Photo: First Minister with Fiona Duncan, Chair of the independent care review.
Dear Editor,
We were delighted to see the announcement of the members of the independent care review group, the body established to undertake a review of our care system (30th May).
This marks an important step in this country’s efforts to revolutionise the care system for children and young people, and we were pleased to see that this group boasted five care experienced people, who will be able to personally highlight the challenges that so many of those in care face.
In the following weeks and months, the independent body will hear from young people, their families, and professionals involved in the care system, helping to build something that works for those that need it most. As part of the evidence the review group will consider, Who Cares? Scotland has been asked to deliver their 1000 Voices project. 1000 voices will give all care experienced people a safe, independent, dedicated space to share their views and we would urge all those with care experience in Scotland to get involved and play a part in building a better care system.
For too many care experienced children and young people the prospects are not good, despite many of those who grow up in care going on to do great things, and the incredible job done by staff and foster carers who work with them. For example, only six per cent go to university, nearly half will suffer mental health issues and a third of the adult prison population are people who lived in care when they were growing up.
No nation has previously undertaken such a review, and by entering into an open conversation with those that have experience of care, we have the potential to deliver a review that rebuilds a broken system, and truly changes lives for the better.
Yours faithfully
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:
Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive, Who Cares? Scotland
Tom McGhee, Managing Director, Spark of Genius
Sophie Pilgrim, Director, Kindred Scotland
Stuart Jacob, Director, Falkland House School
Niall Kelly, Managing Director, Young Foundations
Liz May, National Co-ordinator, Action for Sick Children Scotland
Related Posts
- Budget call as figures show more than 1,500 children have been waiting over a year for mental health treatment ( March 2, 2021 )
- Letter of support for appointment of an autism commissioner ( February 3, 2021 )
- Coalition urges action as figures highlight a more than 50 per cent drop in legal support for children with complex needs ( December 24, 2020 )
- Concerns raised as a third of pupils identified with additional support needs while support falls ( December 15, 2020 )
- Mental health emergency warning as more than 1,000 children have been waiting more than a year for treatment ( December 1, 2020 )
- World Mental Health Day ( October 10, 2020 )
- Call for a ‘national crusade’ as requests for mental health support slump ( September 4, 2020 )
- Coalition raises major concerns over falling levels of school leavers with additional support needs in positive destinations ( June 16, 2020 )
- Latest waiting time figures highlight perfect COVID-19 storm for children’s mental health ( June 2, 2020 )
- Let’s be mindful of the impact on mental health that crisis will have ( April 17, 2020 )
Archives
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015