A CARING team of East Renfrewshire workers who help to safeguard children’s rights have won a national award.

They were honoured at the Scottish Social Services Awards for their work with the North Strathclyde Partnership.

Judges awarded the Excellence in Children’s Services prize to the partnership, which consists of the Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCP) in East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire, as well as Police Scotland, the Children 1st charity, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

It was tasked with creating a holistic trauma approach to joint investigative interviewing and making the child protection and justice process less traumatic for youngsters and their families.

Cheryl Mitchell, the partnership’s service manager, said: “We are very proud of the collaborative work thus far and the evidence of progress and getting it right for our children in the child protection and justice processes.

“We remain committed to striving for real transformational systems change to ensure future generations of children and young people no longer have to endure the harmful impact of having to navigate through an adult justice system.”

Raymond Prior, of East Renfrewshire HSCP, added: “We are extremely proud of the North Strathclyde Child Interview Team in gaining the award of Excellence in Children’s Services.

“It highlights the professional standards and approach established by the team and how they work together to ensure children’s rights are protected and secured in the justice system.”

The partnership saw off competition from fellow finalists Quarries and Angus Council to win the award, with the winners being declared by Claire Haughey, Minister for Children and Young People.