The Drawing Together project explored how 53 young refugees experience integration through rebuilding their everyday lives in Scotland, Finland and Norway. This policy briefing focuses on the findings from Scotland. It provides insights for Scottish policy makers and practitioners to better equip them in promoting the wellbeing of young refugees.
The Virtual School Head Teachers' Network, which CELCIS has facilitated since 2019, has published the findings of a survey of local authorities in Scotland on the formal school exclusion of care experienced learners. The survey collected information on local authority policies, consulting with care experienced children and young people, recording and data, challenging and support, and return to school interviews.
In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, takes a closer look at Scotland’s Child Protection 2022-2023 Statistics to consider what the statistics and statistical trends might, and might not, tell us about the needs of children in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has today (26 March 2024) published the latest official annual Children's Social Work Statistics for Scotland. This uses data collected from all 32 local authorities in Scotland on child protection processes from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023.
A review about Child Criminal Exploitation published today (21 March), commissioned by the charity Action for Children and chaired by Professor Alexis Jay CBE, has found that tens of thousands of children in the UK are at risk of being groomed and coerced into crime by organised gangs.
At this meeting of the Education Forum we learned about a partnership project called the Keeping The Promise Award Programme, which was originally developed by North Lanarkshire Council as a professional learning resource in response to The Promise.
For our September Forum meeting, we were delighted to welcome Kyle Fleming, Head of Education, and Eileen McColl, Education Manager, of Erskine Waterfront Campus, CrossReach.
The Scottish Government along with partners in the Kinship Care Collaborative have produced updated guidance for Part 13 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014 Act.
In this second in a series of blog posts to highlight findings from research on voluntary care arrangements in Scotland, Dr Robert Porter, Research Lead at CELCIS, and Dr Brandi Lee Lough Dennell, Research Associate at CELCIS, explore what social workers have shared about their experiences with voluntary care arrangements.
The Scottish Government has today (20 March 2024) published updated guidance for local authority practitioners who are providing kinship care assistance and support.
In this blog post to mark Kinship Care Week 2024, Dr Joanna Soraghan, Data Analyst at CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, shares some initial findings from CELCIS’s analysis into the experiences of children living in ‘formal’ kinship care within Scotland.
One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) and The Promise Scotland have published two new guides - one for parents and one for practitioners - following the release of their research in 2023 on the financial challenges faced by families in Scotland’s care ‘system’.
This report presents the findings from the self-evaluation exercise completed by all 31 of Scotland’s Child Protection Committees (CPCs) in relation to their local implementation of the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021.
This paper offers comparison and reflection on the role and function virtual schools in England and Scotland.
Dr Heather Ottaway, CELCIS’s Head of Evidence and Innovation, and Principal Investigator of the Children’s Services Reform Research study considers what this new research means if Scotland is keep The Promise.
Two new papers have been published as part of research from the Drawing Together project, a three-year project working with groups of young refugees in Scotland, Finland, Norway to examine how they draw and describe their networks and relationships.
CELCIS has responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on policy proposals far a Care Leaver payment. Our response is underpinned by research evidence, practice experience, and extensive insight and intelligence from lived experience and professional practice gathered through our long-standing, cross-organisational and interest-specific networks, as well as our group of consultants with lived experience of care.
The purpose of this guidance, issued by the Scottish Government, is to provide information and resources to support public authorities and other organisations to implement a children’s human rights approach. This may also assist public authorities to meet their current duties under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and to prepare for their duties under section 6 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, which would place a duty on public authorities not to act incompatibly with the ‘UNCRC requirements’ as defined by section 1 of the Bill.
CELCIS has responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on 'Scottish Social Services Council – proposed register changes'. We welcome any changes to the SSSC Register that reduce complexity for the workforce whilst retaining, where necessary, the distinction between workforces with different skillsets, values, and that meet the specific needs of children and young people – particularly those in residential childcare
CELCIS's response, based on research evidence, practice experience, and feedback from longstanding cross organisational networks, maintains a sharp focus on the impact of national and local policy initiatives on children and young people in need of care and protection.
Today (13 December 2023) CELCIS has completed the Children Services Reform Research study, with the research team publishing its Concluding Report.
Professor Alexis Jay OBE, Chair of CELCIS’s Strategic Advisory Board, and Claire Burns, Director of CELCIS, provide our first response to this study.
A groundbreaking, comprehensive study undertaken over the last year by a team of independent researchers at CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, has shown that how services are configured is not sufficient to ensure that children, young people and families get the help they need from services intended to support them.
This concluding report, published in December 2023, brings together key themes and learning from across the study’s findings and determines that there are a range of elements which contribute to creating the optimal conditions for implementing effective, sustainable change to improve support and outcomes for children, young people and families.
CELCIS was asked by the Scottish Government in to carry out a research study to improve the understanding of current Children’s Services structures and delivery models in Scotland and how services can best support the needs of children, young people and their families.
In this first of a series of blog posts to highlight findings from research on voluntary care arrangements in Scotland, Dr Robert Porter, Research Lead at CELCIS, and Dr Brandi Lee Lough Dennell, Research Associate at CELCIS, discuss what parents have shared so far about their experiences.
New research for the study to inform children’s services reform in Scotland has been published by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, today (15 November 2023) giving new insight from the perspectives of Scotland’s children’s services workforce.
This final part of the Children’s Services Reform Research study explores the experiences of people working to support children, young people and families in communities across Scotland to help answer the question ‘What is needed to ensure that children, young people and families receive the support they need when they need it?’
Welcome to the autumn 2023 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care. This issue is packed with three long-form, and peer-reviewed research papers from around the world, eight short articles, and three book reviews. It also includes a poem written in Doric, which is spoken in the north-east of Scotland, and a detailed report about the Lovin’ Care Gathering held in England earlier this year. Our next issue will publish in spring 2024.
Find out who is on the Editorial Board of the Scottish Journal for Residential Child Care.
David Anderson is the Co-Chair of the Oversight Board, an independent group set up to report on the progress and pace in Scotland as it journeys towards keeping The Promise it made to the care community following the findings of Scotland’s Independent Care Review in 2020. In this blog post for Care Experienced Week, David discusses the Board’s role and remit, the importance of lived experience, and invites applications from potential new members.
In this blog post for Care Experienced Week, Michael Archibald, a student, artist and activist, discusses being involved in – and being the face of – one of five new murals across Scotland that celebrate, raise awareness, and share the voices of care experienced youth.
For this Care Experienced Week we took some time with Barry Black, member of the National Leadership Network (NLN) steering group, and Gary Brown, NLN Development Co-ordinator to find out more about the NLN and how participation at the core of how the Network works in Scotland, and with Sarah Rogers, Participation Associate at CELCIS, who tells us more about a partnership project between the NLN and CELCIS.
Local authorities are being invited to take part in the second phase of the Bright Spots programme in Scotland to help better understand children and young people’s experience of care, CELCIS has announced today (19 October).
A response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government’s consultation on A Human Rights Bill for Scotland
This short response draws on the evidence developed for our comprehensive response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill in 2020.
Our response is underpinned by research evidence, practice experience, and extensive insight and intelligence from lived experience, including our group of consultants with lived experience of care, and people across the workforce.
In this CPD accredited webinar we heard from Anna Gupta, Professor of Social Work at Royal Holloway University of London, John McKendrick, Professor of Social Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University and co-director of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit and Lisa Bunting, Professor of Child and Family Social Work at Queen's University Belfast. They explored what the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic and current cost of living crisis tells us about the connections between poverty, inequality and child protection by discussing and exploring the impact inequality and deprivation can have on the welfare of children and what this means for how we can support children and their families.
In this CPD accredited webinar we heard from Anna Gupta, Professor of Social Work at Royal Holloway University of London, John McKendrick, Professor of Social Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University and co-director of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit and Lisa Bunting, Professor of Child and Family Social Work at Queen's University Belfast. They explored what the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic and current cost of living crisis tells us about the connections between poverty, inequality and child protection by discussing and exploring the impact inequality and deprivation can have on the welfare of children and what this means for how we can support children and their families.
The University of Strathclyde has published ‘An Appreciative Inquiry into Holding in Residential Child Care: Pilot Report’ by Senior Lecturer Dr Laura Steckley and Lee Hollins from the University’s Department of Social Work and Social Policy, and CELCIS’s Improving Care Experiences Consultant Sarah Deeley and Education Consultant Michael Bettencourt.
The Scottish Government has updated National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland which was published in 2021.
The Scottish Government has published (31 August) an updated the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland.
New research which explores whether there is an association between the type of integration of health and social care services and the outcomes for children, young people, and families in need of support, has been published by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, as part of the Children’s Services Reform Research study.
For the third strand of the Children's Services Reform Research study, we have looked at whether there is an association between the approaches taken towards structural integration over the last decade in Scotland through Health and Social Care Partnerships and outcomes for children and their families
The Scottish Government has today (29 August) announced that, for the first time, there will be a set standard national allowance for foster and kinship carers across Scotland to support the care of children and young people.
The Scottish Government has today (15 August 2023) published the national Education Outcomes for Looked After Children for 2021-22 statistics report. The report uses the current legal definition of ‘Looked After Children’ under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, which is broadly defined as children in the care of their local authority.
The second report for a unique research project into models of reforming children’s services has been published today by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
For the second strand of the Children's Service Reform Research study, we have developed six cases studies of a range of approaches to transformational reform programmes in different places.
The Scottish Government has today (26 June) published an update on progress and set out future priorities to support children to maintain connections with their brothers and/or sisters when they are in need of care and protection.
In this CPD accredited webinar we heard from Professor Brigid Featherstone, University of Huddersfield, and Professor Kate Morris, University of Sheffield where we explored new work to inform and advance responses to those who are being harmed and those who harm, to help and support children and their families.
In this CPD accredited webinar we heard from Professor Brigid Featherstone, University of Huddersfield, and Professor Kate Morris, University of Sheffield where we explored new work to inform and advance responses to those who are being harmed and those who harm, to help and support children and their families.
The first findings of a unique research project into models of reforming children’s services have been published today by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
This Rapid Evidence Review is the first strand of work within the Children’s Services Reform Research study. We gathered, analysed and synthesised evidence primarily from peer-reviewed research papers nationally and internationally
During this Refugee Week and Refugee Festival Scotland 2023, Mohamad, a young person who arrived in Scotland from Syria in 2016 as a child reflects on why supportive relationships are essential to feeling safe and settled in a new place, and the ways in which refugees make a positive impact in their new countries.
