvii 57% [2018]

Number and % of young people over 17 remaining in their placementlxviii 23% (25 young people) [2018]

Number and % of young people over 18 remaining in their placementlxix 10% (11 young people) [2018]

% of CEYP actively engaged with the TC/AC Team and who have a Pathways Planlxx

80% [2018]

% of looked after young people who can identify their key contact in schoollxxi

100% [2018]

% of care experienced young people who have received coaching guidance (SDS) in S4, 5 & 6lxxii

95% [2018]

% of Looked After children engaged with SDS prior to leaving schoollxxiii 96% [2018]

Participation levels of LAAC young people in Active Schools activitieslxxiv 23.3% [2018]

Participation levels of LAAC young people in volunteering activitieslxxv 5% [2018]

Number of referrals to Our Family Firmlxxvi 73 [2018]

Number of Our Family Firm Championslxxvii 11 [2018]

% Care inspectorate quality gradings for Children’s and Young People’s Homes at Good or above (Grading 4-6)lxxviii

100% (25% Good/75% Very Good) [2018/19]

CORPORATE PARENTING Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline (national comparator) Progress

% LAC Reviews where child’s views are clearly available to the Review Managerlxxix

80% [2018/19] (12% Child too young/7% other reason)

% children who received an initial LAC Health Assessment as a result of becoming Looked Afterlxxx

94% [2018]

% of initial health assessments taking place within 8 weekslxxxi 47% [2018]

WHOLE SYSTEM APPROACH/YOUTH JUSTICE Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline Progress

Number of young people (aged 8-15/age 16-17) committing crimeslxxxii Number of offences

551/428 1277 offences [2018/19]

% Young people who appear on 5 or less crimefiles 95% [2018/19]

Young people referred to SCRA on offence grounds, where the reporter made a decision to proceed to a Hearing

7 [2018/19]

Young people’s cases remitted from court to Children’s Hearing for advice/disposal

<5 (increased) [2018/19]

Young people offered court support 62 (increased) [2018/19]

YOUNG CARERS Wellbeing Indicators Outcome Indicator / Performance Measure Baseline Progress

Number of young carers recorded in SEEMiSlxxxiii 148 [2018/19]

Number of young carers supported by Quarriers Young Carers Support Servicelxxxiv

208 [2018/19]

Number of young carers participating in Quarriers events/learning sessionslxxxv 152 [2018/19]

% of requests for a young carers statement metlxxxvi 100% (180 young people) [2018/19]

Looking ahead to Year 3 of our Plan, we will…

Champion Children’s Rights, and empower children & young people through opportunities for participation

Build capacity through thematic and geographic collaboration, to enhance service delivery

Refresh action plans for our Strategic Priority Thematic Groups, to ensure this continues to improve outcomes for

our most disadvantaged children & young people

Inform service improvements through continued use of quality assurance and self-evaluation

Build and extend good practice as reflected in positive inspection outcomes

Continue to develop data, and refine partnership intelligence to support most effective use of this

Maximise opportunities for joint resourcing, and to up-scale and spread ‘what works’’

Further develop robust systems to gather and analyse meaningful performance data to evidences success

Reflections on 2018/2019 and beyond…

Key updates

#YearOfYoungPeople was a resounding success, with 9

signature events co-delivered by young people and over 7000

participation awards achieved

Educational outcomes for children and young people in

Aberdeenshire remain very positive, children are being kept

safe, and our healthy child weight and 27-30 month health

review outcomes compare better than the national average

A competent and confident multi-agency workforce is well

supported; with increased uptake of Child Protection and

GIRFEC Training Modules, and use of the GIRFEC Website

Key Challenges…

To make sure we have equitable service

delivery across Aberdeenshire’s large,

rural, geography

Teacher/Heath Visitor recruitment

Budget pressures across the Public

Sector and Third Sector

Ensuring sustainable, effective models of

partnership working

Continue to strengthen an approach

rooted in prevention and early

intervention

29

_ _ Partners to consider how they will embed the delivery of priorities into their individual planning frameworks

To find out more go to:

www.girfec-aberdeenshire.org/

https://www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/

Related Plans:

For further information:

Please contact Aberdeenshire’s GIRFEC Service Transformation Manager on

(01467) 535904 or: bryony.revell@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Published Dec 2019

Aberdeenshire Children’s Services Plan (2017-2020)

Aberdeenshire Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (2017-2027)

Key Contacts

Executive Group for Public Protection

Jim Savege (Chair) Chief Executive, Aberdeenshire Council

Campbell Thomson Chief Superintendent, North East Division, Police Scotland

Amanda Croft Chief Executive, NHS Grampian

Susan Webb Director of Public Health, NHS Grampian

Laurence Findlay Director of Education and Children’s Services, Aberdeenshire Council

Dan Shaw Chief Executive, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action

Angie Woods Chief Officer, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP)

Martin Tait Area Manager for Aberdeenshire & Moray, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Iain Ramsey Chief Social Work Officer, Aberdeenshire Council,

Vincent Docherty Head of Education, Aberdeenshire Council

Sheena Gault Independent Chair, Adult Support & Protection/Child Protection Committees

Chairperson/Thematic Lead

Dr Simon Hilton Consultant in Public Health, NHS Grampian Intelligence, Data and Planning Group

Mike Ogg Strategy & Business Services Partnership Manager, AHSCP Co-ordination and Support Hub

Emma Toner Lead Officer & Learning and Development Subgroup Child Protection Committee

Bryony Revell Service Transformation Officer (GIRFEC) GIRFEC Learning & Development Group

Leigh Jolly Interim Head of Children’s Services Social Work Corporate Parenting

Wayne Gault Lead Officer, Aberdeenshire Alcohol & Drugs Partnership Substance Misuse

