Steps taken after foster carers' son jailed for sex abuse
Measures have been taken by the social work service after the adult son of East Lothian foster carers was convicted and imprisoned for sexual abuse last year.
They were highlighted to members of East Lothian Council at a full meeting of the local authority.
Alan Ross, head of children's services, also listed recommendations made by a report into abuse of children in Kerelaw residential school and secure unit.
His report stated: "East Lothian Council is fortunate in having two residential units for children that deliver high standards of care, and in having a pool of able and dedicated foster carers.
"However, there is no room for complacency, and sadly in 2009 the adult son of East Lothian foster carers was convicted and imprisoned for sexual abuse.
Confidential
"In the wake of these events, an Internal Significant Case Review and External Significant Case Review were requested to report on the case to the East Lothian Child Protection Committee and the Chief Officers Group.
"The detail of both these reports remains restricted and confidential for legal reasons."
The internal review concluded: "It seems unlikely from the content of the chronology that there are any events, behaviour or issues that were identified in the work with the children and their foster family which could have led to the abuse . . . being foreseen."
Measures
Mr Ross added: "The report highlights the need for vigilance in protecting children in public care and does urge agencies to continually ask what clues might be missed and what questions need to be asked.
"In relation to this a number of measures are currently in place in East Lothian and more are planned.
"Some of these measures are the responsibility of East Lothian Council alone, others require multi-agency approaches."
The council currently has responsibility for 212 vulnerable children in care. Of these 83 are looked after at home, 62 live with foster carers, 44 live with kinship carers and 23 are in residential care.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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