A perspective on the potential impact on care experienced learners and the education workforce of a proposal to prescribe the number of learning hours
Amy Miskimmin-Logan, Participation Development Worker at Our Hearings Our Voice (OHOV) shares the thinking behind the ‘Language Leaders’ project which aims to change the language young people experience as they go through the Children’s Hearings System.
A new art exhibition exploring how young refugees rebuild their everyday lives in new countries will be hosted in Glasgow from 17-28 June during Refugee Festival Scotland 2023.
This free event is a showcase for a three-year research project, ‘Drawing Together’, led by Professor Ravi KS Kohli from the University of Bedfordshire, working with research centres in Scotland, Finland, and Norway. CELCIS provides research support to the project’s Scottish team.
‘Hearings for Children: The Redesign Report’ has been published by The Promise Scotland following the work of The Hearings System Working Group, a partnership between Children’s Hearings Scotland, The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, and The Promise Scotland.
In this CPD accredited recorded webinar, we heard from Anne Longfield CBE, Chair of the Commission on Young Lives, which reported in England last November with a national action plan and recommendations to support vulnerable teenagers to succeed and to protect them from adversity, exploitation and harm.
In this CPD accredited recorded webinar, we heard from Anne Longfield CBE, Chair of the Commission on Young Lives, which reported in England last November with a national action plan and recommendations to support vulnerable teenagers to succeed and to protect them from adversity, exploitation and harm.
The Drawing Together project works with groups of young refugees in Scotland, Finland, Norway to examine how they draw and describe their networks and relationships.
‘Hearings for Children: The Redesign Report’ has today (25 May) been published by The Promise Scotland following the work of The Hearings System Working Group, a partnership between Children’s Hearings Scotland, The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, and The Promise Scotland.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, this could have derailed plans children and young people from Our Hearings, Our Voice (OHOV) had been working on to provide information on Compulsory Supervision Orders. Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration’s (SCRA) Participation Officer Jennifer Orren, explains how the OHOV board members worked together and kept going to co-design a film to help children and young people.
The wellbeing and safety of children and young people in care is paramount. The use of restrictive practices conflicts with children’s rights, independence and choice, but in some instances, when it is the only option to keep them or those around them safe, those that care for children and young people in secure care and residential care may take protective action. Physically restraining a child or young person should only ever be done as a last resort.
The Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) has today (16 May) published a new research report led by the University of Edinburgh, ‘Infants Born into Care in Scotland’.
In the first Education Forum meeting of 2023, Stacey Heather-Brash, Funding Awareness and Engagement Manager from Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), spoke about the Higher Education Care Experienced Students Bursary.
The latest issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care features topical issues, research and practice. Also read the latest Kilbrandon lecture by Professor Ann Skelton, and the SIRCC Key Note presentation by Bill Kahn.
Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, takes a closer look at Scotland’s Child Protection 2021-2022 Statistics to uncover what the statistics tell us about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and longer-term trends.
The Scottish Government has published the latest official annual Children's Social Work Statistics for Scotland.
SCADR, in partnership with CELCIS, has published a new report which looks at the effect the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic had on the social care of children in need of care and protection in Scotland.
Kathryn Lindsay is the Director of Children, Families and Justice Services and Chief Social Work Officer at Angus Council. In this blog post, she discusses how social workers can use their voices and experience to drive and adapt to change and support each other.
In this CPD accredited recorded webinar, Professor Alexis Jay, Sabah Kaiser and John O’Brien from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales report on the importance of survivor voice, learning from the Inquiry and the path to key recommendations.
In this CPD accredited recorded webinar, Professor Alexis Jay, Sabah Kaiser and John O’Brien from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales report on the importance of survivor voice, learning from the Inquiry and the path to key recommendations.
This guidance, published in March 2021, provides best practice advice for paediatricians in the medical management of PP and FII cases to obtain better outcomes for children.
This is a Member’s Bill, introduced by John Finnie MSP. The Bill aims to stop the physical punishment of children by parents and others looking after children.
At the time the Bill was introduced, it was against the law in Scotland to physically punish a child:
with an implement
by hitting on the head
by shaking
It was legal for children to be physically punished in other ways. The law recognised a defence known as "reasonable chastisement". This could be used by a parent, or other person looking after a child. The Bill gets rid of the defence.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has issued an official apology to women in Scotland who were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
On this World Social Work Day, Rogan Higginbottom, a senior workforce learning and development officer at East Lothian Council (ELC), shares how social work teams have supported staff wellbeing and development following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the face of ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.
CELCIS has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee’s call for views on the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill (the Bill), focusing on Sections 24 and 25 of Part 3 of the Bill.
Alison Ferla is the Principal Teacher of the Care Experienced Education Team in Dumfries and Galloway, which focuses on improving the educational outcomes and experiences of care experienced children and young people in the local authority. This World Book Day, Alison discusses how, alongside the teaching staff in her team and a care experienced support officer, she is supporting schools to help care experienced children and young people develop their skills through a love of reading.
This report provides a broad picture of the needs of birth parents who have lost a child or children to ‘care’, and of the support and services that are currently available in Scotland. Work on this project was originally commissioned by the Scottish Government, in recognition of the distinct needs of birth parents who
are living apart from their children, as a result of child welfare interventions.
How young people came up with the idea to produce a magazine for all young people to read and help them understand what’s involved while waiting to go into their Children’s Hearing - a legal meeting set up because there are concerns about a child’s, young person’s or young adult’s wellbeing, or the care they are receiving.
Rosie Moore, Participation and Policy Advisor at CELCIS describes leading on a project that has participation at its core from the very beginning.
Genuine co-production is hard! It’s lengthy, slow and makes a lot of U-turns! But when it is done right, when everyone is truly invested in the process, the cause, and the participants, the outcome can be truly incredible.
As a new report is published by The Why Not? Trust, their Director of Innovation Moira Greentree, discusses the value of finding out how many care experienced teenagers and young people give birth in Scotland each year and how this information will be used to ensure the right support is developed and given in the right way, at the right time.
The Why Not? Trust for Care Experienced Young People (a charity supported by Care Visions) commissioned CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, to produce an estimate of the number of pregnancies and births per year to care experienced teenagers and women aged 14 to 24 in Scotland.
The work was commissioned to better inform the Trust’s work as currently there is no precise measure available, mainly due to gaps in the data collected.
This new report commissioned by the Why Not? Trust, funded by Care Visions, with the work carried out by CELCIS aims to establish an estimate of the number of pregnancies and births to care experienced teenagers and women aged 14-24 in Scotland.
This webpage offers parents information and advice on keeping children safe on the internet.
This page offers a brief explanation of the resources and information that is available on the CELCIS website, and how to find them.
In 2017 Aberlour Sycamore alongside CELCIS considered how consistent, high-quality residential child-care practice could be supported and implemented. Building upon the good practice already happening in Sycamore’s houses, together we started to vision what this might look and feel like for children and young people if delivered consistently, every day, in every house.
When working with children where parts of their behaviour may cause or have
caused serious harm, the approach taken should be informed by thinking of them
as children first and foremost. Children are not ‘mini-adults’ and the reasons they
may present with such behaviours cannot be understood through an adult lens.
This guidance from the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), is aimed at practitioners and managers working with children and young people who are in conflict with the law, or who are at risk of being so.
There are a small but significant number of children and young people in Scotland who present a risk of serious harm to themselves and others as a result of their involvement in harmful sexual behaviour and/or serious acts of violence.
A resource for professionals which aims to help them support young people in their understanding of healthy relationships and consent.
This online resource has been developed by the Upstream Project - Stop it Now! Scotland and includes links to a range of resources for parents, carers, and professionals.
This online resource from Education Scotland National Improvement Hub is designed to help staff in education and training settings, from early years to senior level and including ASN/EASN provision, to identify, understand and respond appropriately to sexual behaviours in young people.
This report, published by Scottish Government, sets out proposals from the Expert Group on Preventing Sexual Offending Involving Children and Young People to improve prevention and early intervention in response to harmful sexual behaviour involving children and young people.
This report, by the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), aimed to examine any links between childhood experiences and harmful sexual behaviours (HSB) and, if links were detected, to illustrate potential patterns of childhood experiences and HSB.
How legacy work helps children to document their lives: supporting a young person or child who has had to start again in creating their own legacy. Having memories to look back on and ways to conceive of time passing I think.
In National Storytelling Week 2023, Annmarie Campbell, member of CELCIS's Strategic Advisory Board, explains what inspired her to turn to writing as she shares a piece written under her author penname for the Scottish Book Trust's Scotland's Stories project.
Children’s Commissioner for England has published ‘Siblings in Care’, investigating the number and circumstances of children in care who have been separated from their brothers and sisters.
Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel de Souza has today (26 January) published ‘Siblings in Care’, a new report investigating the number and circumstances of children in care who have been separated from their brothers and sisters.
We are asking young people with care experience to share their thoughts, experiences, and views of Continuing Care, so that together we can help to influence change and make things better for everyone.
CELCIS feature stories are articles which explore aspects of children's and young people's lives in more detail.
A page for those looking for information and advice in preventing harmful sexual behaviour in childhood and adolescence.
At this moment, it feels wrong to address what we’re living through as a cost-of-living crisis, since most people are barely living on what they have. They are surviving. People are striving each day to survive on their small wages to fulfil huge responsibilities.
This autumn's 2022 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, marks 20 years since the journal was established. This issue’s leading article was specially commissioned to celebrate the SJRCC’s 20th year from James Anglin, Emeritus Professor of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria, Canada.
The Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group’s looking back and looking forward update video for 2022. CELCIS published a series of blog posts from different perspectives, including how young people felt. These can be read by clicking the links on this page.
We were delighted to welcome Bill Kahn as our Keynote Speaker this year. Bill Kahn, Ph.D, is an organisational psychologist and Department Chair and Professor of Management and Organizations at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He teaches, publishes, and consults on the emotional complexities of organisational life and the implications for productive work, often focusing on caregiving organisations. He is particularly interested in how issues such as burnout and engagement are shaped at multiple levels of analysis -individual, interpersonal, within and between groups, and organisational.