Carron Douglas Principal Educational Psychologist Mental Health & Wellbeing

Kim Penman Health and Wellbeing Lead, AHSCP Early Years

Anne Marie Davies Quality Improvement Manager, Aberdeenshire Council Children with a Disability

Kirsty Theodoreson Social Work Manager, Aberdeenshire Council Youth Services/Whole Systems Approach

Sharon Napier Project Coordinator, Children’s Services Social Work Young Carers

GIRFEC Strategic Group

Laurence Findlay (Chair) Director of Education and Children’s Services, Aberdeenshire Council

Vincent Docherty Head of Education, Aberdeenshire Council

Leigh Jolly Interim Head of Children’s Services Social Work, Aberdeenshire Council

Mike Ogg Strategy & Business Services Partnership Manager, AHSCP

Kate Stephen Superintendent Operations, North East Division, Police Scotland

Avril Nicol Interim Head of Service, Live Life Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire Council

Audrey Hendry Lead Officer, Early Years Aberdeenshire Council

Kim Penman Health and Wellbeing Lead, Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership

Dr Simon Hilton Consultant in Public Health, NHS Grampian

Carron Douglas Principal Educational Psychologist, Aberdeenshire Council

Helen James Primary Head Teacher (PHTC Rep), Aberdeenshire Council

Lisa Lees Secondary Head Teacher (ASHTA Rep) Aberdeenshire Council

Dan Shaw Third Sector Representative, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA)

Bryony Revell Service Transformation Officer (GIRFEC) Aberdeenshire Council

1 Smoking in Pregnancy: ScotPHO Profiles, 3 year average 2 National Records of Scotland https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-publications/vital-events-reference-tables/2017/section-1-summary 3 Breastfeeding rate: ISD dashboard https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Infant-Feeding/ 4 27-30 month review ISD 2017 https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Publications/data-tables2017.asp?id=2136#2136 5 NHS Grampian: Family Nurse Partnership 6 ECS ELC PI’s ECS (from CHI data 2018) 7 ECS ELC PI’s ECS (from CHI data 2018) 8 Education Scotland school inspections https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/what-we-do/inspection-and-review/recent-reports 9 Childsmile, NHS Grampian 10 ScotPHO Profiles 11 Education Scotland school inspections https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/what-we-do/inspection-and-review/recent-reports 12 ECS NIF report 2017/18 https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/ACEL 13 ECS NIF report 2017/18 https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/ACEL 14 ECS NIF report 2017/18 https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/ACEL 15 ECS NIF report 2017/18 https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/ACEL 16 Insight, Committee Report Analysis of Attainment 10/10/19 http://committeesinternal.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=494&meetid=19404 17 Scottish Government publication https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/AttendanceAbsenceDatasets and ECS AAE return data 18 ECS data AAE return 2016/17, 2017/18 19 Education Scotland school inspections https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/what-we-do/inspection-and-review/recent-reports 20 Insight 2018 21 Opportunities for All/CLD Service 22 (https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/) and Annual Population Survey 23 Tackling Poverty & Inequality Group lead provide Child Poverty statistics as part of LOIP 24 https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/SchoolMealsDatasets 25 Live Life Aberdeenshire (Active Schools) 26 Live Life Aberdeenshire (Active Schools) 27 ECS CLD data 28 ECS CLD data 29 Police Scotland NE Division 30 Aberdeenshire Fire and Rescue Service 31 Aberdeenshire Fire and Rescue Service 32 Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committees 33 Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committees 34 Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committee 35 Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committee 36 GIRFEC L&D Group 37 GIRFEC L&D Group 38 GIRFEC L&D Group 39 GIRFEC Website analytics 40 ECS Aberdeenshire Council xli ISD Scotland Dec 2018 https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Publications/2018-12-11/2018-12-11-P1-BMI-Statistics-Publication-Report.pdf xlii ISD 2017 https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Publications/data-tables2017.asp?id=2136#2136 xliii Early Years Strategic Group xliv Live Life Aberdeenshire Library Service xlv Early Years Strategic Group xlvi ECS Early Years’ Service xlvii NHS Grampian xlviii SALSUS Aberdeenshire http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=302&meetid=18671 xlix Scottish Government Pupil Census Supplementary data 2018

l Insight 2018 li Aberdeenshire Children’s Services Social Work lii Understanding Sensory Behaviours online ALDO course liii IDS https://www.isdscotland.org/A-to-Z-Index/index.asp liv IDS https://www.isdscotland.org/A-to-Z-Index/index.asp lv IDS https://www.isdscotland.org/A-to-Z-Index/index.asp lvi Scottish Children’s Reporters Administration (SCRA) lvii ECS AAE Return 2016/17, 2017/18 lviii ECS AAE Return 2016/17, 2017/18 lix Scottish Government publication https://www.gov.scot/publications/education-outcomes-looked-children-2017-18/pages/3/ lx Insight, Committee Report Analysis of Attainment 10/10/19 http://committeesinternal.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=494&meetid=19404 lxi Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxiii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxiv Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxv Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxvi Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxvii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxviii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxix Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxx Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxi Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxiii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxiv Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxv Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxvi Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxvii Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019 lxxviii Care Inspectorate lxxix Aberdeenshire Council Children’s Services Social Work lxxx NHS Grampian Looked After Child Service lxxxi NHS Grampian Looked After Child Service lxxxii Youth Justice Management Unit 2018/19 lxxxiii Young Carer Strategy Group (data from SEEMiS) lxxxiv Quarriers Young Carers Support Service, lxxxv Quarriers Young Carers Support Service lxxxvi Quarriers Young Carers Support Service