This report is part of a series by Action for Children on the overriding importance of intervening as early as possible to support the most vulnerable children and their families. The deprivation these families experience is deeper and more complex than poverty alone, and the belief at the heart of this work is therefore that fiscal help alone will not stop their problems from being passed on through the generations.
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance promotes, supports and defends the principles and practice of independent advocacy across Scotland. This report details activities undertaken by the SIAA in 2005 including running 'advocacy awareness' training for service providers, a 'training for trainers' course, the distribution of the 'Directory of Advocacy Organisations in Scotland' and the development of the SIAA website which hosts a discussion forum to discuss dilemmas and to start discussions on advocacy in Scotland.
This report reviews the prevention of hepatitis C and what actions could be taken to reduce its transmission and improve knowledge and awareness, particularly among at-risk groups. The report therefore focuses on HCV prevention among injecting drug users.
This study used five in depth case studies using documentary analysis, interviews and structured case response methods. The study aimed to consider the impact of the move towards integrated children's service arrangements on how social care services for deaf children and their families are delivered and whether these arrangements create opportunities or threats to identify, assess and meet social care needs. Although good practice was identified, there were concerns about the quality, availability and appropriateness of social care services.
This report uses data from the Families and Children Study to investigate the characteristics of families that include a disabled adult and/or child. Questions posed by this research include, for instance, how do disability and caring responsibilities relate to families' ages, size, ethnic origins and so on? How far does disability cluster together within families, given that worklessness appears often related to ill-health?
Document reporting on the progress and results of the Safer Scotland anti-violence campaign begun in April 2006. The campaign's objective was to utilise collective and protracted efforts by police forces to manage existing problems and promote a safer Scotland by focusing on issues such as violence, alcohol misuse, knives and gangs.
This resource is a review which looks specifically at problems with the implementation of the Human Rights Act. The review was commissioned in the immediate aftermath of the Inquiry Report (by HM Chief Inspector of Probation) into the release of Anthony Rice, which had suggested that human rights arguments, and the Human Rights Act, had been contributory factors in the events leading to the murder of Naomi Bryant.
This report is based on evidence from joint area reviews (JARs) conducted in 73 local authority areas April 2007-July 2008. Key findings, recommendations and methodology are followed by sections on safeguarding; looked after children; children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; additional, education and other investigations; and service management and capacity to improve. Annexes give an overview of JAR grades awarded since April 2007 under the new methodology and a full list of JARs since April 2007.
There is concern that the needs of people with alcohol related brain damage (ARBD) and their carers are not being well met by current service provision across Scotland.
The Expert Group which produced this report was set up by the Scottish Executive to achieve better understanding of the issues and problems involved, and to advise on how they can be addressed.
This report uses data from the first three waves of the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) to explore children’s cognitive ability. Assessments of children’s language development (using a naming vocabulary task) and problem solving skills (using a picture similarities tasks) were carried out at age 34 months.