Protecting People in Dundee

Work to protect adults and children at risk of harm in Dundee will come under the spotlight, as an update is discussed by councillors. 

The City Governance Committee will consider the Protecting People Annual Report for 2024-25, written by the chairs of the Dundee Protecting People Committees. 

They are Elaine Torrance independent convenor, Dundee Adults at Risk committee/ independent chair, Dundee Children at Risk committee, Pamela Dudek independent chair, Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership and Ann Hamilton Independent Violence Against Women and Girls Advisor. 

In the annual report they identify several areas of progress including the restructuring of the city’s multi-agency committees where “joint working has improved, and stronger linkages are being made across the workforce, services and strategic and governance structures”. 

Suicide prevention services have been significantly enhanced, and there has been continued implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment Standards in the effort to cut drug deaths. 

Considerable progress has been made in the redesign of pathways for responding to adults at risk of harm. 

Meanwhile, the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence included work to gather the views of primary school pupils on gender roles, norms and prevention of gender-based violence. This work is now informing the development of Dundee’s Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Framework.  

In their introduction, the three chairs state that 2024-25 “...marked a significant transition in how we work together to keep people safe.   

“We introduced a new strategic governance model, moving away from the traditional ‘care group’ structure to a more integrated, cross-cutting approach. This led to the creation of two new Committees: The Adults at Risk Committee and The Children at Risk Committee. These Committees now bring together work previously carried out by the Adult Support and Protection Committee, Child Protection Committee, Violence Against Women Partnership, and Suicide Prevention portfolio, reflecting our commitment to addressing risk and vulnerability in a more joined-up way.” 

The chairs also identify a number of challenges and outline how the committees are focusing on key areas going forward. 

These include: 

• Strengthening how the voices of supported people are gathered, ensuring their insights shape strategic decisions and service delivery  

• Increasing efforts to understand and prevent harm before it occurs, rather than responding only in times of crisis   

• Enhancing how information is shared across the workforce and ensure all partners are informed and engaged  

• Continuing to implement recommendations from the most recent Adult Support and Protection Inspection, Child Protection Inspection, and learning Reviews, with a focus on better outcomes for children, young people, adults, and families in Dundee  

Councillor Mark Flynn, convener of the City Governance Committee said: “Our protecting people committees bring together representatives from city agencies to help shape the approaches to protect adults and children at risk of harm. 

“These are some of the most vulnerable people in Dundee and front-line staff show real dedication to help them onto better futures. 

“This annual report is a challenging read, but I am heartened by the commitment of everyone involved to keep up the efforts being made. 

“I would like to thank the chairs of our protecting people committees for their insight into the problems that are faced by people, and the solutions that are being produced to protect them.” 

The City Governance Committee meets on Monday December 1.