This Adoption Week Scotland, Melanie Thomson, a Social Worker for the Bluebird Project at Scottish Adoption, which offers counselling and support to birth parents, and birth mothers who currently take part in the Bluebird Project, share why compassionate, nurturing peer support is so important.
This Adoption Week Scotland, Tegan, a Youth Ambassador at Scottish Adoption and Teen Talk Adoption, discusses her experience of reconnecting with her birthmother, and reflects on how building connections and sharing experiences with others can help to find out the most about yourself.
It's long been understood now that there is a pressing need to ‘reframe’ care, something being taken forward with the support of the Each and Every Child initiative which is underpinned by research and practice. It’s fitting then that we have a new Christmas messenger – John Lewis and their annual Christmas advert.
This issue’s leading article was specially commissioned to celebrate the SJRCC’s 20th year from James Anglin, Emeritus Professor of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria, Canada. Describing the SJRCC as ‘a journal like no other’, Jim quotes from an analysis of the journal’s entire back catalogue of more than 400 articles conducted by CELCIS colleagues Gemma Watson and Craig McCreadie.
We welcome this opportunity to contribute to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) ‘Conversation on the Codes of Practice’, a matter which directly impacts the workforce with whom we collaborate, and the children and young people we work to support.
CELCIS’s response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate’s consultation on the Draft Standards for Bairns’ Hoose (Scottish Barnahus)
Emerging adulthood: Exploring the implications for Scotland's care experienced young people and those who care for, and support them
Sam Upton, President of the Strathclyde Care Experienced & Estranged Students Society, shares her thoughts on the support on offer to students with care experience at the University of Strathclyde.
CELCIS welcomes the opportunity to provide a response to the Scottish Government’s Physical intervention in Schools draft guidance consultation.
Retired teacher, adoptive parent and blogger David Woodier explores the disuse of the word vulnerability and wonders if we need to look a little deeper at what this means.
Our response highlights the importance of data as a resource to understanding children’s needs and experiences, and in doing so, ensure their rights are realised. We focus on improvements to equalities evidence which will benefit children in Scotland, with specific recommendations relating to data about disability, ethnicity and religion. Overall, we recommend developing greater consistency across children’s datasets in order that children’s experiences can be more clearly understood.
CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, has been asked to undertake research to improve the understanding of the current service delivery models in Scotland and internationally and their effectiveness in supporting the needs of children and their families.
For Challenge Poverty Week 2022, Paul Sullivan, Sector Engagement Lead and Lizzie Thomson, Policy Associate at CELCIS look the impact the cost of living crisis is having on families in Scotland, and CELCIS’s involvement in a project co-designed with care experienced children, their families, and partner organisations, to pilot a minimum income guarantee for care leavers in Scotland. They spoke with Sam Upton, a consultant at CELCIS with her own experience of care to get her thoughts.
For Challenge Poverty Week 2022, Jimmy Paul, Director at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) Scotland, which works to promote a Wellbeing Economy, an economy that delivers social justice and environmental health for all, looks at what he thinks needs to happen for young people to have a smoother transition from care to interdependence, and asks why systems and services default to existing ways of working, instead of exploring new ways to ensure that all families can flourish and live with dignity.
CELCIS's response considers the impact and implications of local and national school uniform policies for children and young people with care experience in Scotland. We highlight the need to ensure any guidance on school uniform ensures it is affordable, does not place financial burden upon families, and aligns with the ambitions and conclusions of The Promise.
To help inform and influence the proposed strategy, our response outlines pertinent issues relevant for promoting the mental health and wellbeing of children in need of support, care and protection, as well as adults with care experience.
We have responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on ‘A new Suicide Prevention Strategy for Scotland’. We welcome the attention to detail in the proposed Suicide Prevention Strategy, including the detail in the Action Plan, and the consideration of how the content in the proposed strategy and action plan will be delivered. We broadly agree with the vision, guiding principles, outcomes and details of the strategy and the content of the action plan. However, some of the strategy and action plan would benefit from further elaboration.
This short response to the Committee draws on the evidence and expertise developed for CELCIS’ comprehensive response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a National Care Service in 2021.
CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee’s call for views on Scotland's public finances in 2023-24: the impact of the cost of living and public service reform
If you are a ‘looked after’ young person living with foster carers, kinship carers or you live in residential care this is important information for you. This information helps explain your rights and what you are entitled to so that you know what the local authority who shares responsibility for looking after you needs to provide and consider for your care until you are 21.
Ciara Waugh is an art and design student who has been working with other young people to co-produce national information materials on the right to continuing care for young people. Here she writes about why this project is so close to her heart.
Together, young people with experience of care, CELCIS, the Care Inspectorate and Clan Childlaw, have produced a new information resource to help inform care experienced young people about continuing care.
The Scottish Government has today (28 July 2022) published the national Education Outcomes for Looked After Children for 2020-21 statistics report.
Data is an important resource that can give us insight into the wellbeing and experiences of children and young people in need of care and protection. CELCIS organises research projects and surveys to gather information about how children and young people and their fanilies are helped by those who care for them. This can help practitioners to make informed decisions about children’s lives, and helps to support managers and leaders in their drive to improve practice and services.
Student finance and support for care experienced people in higher education.
In the first Education Forum meeting of 2023, Stacey Heather-Brash, Funding Awareness and Engagement Manager from Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), spoke about the Higher Education Care Experienced Students Bursary.
Pauline Stratford from Skills Development Scotland (SDS), spoke about its recent Career Review, which aims to ensure that career services in Scotland are fit for purpose and future proofed to meet the demands of a changing world of work.
Kenny McGhee, Throughcare and Aftercare Lead at CELCIS explores the notions and concepts around 'emerging adulthood', what this might mean for Scotland's care experienced young people, and how the people that support them can help to improve their experiences, provisions and outcomes as they transition from care to adulthood and independence.
This Forum meeting focused on Reflection and Action Learning Sets, an adapted form of Action Learning Sets. Reflection and Action Learning Sets are supportive groups of co-workers who regularly come together in a reflective space.
At this meeting of the Education Forum, hosted by CELCIS, we came together to learn more about a partnership project called the Keeping The Promise Award Programme, which was originally developed by North Lanarkshire Council as a professional learning resource in response to The Promise.
This webinar focused on the themes and recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Day of General Discussion (DGD) about the rights of children and young people in alternative care.
CELCIS supports the review of existing Home Education guidance. In our consultation response we suggest ways in which the proposed draft could be strengthened to prioritise children’s rights, and to ensure effective safeguards are in place to meet the needs of all children in Scotland, including those who are home educated.
For this CELCIS Education Forum, we were delighted to welcome Pauline Stratford from Skills Development Scotland (SDS), to speak about its recent Career Review, which aims to ensure that career services in Scotland are fit for purpose and future proofed to meet the demands of a changing world of work.
Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh, Professor Ruth Emond and Dr Helen Whincup draw on their experiences in teaching Social Work students to consider how The Promise should be incorporated into courses to ensure that new social work practitioners are equipped with the knowledge and skills to understand and support the changes The Promise calls for.
A response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on a Children’s Care & Justice Bill
CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a Children’s Care & Justice Bill. Here, we respond to proposals on changes to decision making and processes within the Children’s Hearing System and criminal justice system, to secure care settings, and to the support of children in residential care settings who arrive in Scotland from other nations within the UK (known as ‘cross border placements’).
As part of Refugee Week 2022, Paul Sullivan, Sector Engagement Lead at CELCIS, and Professor Ravi Kohli, a researcher at the University of Bedfordshire, reflect on their work with the Drawing Together project, which focuses on the everyday lives of young refugees in Finland, Norway and Scotland, and discuss some of the key themes that have emerged so far.
As part of Refugee Week 2022, Paul Sullivan, Sector Engagement Lead at CELCIS, and Professor Ravi Kohli, a researcher at the University of Bedfordshire, reflect on their work with the Drawing Together project, which focuses on the everyday lives of young refugees in Finland, Norway and Scotland, and discuss some of the key themes that have emerged so far.
During Refugee Week, Lorraine Ward writes about why connections are key in helping young asylum seekers and refugees to build happy, fulfilling lives in their new countries.
During Refugee Week, Lorraine Ward writes about why connections are key in helping young asylum seekers and refugees to build happy, fulfilling lives in their new countries.
During Refugee Week, Christine and Hamid reflect together on their involvement in the Drawing Together project and NYPS, the experiences of refugees in Scotland, and their hopes for the future.
During Refugee Week, Christine and Hamid reflect together on their involvement in the Drawing Together project and NYPS, the experiences of refugees in Scotland, and their hopes for the future.
The Minimum Dataset for Child Protection Committees responds to an action within the Scottish Government’s Child Protection Improvement Programme to:
• Deliver robust data sets to support child protection
improvement.
• Develop a national resource for advice on using child
protection data for local planning and service
development.
• Expand analytical capacity.
Hazel Rogers is new to fostering and here she discusses her journey to find out more about continuing care to give her the confidence to support the young person in her care.
Anne-Marie Coyle has been a foster carer for over 15 years with the Kibble Intensive Fostering Service, which provides fostering for children and young people aged five and above with complex needs. Here she describes what it takes to provide good quality care, the rewards, and the challenges.
Why do I hesitate when people ask what I do to say I am a foster carer? What makes me wait and judge the person before saying I am a foster carer, yet it is a role I have done for nearly twenty years alongside other professions.
I hesitate because of judgement and stigma of the children I care for. I hesitate to protect the children and young people who are with me now, to protect those who came before, from that stigma and judgement.
love inc project – learnings and resources
From the early stages of this Independent Care Review, there were strong, clear and passionate messages from the hundreds of people with lived experience of care they spoke to. These messages stated that they wanted to and should feel more love in their lives.
Since that time, there has been an in increased understanding of how important feeling loved whilst experiencing care is to children and young people, and the huge impact that loving relationships can have on their ability to not just survive, but to thrive, both during their care experience and once they leave care.
Welcome to the spring 2022 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care (SJRCC). This year marks the Journal’s 20th anniversary. The Journal was first published, in hard copy, in autumn of 2002 and we have exciting plans to mark this important milestone in and around the autumn issue.
The latest CELCIS Education Forum was held online on Wednesday 30 March on the theme of using Scotland's Secure Care Pathway and Standards to improve educational outcomes for children and young people.
