How we work
CELCIS is the go-to organisation for specialist knowledge concerning the care and protection of children in Scotland. We are a trusted partner, and through our collaborative approach we bring independence, rigour and compassion to all of our work.
By combining our specialist skills and in-depth knowledge of policy and practice across children’s services, we provide holistic support to help navigate and address the complexities and challenges of the systems and services that support children, families and the workforce.
We have three interconnected roles:
- Research, data and learning partner: our work is rooted in research and data, listening to and involving people with lived experiences of support, care and protection services, and listening to and involving practitioners. We produce and share knowledge that is vital and actionable to make improvements for children, young people and families.
- Influencing and advocacy partner: building on our strong foundation of understanding evidence and diverse voices and experiences, we shape the environment that enables and supports the workforce and organisations to meet the needs and rights of children and young people.
- Change and improvement partner: We collaborate with national and local organisations, using evidence-informed approaches to transform systems, services, and practices designed for children and young people who need support, care, and protection.
For us, real change happens when people come together with compassion, courage and a shared purpose.
How we show up is key to building strong and authentic relationships:
- We actively listen
- Engage with openness
- Respectfully challenge
- And together work through different experiences, power dynamics and perspectives
Our approach builds trust, enables collaboration, encourages learning, and allows us to work alongside the workforce and people with lived experience to create brighter futures for children, young people and families.
Knowing what works
Knowing what works is different from being able to apply this and make the changes necessary to improve outcomes for children and families. The best available evidence tells us the most common approaches used to implement change are insufficient. Used alone, approaches such as disseminating information and learning, providing funding and implementing policy will not foster environments for lasting change.
When people come together with compassion, courage and purpose, change happens. Listening with and engaging with openness while challenging and working through lived experiences and differing perspectives builds trust and collaboration. This approach allows us to work alongside strategic leaders, managers and practitioners across the workforce, creating a supportive environment for all those working to tackle and prevent social problems and improve the outcomes of children and young people.
Looking for support?
Our team are always here to help. Get in touch