Scotland's children's services plans 2023-2026 review: improving outcomes for children, young people and families
Review of children's services plans for 2023 to 2026, in line with Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. This report presents key findings from the review of Scotland’s 30 Children’s Services Plans (CSPs) which cover the planning cycle for 2023 to 2026.
Executive Summary
This report presents key findings from the review of Scotland’s Children’s Services Plans (CSPs) which cover the planning cycle for 2023-2026.
The report highlights areas of strength, improvement and examples of good practice identified from the analysis of the thirty CSPs, and also provides an overview of the evolving policy context and impacts relevant to outcomes for children, young people and families since the previous review in 2021.
Together, these provide an overview of the current delivery context and effectiveness of Children’s Services Planning across Scotland, and inform future national and local decision-making on Children’s Services Planning.
Analysis of the Children’s Services Plans (CSPs) was structured around the 15 statutory review criteria, which relate to the content, format and process of developing a Children’s Services Plan, outlined in Statutory Guidance on Part 3 (Children's Services Planning) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
| Criteria | Fully met | Partially met | Not met |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Vision | 28 | 0 | 2 |
| 2. National Performance Framework | 13 | 8 | 9 |
| 3. Joint Strategic Needs Assessment | 13 | 15 | 2 |
| 4. Include Analysis of Data | 16 | 13 | 1 |
| 5. Manageable/Measurable Priorities | 12 | 17 | 1 |
| 6a. Children’s Services | 22 | 8 | 0 |
| 6b. Related Services | 19 | 9 | 2 |
| 7. Prevention & Early Intervention | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| 8. GIRFEC | 23 | 7 | 0 |
| 9. Children’s Rights | 24 | 5 | 1 |
| 10. Engagement & Ownership | 15 | 14 | 1 |
| 11. Family Support | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| 12. Resources | 8 | 9 | 13 |
| 13. Monitoring Indicators | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| 14. SMART | 10 | 18 | 2 |
| 15. Links to Plans & Reports | 29 | 1 | 0 |
The following areas of strength emerged throughout the analysis:
- Clear links and alignment from the Children’s Services Plan, with a range of other national and local plans, reports and strategies
- A clear and shared vision across partners
- Evidence of a range of children’s services, with a focus on prevention and early intervention
- A clear strategy for whole family support
- Consideration of children’s rights under UNCRC and participation
- Incorporation of the GIRFEC approach
All of the shared areas of strength identified in this review were also identified as areas of strengths in the previous review.
Within these, the number of Children’s Services Plans that fully achieved the whole family support criterion increased slightly, while the number fully achieving the GIRFEC and children’s rights criteria decreased slightly.
Areas for further development identified were:
- Detail on budget and resourcing information, including workforce
- Measurable and Time-related aspects of the SMART criterion
- Explicit links between the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) findings, and identification of the CSP’s Strategic Priorities
- Reflection of the National Performance Framework (NPF)
- A clearly defined approach to monitoring and evaluating progress
- Detail on related services, which considers community-based support, as well as adult services provided to parents or carers
The areas for development identified in this review were very similar to the previous review. The only difference related to monitoring progress, reflecting a slight drop in the number of Children’s Services Plans that had fully achieved this criterion.
Two areas that were previously identified as areas for development (analysis of data, and engagement and ownership criteria) showed slight improvements, although still remain areas for development. Other changes included a slight increase in the number of plans fully achieving the SMART criterion, and a decrease in the number fully achieving the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and National Performance Framework criteria.
It should be noted that overall there was limited change in the number of Children’s Services Plans that fully achieved criteria between the 2020-2023, and 2023-2026 reviews, and any shift relate to only small increases or decreases.
Together with the learning from strategic engagement and stakeholder feedback, the findings from this review will be used by Children’s Services Planning partners to support annual reporting, development of 2026-2029 Children’s Services Plans, and local CSPP delivery approaches.
This learning will also inform a wide range of policy development and improvement activity at national and local level. This contributes to our evolving approach to improving outcomes for children, young people and families across Scotland, through collective leadership, and the strategic planning of services and supports which safeguard, support and promote child wellbeing.
The review findings will also inform any amendments required to build on the support available to Children’s Services Planning partners through Part 3 Statutory Guidance. Proposed improvements will ensure this guidance reflects the current policy, legislative, and delivery context for children and families, and, that its content, scope and format remains helpful, to maximise the effectiveness and impact of Children’s Services Planning arrangements across Scotland.