In this CELCIS Education Forum the theme was using Scotland's Secure Care Pathway and Standards to improve educational outcomes for children and young people.
Our submission focuses on the impact of low income, debt and poverty on care leavers in Scotland. To mitigate this impact, we support the exploration of how a Universal Basic Income for care leavers could be best implemented in Scotland.
This resource is designed to help people in Scotland working with and supporting children and families in professional, voluntary or personal capacity, and across Europe. This focuses on child protection and safeguarding, supporting mental and physical wellbeing including trauma, and the needs of children who require care.
The Scottish Government has published its Keeping the Promise Implementation Plan, setting out their actions and commitments to realising The Promise of the Independent Care Review for children and young people with care experience, and their families and carers.
The Scottish Government has produced an implementation plan setting out what it will do to Keep The Promise by 2030. This plan complements The Promise Scotland’s Plan 21-24 and Change Programme One.
The Scottish Government has published the latest official annual Children's Social Work Statistics for Scotland, covering the period of 1 August 2020 – 31 July 2021.
CELCIS has responded to the Scottish Social Services Council's consultation on ‘A register for the future’.
This resource is designed to help people in Scotland working with and supporting children and families in professional, voluntary or personal capacity, and across Europe. This focuses on child protection and safeguarding, supporting mental and physical wellbeing including trauma, and the needs of children who require care.
This briefing highlights the key findings published in CELCIS’s research on the implementation of Continuing Care in Scotland.
The briefing discusses the key themes and recommendations from the research and the importance of the findings for the Scottish Government, local authorities, care providers and all who are involved in supporting young people into adulthood.
This research aims to identify and better understand what it is that enables and challenges the necessary improvements needed at national and local level to support children and young people to successfully transition to adulthood.
New research by CELCIS on Scotland’s policy of continuing care for young people has been published today, with recommendations to support the care system to make greater progress.
Research shows that education and skills development play a significant role in improving the life chances, health and wellbeing, and reducing inequalities, of everyone in society.
As part of Kinship Care Week 2022 Lorna Stabler, a Researcher and PhD student at Cardiff University, writes about being a sibling carer and the research she is undertaking into kinship carers who care for their brothers and sisters.
On this World Social Work Day, two social workers from East Ayrshire Council, in Scotland, share their thoughts and experiences of the impact of the pandemic on social work practice.
Our response highlights the impact of poverty-related stigma on children, young people and families in need of care and protection. Poverty-related stigma causes shame, and can impact on the supports and services children and families access. By recognising the structural factors causing poverty, and services being poverty-aware, this stigma can be challenged and eradicated.
This consultation is a response to the UK Government’s Digital Cabinet Office on the draft Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2022. We consider the changes proposed by this consultation to how certain information could be shared between agencies (HMRC and DWP), Scottish Government and local authorities in Scotland, to enable local authorities to contact families who are eligible for funded early learning and childcare provision.
This report provides an insight into the role of Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHTs) and
Care Experienced Teams (CETs) in Scotland through a diverse range of case studies.
These provide examples of how VSHTs are using creativity, compassion, and
communication to establish new, innovative and alternative ways of supporting care
experienced children and young people during their education journey so that children
and young people can feel more settled, confident, and motivated, ensuring a better
experience at school.
Data is an important resource that can give us insight into the wellbeing and experiences of children and young people in need of care and protection. It can tell us how services and systems are functioning for the children, young people and families they support, and what impact programmes of change are having. This can help practitioners to make informed decisions about children’s lives, and helps to support managers and leaders in their drive to improve practice and services.
This briefing explains how to access Child Trust Funds, and any support that children or young people might need to access or manage their fund.
Evidence for the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee Committee’s thematic session on kinship care.
Information from Parent Club Scotland on the Child Online Safety Campaign 2022 and Partner Toolkit for use in Scotland. Parent Club offers up-to-date guidance from the Scottish Government on children’s health and education.
Having marked the 2nd anniversary of the conclusion of Scotland’s Independent Review of Care, The Promise, there has rightly been a spotlight on what progress has been made and the ongoing drive to strengthen the collective effort, focus and approach to realise its ambitions for children, young people and their families.
CELCIS response to the Education, Children and Young People Committee’s call for views on The Scottish Attainment Challenge. This response focuses on the impact that this funding has made for children and young people with care experience.
As Scotland’s national approach to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing all children and young people, GIRFEC is rights-based and child-focused, supporting children and their families to access the right support for them, and aims to enhance children’s wellbeing at an early stage and avoid the escalation of difficulties.
In our response to the Scottish Government's recent policy position paper, we provide feedback on proposals concerning the recognition of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) Orders under Scots law when children subject to these measures are moved to care homes in Scotland.
A look at how everyday interaction and routines in residential child care can help to therapeutically explore life stories with children and young people.
Professor Richard Rose discusses therapeutic life story work and how sharing stories helps to share our interests, hopes and fears.
A look at research examining the benefits and challenges of informal storytelling as an approach to help to build relationships with young people in residential care.
This research brings to life the bedtime reading experiences of young people in residential care, those who care for them, and the impact it has on wellbeing.
This briefing is for all practitioners involved in writing, managing and/or supporting access to care records.
How the power of storytelling is helping children in long-term foster care in North Ayrshire
This month explored how we can #KeepThePromise across all participation services and projects in the coming year.
At this Participation Network Event we looked ahead to the future of the Network, and the different ways that to be involved in shaping this future.
As always, we had a variety of creative and fun activities to stimulate discussion, as well as space to share learning and hear updates from some high-quality participation projects.
In this event, we saw presentations from the National Leadership Network, the Inside Out project, Our Hearings, Our Voice, and the Rights Right Now project who spoke about how they are working to Keep The Promise.
In this event, we saw presentations from the National Leadership Network, the Inside Out project, Our Hearings, Our Voice, and the Rights Right Now project who spoke about how they are working to Keep The Promise.
In Scotland, voluntary care arrangements place a duty on local authorities to care for a child or young person where it is necessary to respond to their care and protection needs, and where their parents either agree, or are not present.
Claire Burns has been appointed as the new Director of CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
Tiegan Boyens uses her experiences, views and knowledge to help improve the lives of children and young people, tackle social justice issues, and raise awareness of human rights. In this blog post, Tiegan, who is aged 19, adopted and lives in England, discusses why a greater understanding of poverty is needed to help make real change.
This webinar discusses the role of Virtual School Head Teachers in Scotland and how they work to improve the educational experiences of care experienced children and young people.
This booklet describes how the roles of the Virtual School Head Teacher's and Care Experienced Teams are developing in Scotland. It also sets out how a Network of those in these key roles has grown to support those fulfilling these key strategic positions which aim to improve educational experiences and outcomes for children and young people with experience of care. This resource explains what a Virtual School is, the aims of the role and the Network and discusses the impact that the work is having for children and families.
This response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s Inquiry provides information about some of the key issues around the health and wellbeing of children and young people in need of care and protection.
As families continue to struggle financially this winter, CELCIS's Director (Acting) Claire Burns looks at how financial support can get to people who need it most and the new ways local authorities are working with families to do this.
Following the announcement that Jennifer Davidson would be stepping down as Executive Director of CELCIS earlier in 2021, we are now recruiting to fill CELCIS’s Director position on a permanent basis.
The Scottish Government have published ‘Caring for our children and young people: An update on Scotland's Corporate Parenting 2018-21’, detailing how Scotland’s corporate parents have delivered on their duties to support children and young people with care experience.
Scottish Ministers have published (9 December) ‘Caring for our children and young people: An update on Scotland's Corporate Parenting 2018-21’, detailing how Scotland’s corporate parents have delivered on their duties to support children and young people with care experience.
This report from The Fostering Network, is based on a survey, which took place in the summer of 2021, and covered key practice and workforce issues such as placement stability, training and support for carers, and status and authority of the workforce.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament (8 December 2021), Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced that the Financial Redress Scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care has opened for applications.
This consultation response provides feedback on ‘refreshed’ GIRFEC practice guidance materials about the Named Person, Lead Professional, using the National Practice Model, and Information Sharing. We suggest areas in which the guidance materials could be strengthened and clarified in order to ensure an effective preventative approach to supporting children and families is facilitated. We also highlight the importance of attention to the effective implementation of guidance to ensure practice change.
The views and experiences of foster carers and services have been published (7 December) in a new State of the Nation's Foster Care 2021 report from The Fostering Network.
The UK Trauma Council (UKTC) and three child bereavement charities - Child Bereavement UK, Winston’s Wish and the Childhood Bereavement Network - have launched a portfolio of free, evidence-based resources for parents, school staff, bereavement services and NHS mental health services supporting children and young people.
Reflecting on the impact of the media, and how it is used, in shaping public attitudes to care experience.
The Scottish Government has announced (23 November) £200 million of targeted funding as part of a redesigned approach to tackling the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC).
In this blog post, Tiegan, who is adopted and lives in England, discusses her experience at the 2021 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Day of General Discussion on Children’s Rights and Alternative Care, held in September, and reflects on how we can all do more to help children and young people realise their rights.
This consultation document provides information and insights on the proposed changes to Education Scotland and the reform of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
In this Education Forum meeting Jacqueline Cassidy, Director for Scotland for the the charity Place2Be explained the mission of the charity, which is to support children and young people's mental health and well-being in their schools, families and communities.
New introductory guidance on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) published.
The narratives around adoption narratives are changing, led by the voices involved. This Adoption Week Scotland, we look at what the award-winning project Whatever Next? tells us about how we can learn from each other and international adoption.
The Scottish Government has issued guidance around children’s rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in Scotland. This non-statutory guidance is intended to provide those involved in public service delivery in Scotland with an introduction to giving effect to children’s rights as set out in the UNCRC.
This Adoption Week Scotland, Dr Leanne McIver, Research Associate at CELCIS, discusses how greater inclusiveness for adopted children in policy, guidance and language is changing the face of adoption.
Gillian Henderson, Information and Research manager in the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA), discusses some of the research evidence that lead to the foundation of SUFS. And then how SUFS used this and other research to influence the Scottish Government and to finally achieve the changes in law that came into force in July 2021.
CELCIS has submitted (today, 2 November) our response to the Scottish Government's consultation on their proposals for a National Care Service for Scotland.
