West Lothian Council delivers

Children and family care - support and advice

 

West Lothian Council provides a wide range of services offering support and advice to children and young people as well as their parents, carers and families. These services cover all ages from pre-birth to young adults and all circumstances, including:

• behaviour or relationship challenges
• drug, alcohol or substance misuse
• parenting problems from toddlers to teenagers
• issues at school
• offending or anti social behaviour
• child protection concerns

If you feel you need support or advice on any matter relating to children or young people, you should initially contact your local Social Work Centre as detailed below:

Livingston Social Work Centre
New Cheviot House
Almondvale Boulevard
Livingston
EH54 6QN
Tel. 01506 282252

Broxburn Social Work Centre
Strathbrock Partnership Centre
189a West Main Street
Broxburn
EH52 5LH
Tel. 01506 775666

Bathgate Social Work Centre
69 Whitburn Road
Bathgate
EH48 1HE
Tel. 01506 776700

Emergency out of hours contact number - 01506 281028 or 281029

Reviewing Officers Team

The Reviewing Officers Team carries out reviews on children and young people who are accommodated away from home (usually with foster carers or in residential units and schools). These reviews take place as per Government regulations at 6 week, 3 monthly and 6 monthly intervals after a child is accommodated. The child or young person, their parent(s), the care provider and associated professionals are invited to attend the review. These meetings are minuted and a Care Plan is agreed. In addition, young people who have been accommodated and have a right to an aftercare service are also reviewed. The Reviewing Officers Team also chair all Initial and Review Child Protection Case Conferences held in West Lothian.

Service Standards:

• Meet with parents/carers prior to every Child Protection Case Conference to ensure they understand the process and report content
• Ensure that parents/carers are facilitated and encouraged to participate during Reviews/Case Conferences
• Ensure that actions on Care Plans have been met and seek explanations if this is not the case
• Agree modification of Care Plans
• Contribute to quality assurance process by monitoring standards in respect of both the quality and effectiveness of the review/case conference process for children and families
• Contribute to quality assurance by monitoring and maintaining standards in respect of both quality and effectiveness of the reviewing service

Further information on the work of the Reviewing Officers can be obtained from the Service Development Officer, Marsha Scott on 01506 281071 or by email: marsha.scott@westlothian.gov.uk

Alternatively, contact the Looked After Children Administrator - jan.gollan@westlothian.gov.uk

Childcare Information Service (CHIS)

West Lothian Council operates the Childcare Information Service which provides information about the types of childcare available in the area, e.g. childminders, private nurseries, out of school care, wraparound care, playgroups and parent and toddler groups.

The service can also help you if you are considering a career in childminding.

Please contact CHIS on 01506 280044.

Getting It Right For Every Child

"Getting It Right For Every Child" (GIRFEC) is a national programme to ensure that ALL children have the best start possible and that when additional needs are spotted they receive the right support by the right person at the right time. Everyone involved with your child, whether a teacher, health visitor, social worker or other person, need to work together and, if appropriate, share information so that the "whole" picture is seen.
In West Lothian, the core details of all children and young people are noted on a secure, electronic information sharing system called C-Me . This system allows only certain permitted users to view the information it holds. It is focused on improving the delivery of services to children who need additional care and support and aims to provide the right support from the right person at the right time by allowing professionals from all agencies involved with a child or young person to securely share information.

To learn more about Getting It Right For Every Child please refer to the guide in the Downloadable Documents section at the foot of this page.

updated: 12/09/11