A report has criticised agencies in the Outer Hebrides over a rise in homelessness among young islanders – despite reforms made in the wake of a teenager’s murder.
A year ago, changes were made to how children in care in the Western Isles are looked after once they become young adults.
The policies were recommended following the murder of 16-year-old Liam Aitchison from South Uist in November 2011.
Two men were jailed for life for the killing, the first official murder on the Western Isles in more than 40 years.
Johnathan MacKinnon and Stefan Millar, both then 23, were each ordered to spend a minimum of 18 years in prison before they could apply for parole.
MacKinnon and Millar had denied murder but were found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Glasgow.
Liam had socialised with Millar and MacKinnon after he started living in Stornoway on Lewis. The three had worked in the fishing industry.
Almost two weeks after he was last seen alive by his girlfriend and other friends, Liam’s body was found in a derelict RAF building at Steinish, near Stornoway Airport on Lewis.
He had been struck on the head and body with a knife and bottle, and his head had been stamped on.
Western Isles Council and NHS Western Isles were among the public bodies that have adopted the changes after his death.
They were recommended so that the organisations’ care of vulnerable 16 to 18-year-olds better reflected national guidelines.
A joint inspection examined nine key indicators of performance in services provided to looked after children by Western Isles Council – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – NHS Western Isles, police and fire service.
The report rated four of the indicators as “good” and three as “adequate”.
Two indicators – planning and improving services and leadership of improvement and change – were rated as “weak”.
In the report, the inspection team said: “Limited collaborative working had contributed to poorly developed corporate parenting which was impacting on the life chances of looked after children, young people and care leavers.
“This was evident in poorer education and health outcomes for looked after children and increased homelessness for care leavers.”
The inspection was led by the Care Inspectorate working in partnership with Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland.
On the areas of good performance, the report said: “Inspectors are confident that the lives of many children and young people growing up in the Western Isles were improving as a result of services delivered by the Community Planning Partnership.”