Our response intends to provide a substantial, evidence-based assessment of the proposals set out, reflecting the importance of the issues at hand and the complexity of the challenges.
Proposals for a National Care Service in Scotland were published for consultation by the Scottish Government in August 2021.
CELCIS’s response intends to provide a substantial, evidence-based assessment of the proposals set out, reflecting the importance of the issues at hand and the complexity of the challenges
This summary brings together the key findings of the Virtual School Head Teacher’ and Care Experience Teams’ Network 2020-2021 Evaluation Report.
This evaluation report brings together the findings of semi-structured interviews carried out in July/August 2021 with members of Scotland’s Virtual School Head Teachers’ Network.
In this blog, which appeared on the Stellar Quines website, Genna Allan discusses her experiences of being part of You’ve Never Slept in Mine and what she thinks makes the adaptation so special…
On this National Mentoring Day, a young person who is currently a mentee with MCR Pathways and their mentor, Lorna Tilsley, discuss how their relationship has developed over time, navigating COVID-19 restrictions, and the impact that mentoring has had.
At our latest Education Forum meeting. We were delighted to welcome Claire O'Hara, Programme Director, and Michael Wield, Programme Co-ordinator from the Each and Every Child initiative, which aims to support people at all levels in the community to shift how they communicate when speaking about care experience, and to change how they think, feel and act.
At our latest meeting we were delighted to welcome Jacqueline Cassidy, Director for Scotland for the the charity Place2Be. Jacqueline explains the mission of the charity, which is to support children and youngpeople's mental health and well-being in the schools, families and communities. Their early intervention approach involves supportingchildren, parents and carers as well as teachers and support staff.
In this CELCIS Education Forum, Claire O'Hara, Programme Director and Michael Wield, Programme Coordinator at Each and Every Child, discussed framing and how it can be used to provide a different perspective when talking about children and care.
The UK Supreme Court has today (6 October 2021) handed down a judgement that four provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill are outside the devolved legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
Read the initial blog responses to the call for action on physical restraint in Scottish childcare, which have been updated for SIRCC 2021.
This issue of The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care has been published to coincide with the Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care conference – ‘SIRCC 2021 Online’. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Workforce’ – highlighting the experiences, challenges, and opportunities of those working in residential child care. This issue includes the transcript of the 2021 Kilbrandon Lecture on 'Labours of Love: The Crisis of Care', which specifically considered aspects of the complex task of providing quality care. The issue features six peer-reviewed articles, covering topics from life after residential care to applying implementation science to residential care, as well as nine shorter articles reporting on practice or contemporary issues, including the first ever Care Experienced History Month and the UN Day of General Discussion on Children’s Rights and Alternative Care.
We've interviewed some of the authors of articles published in the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, to explore in more detail the content of their articles and meet the people behind the names.
Children and young people with residential care experience and residential workers share their highlights from the past year.
The Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group was formed to continue the discussion on physical restraint in residential child care and plan a way forward for Scotland.
This Foundations report from Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Care Inspectorate highlights examples of current practice and models, particular areas of excellence and new research evidence and literature relating to the formation of a Scottish Barnahus (Bairns’ Hoose).
This new factsheet from the Scottish Government sets out a vision for how Barnahus should be implemented in Scotland, the values which should underpin the model and the approach to its practical implementation.
As a leading improvement centre in Scotland, our focus is always: is this in the best interests of children and young people in need of care and protection, their families and carers?
It is this question that is driving our analysis and consideration of the proposals in the new National Care Service for Scotland currently out for consultation.
Charlie McMillan is the chief executive of the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, the SCLD. In this video he discusses the role of the Network in reducing restrictive practices across all sectors in Scotland, including the child care sector.
Alongside characters and values, what other factors make a great manager? What parts do professional identity, learning and development, and experience play?
SIRCC 2021 Online focused on the importance of creating the scaffolding for the workforce in realising The Promise. Together, we explored how this can be achieved in the everyday when caring for children and young people.
SIRCC 2022 Online focused on the importance of creating the scaffolding for the workforce in realising The Promise. Together, we explored how this can be achieved in the everyday when caring for children and young people.
The Scottish Government published new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021.
Replacing the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, last published in 2014, this revised guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations of everyone who works with, or comes into contact with, children and young people, families and carers in Scotland.
The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care is a peer-reviewed, open access e-journal which aims to provide a rich forum for debate and dissemination about the topical issues in residential child care research, policy and practice.
The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care is a peer-reviewed, open access e-journal which aims to provide a rich forum for debate and dissemination about the topical issues in residential child care research, policy and practice.
The Scottish Government has today (7 September) announced investment of £500m in a new Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.
Announcing the funding in the new Programme for Government for 2021-22, the First Minister explained that this funding aims to enable the building of universal, holistic support services, to be available in communities across Scotland, giving families access to the help they need, where and when they need it.
The Civil Service Care Leaver Internship offers care leavers aged 18-30 the opportunity to undertake paid 12-month internships in government departments and agencies throughout the UK. In this blog post, four current interns working in different departments in the Scottish Government discuss the application process, their experiences as interns, and offer advice for potential applicants.
The Scottish Government has published new Learning Review Guidance following a review of its approach to learning from child protection cases. This replaces guidance on conducting Significant Case Reviews published in 2015.
Replacing the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, last published in 2014, this revised guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations of everyone who works with, or comes into contact with, children and young people, families and carers in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has published new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland. Replacing the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, last published in 2014, this revised guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations of everyone who works with, or comes into contact with, children and young people, families and carers in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has awarded further funding to CELCIS to invest in the continued development of Scotland’s Virtual School Head Teachers’ Network.
Inclusion, experience and value in participation.
In this Network Event, we explore the theme of inclusion, experience and value in participation projects, and how organisations in Scotland use different approaches, depending on the context.
For all of us involved in supporting children and families, the pandemic has shown that building back better from COVID-19 doesn’t mean returning to our previous ways of working; it means resetting them.
Now, as I reflect on the last 12 months, it is clear that Scotland is on the path to making the changes and improvements that need to happen – and are already happening – for our children and families.
Alison Cowper, Service Manager with the Independent Care and Review Team (Children and Families) at Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership talks about how ‘what does this mean for Fred?’ influenced their work with CELCIS when process mapping their current system.
At our May 2021 Education Forum meeting we were delighted to welcome four Attainment Advisors from Education Scotland who shared information, insights and practical examples of their work as part of the the Scottish Attainment Challenge with a focus on improving attainment for care experienced children and young people.
A Consultants Working Group was instrumental on helping to shape the content, tone and language of Scotland’s new National Practice Guidance to support the rights of care experienced children and their brothers and sisters in Scotland. Here, one of the consultants Saffron Rohan, discusses the process of contributing to the development of the guidance, and the importance of listening to and embedding lived experience in changes to policy and practice.
Alex is 17 and has been living in secure care for the past few months after attending a Children Hearing. Alex knows that the review of his care coming up will recommend to the Children’s Hearing that he will no longer need secure care.
Sophie is 14 and has been living with foster carers for the past year. Her family had some problems they needed to work out, so Sophie and her little brother went to stay with a foster family while things got sorted out at home.
Kyle is 21 and has lived in his residential home since he was 15. Kyle has several additional needs and he has really enjoyed staying where he is, in continuing care.
Islay is 17 and has been living with her foster carers since she was 15. She is currently working at her local Primark five days a week and is enjoying her job and the freedom it brings.
Katie is approaching her 16th birthday in six weeks’ time. She has been in living with foster carers Bob and Helen on a Permanence Order for seven years.
Emma is 18, lives with foster carers and starts her first year at university soon. She wants to live in student halls but worries about where she will live over the summer.
Josh is 17 and has lived in his residential home for the past 18 months. Josh is studying sport at college and is doing really well.
Erin is 13 and has lived with her gran since she was 11. Erin’s social worker told her this is a ‘kinship care’ placement.
Since founding STAR, and in my time as a foster carer, I’ve seen and heard first-hand the impact of one of the most heart-breaking problems of the care system: children being separated from their brothers and sisters, at times in homes that are far away from each other, or being prevented from having a relationship at all.
A kinship carer who has looked after her granddaughter for the past decade shares some of the challenges and the rewards this brings.
Staying Together and Connected: Getting it Right for Sisters and Brothers National Practice Guidance
This National Practice Guidance for Scotland is designed to contribute to the effective implementation of new legislative changes introduced under the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 to uphold the rights and meet the needs of children with care experience and their families.
The Scottish Government has published new National Practice Guidance, ‘Staying Together and Connected: Getting it Right for Sisters and Brothers’ to support new legislative changes coming into effect today, 26 July.
Staying Together and Connected: Getting it right for sisters and brothers National Practice Guidance
Aileen Nicol, Head of Improving Protection and Permanence at Celcis, a member of Stand Up For Siblings, has written a blog about the new National Practice Guidance ‘Staying Together and Connected: Getting it right for sisters and brothers’.
As CELCIS, in partnership with Coram Voice, launches the Bright Spots programme pilot in Scotland, this blog post reflects on the experience of one local authority's participation in the programme in England.
This report was prepared by CELCIS in collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders in Scotland to inform the Scottish Government Children and Families Collective Leadership Group's consideration of the impact of COVID-19 on children and families.
The Voice and Inclusion Project (VIP) has been set up for children and young people with care experience to come together to work with us at CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, so that we can find and create ways to improve the experiences of children and young people when they take part in a hearing.
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Professor Jennifer Davidson, founding Director of CELCIS, and Director of its predecessor the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care, will be stepping down as Executive Director of CELCIS from 1 August 2021 to continue her work with the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures at the University of Strathclyde on a permanent basis.
Lifelong Links is an innovative approach to supporting children and young people who are looked after away from their parents and their families. This second Briefing follows the first Lifelong Links Briefing, published in 2020, and reflects some new concerns around the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on Lifelong links, and also provides an update on the overall evaluation activities in Scotland and outline what we hope to achieve between now and the evaluation ending in March 2023.
At our May 2021 Education Forum meeting we were delighted to welcome four Attainment Advisors from Education Scotland who shared information, insights and practical examples of their work as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge with a focus on improving attainment for care experienced children and young people.
CELCIS has today (29 June) announced a new partnership with Coram Voice to bring two established surveys of young people’s experience of care to Scotland to be used by local authorities.
