Services for vulnerable children and young people in North Ayrshire are mostly working well, according to a new report - but there is a need for improvement in some areas.

The Care Inspectorate's review found that, overall, North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership’s key processes for assessing and managing risk were established and working well.

However, the regulator has asked the partnership to improve its use of outcome data to demonstrate the difference its services are making in keeping children safe and what needs to change.

Inspectors also said continued attention was required to ensure children and young people are meaningfully involved in decisions about their lives and in the development of future service provision.

Edith Macintosh, interim chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “The Care Inspectorate and our scrutiny partners are confident that the partnership in North Ayrshire has the capacity to continue to improve and to address the points highlighted in this report."

Ms Macintosh added: “Based on our confidence in the partnership’s strengths and commitment to continuous improvement, this joint inspection is now concluded.”

The inspectors noted the following positives about North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership:

  • The partnership’s recognition and initial response to risk was a strength and staff take timely and appropriate action to keep children safe.
  • Overall, key processes for assessing and managing risk were established and working well. 
  • Effective oversight and scrutiny of child protection performance was provided by the chief officers’ group and child protection committee.
  •  The partners involved in community planning had a well-established approach to gathering and using performance data to inform and support improvement activity. 

For the areas of concern, the Care Inspectorate will ask North Ayrshire Community partners for evidence that these are included in appropriate action plans, which should clearly identify how the partnership will make improvements.

The Care Inspectorate will also monitor the partnership’s progress and offer improvement support.