The main outcome will be changes in professional practice with young people. As a result of other consultation with young people looked after, the Quality Protects Management Action Plan now includes funding for 4 social events for looked after children during the coming year to combat the isolation felt by some children looked after. In addition the department is consulting with children and young people looked after to make sure that the twice yearly review meeting is more child friendly. Special measures are instructions from central government about where children s services should improve their performance. These are backed up by extra visits from government inspectors to check progress.
Directions relate to statutory reviews of looked after children, care plans and visits.
Monthly monitoring of progress takes place and each team s performance is audited. This should mean that we get more services for our money or better value services for our residents. This in turn should ensure that performance information is used more effectively for the delivery of social services. The Social Services Inspectorate carried out a re-inspection of children s services in July 2000. Since the inspection, performance has improved in the areas of concern, new managers have been appointed to key posts and the department is working with NISW to implement systems to track and prioritise cases which have already been introduced in the East District.