CELCIS, in partnership with Coram Voice, is extending the pilot of the Bright Spots programme, with its two online wellbeing surveys, in Scotland.
The surveys, ‘Your Life, Your Care’, and ‘Your Life Beyond Care’, have been developed to provide an opportunity for children and young people to share their experiences of care and how they feel about their lives, based on what they say is important.
CELCIS, in partnership with Coram Voice, is bringing the ‘Bright Spots’ programme, with its two online wellbeing surveys, to Scotland.
The surveys, ‘Your Life, Your Care’, and ‘Your Life Beyond Care’, have been developed to provide an opportunity for children and young people to share their experiences of care and how they feel about their lives, based on what they say is important.
CELCIS, in partnership with Coram Voice, is bringing the ‘Bright Spots’ programme, with its two online wellbeing surveys, to Scotland.
The surveys, ‘Your Life, Your Care’, and ‘Your Life Beyond Care’, have been developed to provide an opportunity for children and young people to share their experiences of care and how they feel about their lives, based on what they say is important.
Check out the upcoming events and webinars from CELCIS
Ahead of the screening of Holding / Holding On, part of a project investigating the impact that the arts can make within a care context across Scotland, we asked two of the project's community collaborators to write about their work on the project and their direct experiences of the care system in Scotland.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published new information about the take up of the Care-Experienced Bursary in the 2018-19 academic year, the first year that this data has been available.
The Promise Scotland has published its first Change Programme – Change Programme ONE - outlining what is happening now, what is happening next, and what needs to happen to realise The Promise of the Independent Care Review published in 2020.
Shining a spotlight on how carers and young people have adapted to the COVID-19 health crisis
Carers, young people, advocates and CELCIS have all shared their thoughts and experiences during this time. They discuss specific challenges faced by young people, families and/or their carers, considering many different issues that have been exposed and what the crisis has meant for those in need of care and protection.
Carers, young people, advocates and CELCIS have all shared their thoughts and experiences during this time. They discuss specific challenges faced by young people, families and/or their carers, considering many different issues that have been exposed and what the crisis has meant for those in need of care and protection.
Stigma, language, perception, and representation: "Being 'in Care' is an experience not a definition"
Evidence into practice
corporate parenting
Education and attainment of vulnerable children
a permanent home to flourish and thrive
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News and information from CELCIS and the looked after children and young people sector.
The Scottish Government has today (15 June 2021) published the national Education Outcomes for Looked After Children for 2019-20 statistics report. ‘Looked after’ is the term which is used in legislation in Scotland to mandate care and protection of children.
The Care Inspectorate has today (14 June) published its latest review report - Triennial Review of Initial Case Reviews and Significant Case Reviews (2018-2021): Impact on Practice.
Congratulations to all the SIRCC Residential Child Care 2019 Award winners. You are all super stars!
In this webinar, Paul Sullivan, Sector Engagement Lead at CELCIS, explains the importance of the participation and engagement of children and young people in CELCIS’s work and discusses some models for participation, including the Independent Care Review and local Champions Boards. This is vital for all work relating to improving timescales for permanence planning, as the reason for improving such timescales is to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Quality Improvement methodology has been proven to enable real and positive change, and was therefore selected by the Scottish Government to be used in the PACE programme to reduce what was identified as drift and delay in permanence planning for looked after children.
Quality Improvement methodology has been proven to enable real and positive change, and was therefore selected by the Scottish Government to be used in the PACE programme to reduce what was identified as drift and delay in permanence planning for looked after children.
Children require a safe, stable, secure and nurturing home in which to grow up and fulfil their potential. This may be referred to as ‘permanence’. For children who become ‘looked after’ by a local authority under child protection legislation, it can necessarily take time to decide where this home should be – whether that be remaining with or returning to their parents; or an alternative home with kinship carers (family members or close family friends), long-term foster carers, residential care, or adoption.
In the early stages of PACE, each local authority area developed one or two aims and worked on these for the duration of the programme. However, as PACE progressed, the CELCIS team realised that it would be more beneficial to have aims that covered all parts of the permanence planning process and all ‘looked after children’ under child protection legislation, as well as having aims that all local authority areas involved in PACE worked on to give a degree of consistency across Scotland. As a result, the four national PACE Aims were developed.
What is PACE, how did it come about, who was involved and what did we learn from delivering the programme? In this webinar, Kirsty Doull, Acting Permanence Lead and Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, is joined by Carol Wassell, Permanence and Care Team Lead at CELCIS from 2012 – 2020. Together, they look back at the PACE programme from start to finish, and reflect on what the team learned along the way.
In this webinar, Craig Morris, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS from 2017 - 2019, is joined by Keith Dyer, Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager at The City of Edinburgh Council. Keith and Craig discuss Edinburgh’s approach to Aim 1, focussing on children who are looked after at home.
An impact of PACE was that colleagues in local authority areas were able to use what they had learned from the programme to utilise Quality Improvement to effect change in other ways to improve outcomes for children. In this webinar, Jimmy Paul, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, speaks to Alison Penman and Sarah McGarva, Locality Social Work Managers at Dumfries and Galloway Council, about how they applied the Quality Improvement knowledge gained through PACE to support their ‘signs of safety’ work.
In PACE and Quality Improvement, Kirsty Doull, Acting Permanence Lead and Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, talks us through the key points of Quality Improvement and how it was used in the PACE programme.
Solicitors in local authority areas were key partners in PACE. In this webinar, Kirsty Doull, Acting Permanence Lead and Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the legal side of permanence planning with Heather Milne, a solicitor at West Dunbartonshire Council. They discuss the many change ideas that have been developed and tested by solicitors, and emphasise the importance of involving legal services early on in the permanence planning process.
In PACE and Permanence, Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS discusses why finding safe, secure and stable homes for children is so important.
In this webinar, Carol Ann Anderson, Data Analyst at CELCIS, provides a practical demonstration detailing how to create your own timeline using Microsoft Excel. She explains what information you need before you start, and provides a step-by-step guide to help you create your own timeline to support decision making for children in your area.
In this webinar, Micky Anderson, Data Lead at CELCIS, and Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discuss the timeline tool that they developed in partnership with a local authority area involved in the PACE programme. They explain why a timeline can be useful in visually explaining a child’s journey through the system, and in particular in showing how many places a child has lived. They also demonstrate how timelines can bring a child’s story to life and keep them at the centre of decision making, as well as how timelines for groups of children can provide an understanding of how systems are working.
In this webinar, the PACE delivery team discusses some of the key findings from the PACE programme and how we can use what we’ve learned to help implement the Promise of the Independent Care Review.
Concurrency planning is a way of planning for all possible eventualities for where a child might live, and one which – crucially – places the responsibility on adults, not children. In this webinar, Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the concurrency planning model and shows how it can be used to minimise the amount of moves between homes a child might have. She also explains how it can support early and robust permanence planning.
Concurrency planning is a way of planning for all possible eventualities for where a child might live, and one which – crucially – places the responsibility on adults, not children. In this webinar, Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the concurrency planning model and shows how it can be used to minimise the amount of moves between homes a child might have. She also explains how it can support early and robust permanence planning.
In this webinar, Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, is joined by colleagues from Midlothian Council to discuss one of their key innovations – an outcomes focussed assessment that followed the child throughout their permanence planning journey. Rebecca Hooton, Acting Service Manager, and Angela Lynch, Team Leader, at Midlothian Council, discuss how they developed the assessment format and how feedback from partner agencies further improved it.
In this webinar, Kirsty Doull, Acting Permanence Lead and Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses some of the key things that CELCIS has learned from PACE in regard to the systems that support children living in kinship care. She explores the reasons why it’s important that children living with kinship carers have the same robust processes in place for making decisions about their future as other children, and talks about some of the key change ideas that have been tested through PACE to improve kinship care processes.
In this webinar, Dr Louise Hill, Evidence and Policy Lead at CELCIS at the time of the programme, discusses the policy and legal framework surrounding kinship care in Scotland. She explains what emotional, practical and financial support is required for children and their kinship carers, and also examines the opportunities and challenges of permanently securing children to live with kinship carers.
In this webinar, the PACE delivery team discusses some of the key findings from the PACE programme and how we can use what we’ve learned to help implement the Promise of the Independent Care Review.
Once a child’s permanence plan has been approved by the Agency Decision Maker, the next step is to provide legal security for a child in what will hopefully be their permanent home. This was the main focus for Aim 4 of the PACE programme, which looked at the process after an Agency Decision Maker’s decision up until an application for a legal order has been lodged in court. In this webinar, Jimmy Paul, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the importance of Aim 4 and its impact on children and families.
Scottish Government guidance states that the Agency Decision Maker in a local authority should agree a child’s permanence plan within 14 weeks of a permanence recommendation being made. This was the main focus of Aim 3 of the PACE programme, which looked at this part of the process, including the assessments and reports that are required in order to scrutinise a child’s permanence plan. In this webinar, Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the importance of Aim 3 and its impact on children and families.
Scottish Government guidance states that there should be clarity for the direction of a child’s plan within six months of them being ‘accommodated’ i.e. living away from their parent’s care. This was the main focus of Aim 2 of the PACE programme, which looked at making a permanence recommendation about where a child should live (including a permanence return home) within these six months. In this webinar, Jimmy Paul, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the importance of Aim 2 and its impact on children and families.
The PACE programme focused on all children, regardless of where they lived, including children who were ‘looked after’ at home on a Compulsory Supervision Order (CSO). Scottish Government guidance states that a child should not usually remain on a CSO for more than two years. Aim 1 focused on children who had been on a CSO for two years or more, and introduced a further review of their plan to determine if such compulsory measures were still necessary. In this webinar, Jimmy Paul, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, discusses the importance of Aim 1 and its impact on children and families.
Find and get in touch with one of our CELCIS team
Scotland’s Corporate Parenting approach requires effective implementation of the duties and responsibilities introduced. This special series of implementation notes is designed to support all those working to make Part 9 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 a reality.
Here you'll find the contact details of all the lovely people who work at CELCIS.
The National Confidential Forum has published its final reports, Shining a Light on Care, which includes recommendations for policy and practice to Scottish Government, and My Message for Scotland, which includes direct quotes shared with Forum members by survivors of historic institutional care in Scotland.
Children living in alternative care is a global concern and we are proud to participate in a two-way learning process with our colleagues in the international childcare community.
