RSS Press releases

 The Council’s Social Work committee (2 December) considered a report on the Independent Care Review, the output reports contained in The Promise, and what this means for corporate parenting.

 Committee members agreed to note:

• The findings of the Independent Care Review and the 7 output reports
• The transformation agenda and communication plan
• That a progress report will be brought to the Social Work committee every 6 months

In October 2016, the First Minister made a commitment that Scotland would ‘come together and love its most vulnerable children to give them a childhood they deserve’. An independent root and branch review of the care system was commissioned: the Independent Care Review.

 The review was undertaken (February 2017 to February 2020), consulting 5,500 people across the care system, including 2,500 children and young people with lived experience in care. The findings have now been delivered.

 The review is damning in its condemnation of the current system, and extensive in its recommendations for the future of care.

 It found that care in Scotland is ‘fractured, bureaucratic and unfeeling’ and does not ‘adequately value the voices and experiences of those in it’.

 The Care Review heard clearly that Scotland needs to change how it cares for children. Children don’t need a system that stops things happening to them, they need a system that makes things happen for them.

 The work of the Care Review culminated in the publication of 7 reports in February 2020:

1. The Promise

2. The Pinky Promise (for children and young people)

3. The Plan

4. The Money

5. Follow the Money

6. The Rules

7. Thank You

 The main output of the Care Review is contained within The Promise.

 For Scotland to support our children and young people to grow up feeling loved, safe and respected so that they release their full potential, The Promise outlines the need for a redesign of the care system, including a fundamental shift in how decisions are made, and money is spent in supporting Scotland’s children and families.

 The Promise sets out the vision and blueprint for transformational change. At the heart of The Promise are 5 foundations for change:

 The Plan is split into 3 distinct phases over 10 years:

1. Bedding Down (2021/2024),

2. Consolidation (2024/2027)

3. Continuous Improvement (2027/2030).

 This allows for sufficient periods of innovation and implementation of new fit for purpose services. A key message is that organisations and institutions must radically rethink underlying purpose and structures.

 Corporate parenting is defined as an organisation’s performance of actions necessary to uphold the rights and safeguard the wellbeing of a looked after child or care leaver, and through which physical, emotional, spiritual, social and educational development is promoted.

 Part 9 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 outlines a range of duties for corporate parents across Scotland. These duties aim to ensure the attentionand resources of corporate parents are focused on the task of safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of Scotland’s looked after children and care leavers. The duties came into effect on 1 April 2015. This means corporate parents should listen to the needs, fears and wishes of children and young people, and be proactive and determined in their collective efforts to address these.

 The Council has developed and introduced a Corporate Parenting Plan for 2021/2023. This builds on previous successes of the 2017/2020 plan and continues to address areas for further improvement.

 At the heart of this plan is The Promise findings. Following publication of The Promise, the Council reviewed and revised its priority aims and factions to ensure the 5 foundations of The Promise were at the heart of its plan.

 The plan now has the following priorities, each one underpinned by a set of corporate parenting pledges:

• Housing and Accommodation
• Interaction with Young People
• Raising Attainment
• Improving Access to Health

Voice - When children speak, adults must really listen to them. Adults - must make sure that children are included in decisions about their lives.

Family - If children are living with their family and are safe and feel loved, they should stay there. Their family should be given all the help they need to stay together. If they need extra help when things get difficult, they should get it.

Care - If children cannot stay with the adults in their family, they will stay with their brothers and sisters. The home they live in together will be a place where they feel safe and loved. It should be their home for as long as they want and need it to be.

People - Relationships are important. Adults must make sure children are able to stay close to the people they want to and keep in contact with them. Adults must also help children make new relationships as they grow up. Sometimes adults need some help too. The adults who are close to children must get the help they need to make sure they can do their best for children.

Scaffolding - Help and support must be there for children and families whenever they need it. It must also be there for the adults who are close to children and families. It is important everyone knows where to go for help and that it is ready when it is asked for.

 The development of this plan has required and given the opportunity to consider how the Council reforms its approach to corporate parenting, involving looking at the potential for a redesign of current services, and the establishment of new services, based on meeting the needs of those served, rather than the needs of the system.

 Corporate Parents and everyone involved have the commitment and vision ‘to give children and young people, who are the experts in their lives, influence and shape the services which are being provided for them to make sure they get the right help at the right time’.

 Councillor Stephen Thompson, chair of the Social Work committee, said: “The Promise is a huge step towards delivering a care system that is fit for purpose in the 21^st century with a more more integrated public sector approach approach to meeting the needs of children and young people. It’s quite right that Dumfries and Galloway Council has committed to The Promise and taken on board the findings of the Independent Care Review.”

 Councillor David McKie, vice chair, said: “A great deal of work has and is taking place with regard to the service being provided to children and families.  We are now providing an excellent service of support to families and children.”