Efforts to protect vulnerable children and families across Dundee in the face of the coronavirus crisis are being outlined in a new report.
The first annual update on an improvement plan explains that, given the impact of the pandemic on communities, “the emphasis within the plan on supporting vulnerable groups, addressing inequalities and narrowing the attainment gap has been especially pertinent”.
Dundee City Council’s children and families committee (on Monday December 7) will consider progress on the document across a range of educational and social work services.
Latest achievements of the children and families service improvement plan 2019-22 include:
From September 2020, all eligible children could access the expanded 1140 hours in early learning and childcare
Eight Community Support Centres, alongside work with partners to support vulnerable children and young people not attending these centres, helped to safeguard health and wellbeing while schools were shut
Schools continued to provide remote learning opportunities for all pupils not attending the CSCs, either digitally or by delivering learning packs to their homes.
Support to Looked After Children, Care Leavers, Young Carers and children and young people with disabilities was all adapted but continued during the pandemic
All children and young people on the Child Protection Register continued to receive weekly face-to-face support throughout the coronavirus crisis
The number of people in the criminal justice system referred to the service for Diversion from Prosecution schemes continued to increase
A four-year positive trend of the percentage of primary pupils achieving their expected Curriculum for Excellence level in both literacy and numeracy
A six-year trend of general improvement in senior phase attainment including 5 or more qualifications at SCQF levels 5 and 6
An overall five-year positive trend in the percentage of school leavers entering an initial positive destination. More…
The report emphasises that there was a joint focus in both the education and social work parts of the service on addressing inequalities, which was carried out in partnership with a range of organisations and local communities.
It states that: “Clearly, work has been interrupted by Covid-19 but in the context of the many constraints the pandemic has placed on services, support has been creatively adapted and sustained. Over the next 12 months, the service will build on this progress, whilst flexibly navigating through the route map of recovery”.
Committee convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said: “Our education and social work staff in the children and families service have shown tremendous commitment to maintain the delivery of support for families during this time of crisis.
“This plan is part of a sustained effort which is designed to improve life chances for all, and I am pleased to see the progress that is being made in many areas across our schools and social services.
“However, we cannot be complacent and the plan shows how we will take forward actions to reduce inequalities.
“This has been a tough time for everyone, but especially for those children and families who have so little.
“We owe it to them to give them a brighter future.”
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