The National Confidential Forum, which was established under the the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014, has published its final reports, Shining a Light on Care, which includes recommendations for policy and practice to Scottish Government, and My Message for Scotland, which includes direct quotes shared with Forum members by survivors of historic institutional care in Scotland.
Children living in alternative care is a global concern and we are proud to participate in a two-way learning process with our colleagues in the international childcare community.
Continuing the conversation with survivors
Our specialist skills are used to support survivors of abuse in residential care as well as service provideres and others to implement solutions that secure access to justice for survivors.
We believe it's critical that society develops a deeper understanding of looked after children's physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
All children have a right to an education, regardless of their circumstances. For children and young people with care experience this may mean that additional support is required during their time in school to meet their distinct, and often unseen, needs. One of key goals of Virtual School Head Teachers’ (VSHT) is to help create environments where care experienced children will feel more settled, motivated, and resilient, to ensure a better experience at school. This, in turn, will help to improve attendance, educational outcomes, and contribute to better life chances.
If you missed the CELCIS Education conference in 2019, then catch up on the highlights..
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Thank you page for subscribing to our newsletters.
Welcome to our Education Forum webpage! Here you’ll find more information about our Education Forum meetings, community, and resources.
One of our key goals is to play a big part in narrowing the educational outcomes gap for all looked after children.
How we contribute to throughcare and aftercare policy to provide better outcomes for care leavers in Scotland.
Leaving care is a huge life event for looked after young people. Find out how we're developing a new norm of ongoing support to help them take those big steps successfully.
For a small number of children permanence means legal adoption, which is a deeply significant lifelong decision. Adoption practice demands sensitive holistic assessment, building relationships of trust and lifelong child development informed support for everyone involved, including the child, their parents, their brothers and sisters, practitioners and prospective adoptive families.
Here, you’ll find a range of information and resources which provide an insight into CELCIS’s Permanence and Care Excellence (PACE) programme – a Quality Improvement programme which ran from 2014-2020.
The recorded webinars, reports, blog posts, and other useful resources on this page detail how we used quality improvement to support 27 of the 32 Scottish local authority partnerships to reduce timescales in providing a permanent place for babies, children and young people to live.
Find out how we help develop systems which ensure that every looked after child in Scotland is quickly provided with a settled, secure and permanent place to live.
We are involved in many areas affecting the lives of looked after children, these include Education, Throughcare and aftercare, Permanence, Historical Abuse and Health and wellbeing.
Find out about the types of events and conferences we deliver to support the sharing of knowledge, information, latest thinking and good practice from the sector.
Learn and grow through our programme of professional development, tailored training, informal learning, conferences and events.
Our highly skilled specialists deliver consultancy from all our areas of expertise for frontline staff, strategic leaders, teams and organisations.
More about the new Level 9 qualification introduced by the Scottish Government for the residential care workforce.
Our advanced qualifications and learning opportunities build on the skills base of professionals working with looked after children and young people.
Our research, evidence and evaluation methods help you assess what works and what doesn't, allowing you to design and deliver better services.
Our policy specialists help you understand legislation and implement effective policy frameworks for children and young people.
Details of our work with those people and professionals who in turn work directly with children who are looked after away from home - in foster, kinship, residential or secure care.
Our new, innovative programme working with local and national partners to develop a more effective approach to address neglect and enhance the wellbeing of vulnerable children.
We are supporting the Scottish Government’s delivery of an independent National Child Protection Systems Review. Find out more...
People protect children and we are working alongside local and national partners to make an important contribution to Scottish Government's Child Protection Improvement Programme.
The latest statistics from the Scottish Government on children and young people in care in Scotland.
What is 'looked after'? You'll find all the info you need plus the latest statistics too.
If you are worried about the welfare and wellbeing of a child or young person, please report your concerns to an appropriate professional.
All the good stuff we do here at CELCIS. What we can do for you and also the main areas we are involved with.
CELCIS was born out of the Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care. Read about our history...
Current job opportunities/vacancies with CELCIS.
This strategy sets out our framework for the next five years and provides the foundation from which we will plan our work through our annual business plans and our sustainability plan to deliver on the vision we have for babies, children, young people and their families.
We are governed by a Strategic Steering Group, supported by the University of Strathclyde, and monitored by the Scottish Government, our principle funder.
Find out how we implement changes so that we can all make a meaningful difference to improve outcomes for children.
Find out about CELCIS. Who we are and what we do to improve the lives of looked after children in Scotland.
Ahead of 'Voice & Vision', a celebration of the creative work of young people with care experience, Laura Graham, Senior Evidence and Influencing Officer, Life Changes Trust, reflects on the role creativity plays in working with young people.
Find a mix of commentary and relevant resources to help you make sense of some of the big, topical issues facing those working with and for looked after children.
Welcome to the Protecting Children area of the CELCIS website.
This is a resource and link page for all child carers and child experienced children and young people who need help during the Coronavirus covid-19 health emergency in the UK
Protecting children during the COVID-19 coronavirus public health emergency
this page is about the covid-19 coronavirus health emergency
Find a range of child protection information and resources.
Information and advice on parental mental health.
Information and resources on problematic parental alcohol and/or drug use.
Information and advice on physical abuse.
Information and advice on sexual abuse.
Learning and Improvement.
Information on the Child Protection Process.
Information on the Child Protection Improvement Programme (CPIP).
Overview of key child protection, legislation, policies, structures and processes in Scotland.
Information on Child Protection Committees.
Advice if you are worried about a child or young person.
All materials as they become live for SIRCC 2020 Online
The Corporate Parenting new duties in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 provide a fantastic opportunity for corporate parents to improve and safeguard the wellbeing of care experienced children and young people. Here you'll learn about corporate parenting through briefings and resources.
This legislation introduced significant changes that have an impact on every aspect of children’s services in Scotland and on all stages of a child’s life, from birth well into adulthood.
The sexual exploitation of children (CSE) in Scotland is a reality that must be recognised. Here you’ll find a range of information and resources to help you identify the risks that children may face, as well as how to protect them from being harmed or exploited.
We are providing a platform for the voices of care experienced people and those working in residential child care to share perspectives on the challenging and complex subject of physical restraint in residential child care. This series of blog posts by no means covered all perspectives of the conversation, and more voices need to be heard.
As we celebrate Foster Care Fortnight 2021, I want to say a huge thank you to the fostering community across Scotland. In spite of the huge challenges that the past year has thrown at everyone, foster carers have shown their unwavering commitment to providing warmth, love, and care to more than 4,700 children and young people across Scotland.
If you missed the CELCIS Education conference in 2019, then catch up on the highlights..
A new initiative – Each and Every Child - which aims to transform the current public narrative and perceptions around care and care experience by identifying and tackling challenging assumptions and attitudes has been launched today (18 May).
The Voice and Inclusion Project (VIP) has been set up for children and young people with care experience to come together to work with us at CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection to so that we can help to find and create ways to improve the experiences of children and young people when they take part in a hearing.
Here we provide information to support of the UK wide Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) study on children’s social care provision. We highlight the need for change so that efficiency and value in terms of “a market of care” are understood as the provision of positive experiences and outcomes for children.
Free recorded webinars from CELCIS. CELCIS regularly produces online webinars which discuss many topics concerning the care and protection of children and young people. The recordings of these events are below and reflect practice and policy in Scotland and beyond.
The CELCIS Emerging Insights Series is a series of free, live, online webinars in which Leaders from the sector share insight, evidence and perspectives about the current critical issues, risks, challenges and learning in child protection. The recorded webinars can be viewed here, with transcripts and other relevant information and links.
The UK Trauma Council (UKTC) and three child bereavement charities have launched new resources for those supporting children and young people.
This report presents qualitative research undertaken in one of the Scottish local authorities involved in the Permanence and Care Excellence (PACE) programme.
This public health emergency brings great challenges for everyone, especially children in need of care and protection, their families and carers, and those who support them. We have gathered together important guidance, information and resources to help many of the people we work with.
This public health emergency brings great challenges for everyone, especially children in need of care and protection, their families and carers, and those who support them. We have gathered together important guidance, information and resources to help many of the people we work with.
The reality of the COVID-19 global pandemic is the most significant challenge countries have faced in generations.
The reality of the COVID-19 global pandemic is the most significant challenge countries have faced in generations.
Write an article for our Journal; a rich forum for debate and dissemination about the topical issues in residential childcare research, policy and practice.
Read our Journal; a rich forum for debate and dissemination about the topical issues in residential childcare research, policy and practice.
Browse all the issues in our Journal; a rich forum for debate and dissemination about the topical issues in residential childcare research, policy and practice.
CELCIS has begun to gather views to inform the writing of a National Practice Guidance to accompany new legislative changes introduced to uphold the rights and meet the needs of brothers and sisters with care experience under the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.
If you missed the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant conference in 2019, then catch up on the highlights..
If you missed the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant conference in 2019, then catch up on the highlights..
Our first Education Forum meeting of 2021 was held online in March with the theme of ‘Widening Participation and Access to Further and Higher Education’.
The way forward for children’s care in Scotland set out as The Promise Scotland publishes Plan 21-24
The Promise has published the first of three plans for the decade ahead outlining how Scotland will Keep The Promise of the review.
The Scottish Government has published the latest official annual Children’s Social Work Statistics for Scotland.
With the death of Joyce Lishman we have lost someone who had a huge impact on social work and social care practice in Scotland over several decades. Our paths crossed many times and I viewed her as a reliable friend who would be both supportive and challenging.
The Scottish Parliament has today (16 March) passed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.
Traditionally, kinship care has been viewed as a cheaper option secondary to fostering and adoption in terms of allowances, support and a lack of standardised practice across the country in how carers are assessed via an assessment framework, rigour and approval process.
The Scottish Parliament has passed legislation to establish a Redress Scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care in Scotland to apply for financial payments.
Our first Education Forum meeting of 2021 was held online in March with the theme of ‘Widening Participation and Access to Further and Higher Education’. We were joined by Lorraine Moore from the Hub for Success and Catherine McCormack from Edinburgh College who helped us reflect on the barriers and opportunities that care experienced people can encounter when applying to, or attending, college or university.
Today (10 March 2021) CELCIS has published details of the commitment and offer we continue to make to advance the changes and improvements called for in the publication of the findings and conclusions of Scotland’s Independent Care Review in The Promise.
