Children’s Strategic Partnership Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The East Lothian Children’s Strategic Partnership (CSP) celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer, marking a decade of collaborative work to safeguard and support children and young people in the county.
The CSP has made many notable achievements over the past decade, including the development of the Whole Family Support initiative that focuses on early intervention, prevention and family resilience. By offering holistic resources and support, the initiative ensures families receive the right help at the right time, improving outcomes for children and parents.
It also developed a Young Carers Service in 2021, that has expanded support for young people with caring responsibilities, offering respite, school assistance, and access to mental health resources for around 600 young people.
This milestone coincides with a recent joint inspection of services to protect children and young people at risk of harm, where the partnership was rated as 'very good.' Conducted between October 2023 and April 2024, the joint inspection assessed how effectively East Lothian’s multi-agency partnership— including the council, health services, police, and third-sector organisations—supports vulnerable children. It concluded that children and young people were safer as a result of the Partnership’s work.
Inspectors commended the partnership's work in significantly improving safety for children and young people, citing positive inter-agency collaboration and strong staff relationships with those at risk. The Single Point of Access (SPA) for Mental Health Support was highlighted as a particularly effective resource in addressing mental health needs and reducing the burden on higher-tier services.
In expressing her gratitude to all partners for their support in the CSP.
Lesley Brown, Chair of the Children’s Strategic Partnership, said: “It is a privilege to be the Chair of the CSP and I am delighted with the progress we have made and the recognition of our work from our recent joint inspection. There really is no greater achievement than to be improving the lives of children and young people. I look forward to continuing to work with partners to ensure their voices guide our work to improve outcomes across East Lothian.”