15 June 2020
Crucial juncture for Children's Services Planning as public invited to comment on priorities for next three years
Individuals and communities across Aberdeenshire are being invited to participate in a consultation on a joint Children’s Services Plan 2020-2023.
The plan will set out the strategic direction and objectives of Aberdeenshire’s Children’s Services Plan for the next three years to enable us to continue to achieve our ambition:
“Our commitment to Aberdeenshire’s children and young people, is to provide them with the right support, in the right place, at the right time. in helping them reach individual potential and goals, we will work together to make Aberdeenshire the best place in Scotland to grow up.”
The Plan sets out our priorities for all partner agencies including Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland, NHS Grampian, the Grampian Fire Service, third sector, Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership and the Scottish Children’s Reporter.
Children’s Services Plans are underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) approach adopted by the Scottish Government. Both these require that children, young people and families must have their views taken into account when decisions are being made about them.
The following priorities were identified in 2017:
• #1. Providing help for care experienced children & young people (called Corporate Parenting).
• #2. Making sure children and young people aren’t affected by their own, or someone else’s drug or alcohol use.
• #3. Supporting children with a disability and their families.
• #4. Making sure children get the best start in life by giving the best support to families in the early years (children aged 0 to 8 years old).
• #5. Helping children & young people enjoy great mental health and wellbeing.
Complete the consultation questions online at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CSP2023 and more information to assist with completing the consultation is available here: http://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Apps/consultations/details.aspx?id=90
Or get in touch with the service by phone or email to find out about other ways to submit your views. Phone: 01467538029 Email: equalities@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Highlighting the importance of taking part, Cllr Gillian Owen, chair of the council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee commented: “All too often people have a view on the way services should be delivered but never make those views known. This is an opportunity to have your say, using your experiences, expertise and thinking to really shape what’s delivered and for managers to understand the priorities as you see them. I’m really pleased to see this piece of work taking shape and look forward to seeing the results.”
Jim Savege, Aberdeenshire Council’s Chief Executive and chair of the Executive Group for Public Protection, said: “Supporting children and young people is hugely important. As a council we strive to give young people the best possible future and to do this we work in partnership with a number of organisations including Police Scotland and NHS Grampian to make sure a consistent approach to supporting children and young people is delivered.
“Your views are really important in helping shape the delivery of these services in future so that we can build on the work that is already being carried out and assist with a continued joined up approach to this area.”
Susan Webb, NHS Grampian’s Director of Public Health and executive lead for planning children's services, said: "We work closely with Aberdeenshire Council - and all our local authority partners - to ensure our children and young people get the opportunity to realise their full potential. I would encourage people across the area to take a look at this plan and give the council their feedback."
The Executive Group for Public Protection is a multi-agency group which consists chief officers from Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian, Police Scotland and the third sector.