Learn more about CELCIS’s response and our offer to work in collaboration with The Promise and those working to support children, young people and their families across Scotland to realise the ambitions set out.
Megan Sutherland is Vice Chair of Who Cares? Scotland. She recently moved home and found it wasn’t easy to register as exempt from paying Council Tax as a care leaver. Here she discusses what she feels needs to change for care experienced young people in Scotland.
The Scottish Government, Police Scotland and Child Protection Committees (CPC) Scotland have launched the CSEthe Signs initiative, a month-long campaign to help children and young people recognise the signs of online harms including child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSE).
On World Book Day UK, Kirsty Hill, Regional Director at the Dollywood Foundation UK, discusses why reading for pleasure is crucial for children’s futures.
This World Book Day UK, Callen James Martin, a writer and Submissions Coordinator at The Good Literacy Agency, discusses why it’s important for care experienced people to own their stories and how they can be better represented in books.
This World Book Day UK, Callen James Martin, a writer and Submissions Coordinator at The Good Literacy Agency, discusses why it’s important for care experienced people to own their stories and how they can be better represented in books.
On World Book Day UK, Kirsty Capes, author of the upcoming novel, ‘Careless’, and marketer at HarperCollins, discusses how her childhood experience in care led to a career in writing.
On World Book Day UK, Kirsty Capes, author of the upcoming novel, ‘Careless’, and marketer at HarperCollins, discusses how her childhood experience in care led to a career in writing.
Several local authorities in Scotland have chosen to allocate funding from the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund towards the establishment and development of a Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) role, or a Care Experienced Team (CET). This led to the establishment in 2019 of the VSHT and CET Network, as a forum for support, information sharing, and discussion This interim evaluation report describes the developmental evaluation work which has been undertaken in support of the Network, and the findings in relation to the role of VSHTs and CETs both in the earliest days of the Network, and in the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This issue of The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care includes perspectives on the role of informal networks in young people transitioning from care, child rights education for young people involved in child welfare services, and messages from the literature on risk assessment toolkits and intervention strategies that are helpful for those working directly with looked after children.
Gathering evidence and producing estimates for care experienced pupils during the SQA 2021 exam diet
This document has been produced by the Virtual School and Care Experienced Team National Network with the intention of providing supportive, practical advice for schools and local authorities during the 2021 exam diet. This advice may be helpful when planning for and collating evidence to support an estimate, and when working alongside colleagues in schools to determine the appropriate grade and band to estimate for looked after or care experienced young people. The principles outlined within this document can also be applied to gathering evidence to support assessment at National 1-4 level.
A phone survey was carried out by the CELCIS Education Team in October 2020 with the members of the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) Network. The purpose of the survey was to gather information about the role, remit, and responsibilities of the network members in their developing roles.
This paper has been produced as part of a series of discussions undertaken by the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) network, alongside Scottish Government and Education Scotland representatives, hosted and convened by CELCIS.
This webinar discussed how important digital access is for all young people, particularly those who are care experienced. The participants consider the various aspects of digital inclusion, what would be required to achieved this from local and national partners, and how to create the pathway to a society where all have the benefits of digital access.
With colleagues from partner local authorities, our data team explore the direct impact that changes in provision informed by these data sets have had on children, young people and families.
The webinar closes with a discussion of where our approaches to using data to understand the experience of children to improve services have room to continue to grow and improve.
CELCIS, the Care Inspectorate and Clan Childlaw recently produced a Practice Note which clarifies the legislative requirements when undertaking a Welfare Assessment to support planning for a 'looked after' young person to 'stay put' in a care placement under Continuing Care arrangements.
The webinar discusses how we can support a better understanding of the development needs of young people and how this theory can support the aspirations of the Independent Care Review's The Promise by enabling more effective implementation of practice and provision.
Claire Burns, Director (Acting), CELCIS – Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, marks the first anniversary of The Promise.
In National Storytelling Week, Jennifer Bell, a social worker in a fostering team at North Ayrshire Council, with a special interest in Life Story Work, discusses why it’s vital for care experienced children to know about and understand their life journey.
In National Storytelling Week, Jennifer Bell, a social worker in a fostering team at North Ayrshire Council, with a special interest in Life Story Work, discusses why it’s vital for care experienced children to know about and understand their life journey.
CELCIS have responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the revised national guidance for child protection in Scotland. We welcome this draft guidance, and in this response we have made suggestions to further strengthen the ability of the guidance to support the practice of those who care for children, so that it can make a difference to the life of every child in Scotland.
Olivia Khan is a Rural Business graduate who worked at the Champions Board in South Ayrshire before moving to Berlin. Olivia stays connected to her care roots with a freelance role and in 2021 launched a creative project with a group of five young people. She makes the case for new tech friendly and tech literate care world.
CELCIS has published new research showing the impact of digital inclusion and exclusion on care leavers in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sexual abuse involving child siblings is thought to be the most common form of intra-familial child sexual abuse, perhaps up to three times as common as sexual abuse of a child by a parent. In cases of sibling sexual abuse, the individual who has harmed and the individual who has been harmed are both children. This presents particular challenges which can lead to confused and confusing responses by professionals.
Findings from research carried out to understand care leavers’ experiences of digital exclusion before and during the COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland in 2020.
In seeking to provide an overview of the existing research on residential care, this rapid evidence review addresses the following research questions: • What is the function of residential care as part of a range of alternative care options? • What facilitates ‘quality’ care in residential care? Taking account of it both in the relational interactions between children and their carers, and in how residential care is organised to facilitate high quality care for children. • What effect does residential care have upon outcomes for children and young people?
In October 2020 CELCIS convened and facilitated a virtual workshop with the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) network. The workshop aimed to explore the unique role of VSHTs and CETs in relation to supporting children and families during COVID-19 and what impact, if any, members felt there had been for themselves, children and families, by being part of the VSHT and CET network.
In October 2020 CELCIS convened and facilitated a virtual workshop with the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) network. The workshop aimed to explore the unique role of VSHTs and CETs in relation to supporting children and families during COVID-19 and what impact, if any, members felt there had been for themselves, children and families, by being part of the VSHT and CET network.
A new report launched today (19 January) has revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting a generation of babies and has called for a concerted effort from local support systems to come together to improve outcomes for the very youngest in our society.
The UK Government has launched a wholesale independent review of children’s social care in England
Claire Burns, Director (Acting), CELCIS – Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection discusses how COVID-19 has exacerbated inequalities in society.
Commissioned by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Ipsos MORI carried out a national survey in January 2020, asking the general public for their views on early childhood to start a national conversation on this important life stage by asking ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’. The survey received over 500,000 responses, making it the biggest survey of its kind.
This multi-agency national COVID-19 Recovery Plan for the Children’s Hearings System summarises work that has been done since March 2020 to help maintain the safety and rights of children and young people within the Hearings System. It outlines the challenges that have been faced in delivering Children’s Hearings since March and outlines considerations and ambitions going forward.
Nikki Hepburn, Art teacher at Harmeny Education Trust, is a residential school providing care and education to children aged 5-14 who have experienced early years trauma, describes an animation project, funded by Creative Scotland, which created an innovative and accessible way for young people with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs to tell their own stories.
A national advocacy service has been launched to reinforce the rights of children involved in the Children’s Hearings system.
The introduction of the advocacy service is an important additional support. It’s already the case that hearings must consider views of children and young people as far as possible and they are able to do this in a number of ways – through the child, their parents and families, through social workers and other professionals.
Resources from the November 2020 meeting of the CELCIS Education Forum.
For Adoption Week Scotland this year, Fiona Aitken, Director of Adoption UK Scotland, looks at why therapeutic parenting is so important for children who have been adopted.
This Practice Note clarifies the legislative requirements when undertaking a Welfare Assessment to support planning for a looked after young person to ‘stay put’ in a care placement under Continuing Care arrangements.
This issue of the Journal brings together a collection of articles on COVID-19. We began a series of special features earlier in the pandemic with the intention of providing a real sense of how care experienced children and young people, and their carers were experiencing the crisis and these powerful articles tell of the experience of the last few months. We present a mixture of peer-reviewed articles and book reviews.
This Adoption Week Scotland, Barbara Ogston, FASD Advisor in the FASD Hub Scotland, managed by Adoption UK, who is an adoptive parent, discusses the impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) within the care community, and why it’s vital that children and families receive the support they need.
The Scottish Government has awarded additional funding to formalise and strengthen the support CELCIS provides as the host of Scotland’s Virtual School Head Teachers’ Network.
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about the Care Experienced Students Bursary (CESB) and higher education and further education. It covers details about who is eligible for the CESB, how to apply, and practical information about how payments are made.
Findings in relation to the purpose, frequency, and variation in us of section 25 orders.
Jo Cochrane is the Children’s Services Development and Assurance Team Manager at Dumfries and Galloway Council, since retired. Since 2018, CELCIS has been working alongside local public sector partnerships in Dumfries and Galloway, Falkirk, and East and Midlothian, to develop a Minimum Dataset for use across all 30 of Scotland’s Child Protection Committees.
In 2018 the Citizens Theatre, in partnership with CELCIS, was awarded funding from the Life Changes Trust’s Creative and Active Lives initiative, to establish Scotland’s first professional theatre company for young actors with care experience. This was a bold and ambitious project. The vision was to establish, develop and nurture a unique Theatre Company for the many diverse voices of young people enabling them to be listened to, heard, and celebrated for their artistic talents.
A breifing paper published as part of Care Experienced Week 2020 by the SCLC on supporting care leavers during COVID-19.
A research report on the sexual exploitation of children involved in the Children’s Hearings System by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and Barnardo’s Scotland
A briefing paper on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care leavers and care experienced young people, including key issues and solutions identified.
A summary of local experience and learning during the Covid-19 crisis across Scotland March to August 2020
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) and Barnardo’s Scotland have published (26 October) the first national study of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Scotland.
The Scottish Government would like to hear the views of those working with children, young people and their families on an update to the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland.
On World Food Day 2020, Paul Sullivan, Sector Engagement Lead at CELCIS, reflects on some of the existing food insecurities affecting families across Scotland and what the community-led responses during the public health emergency this year tell us.
CELCIS has published supplementary analysis on a survey of kinship carers' experiences during the coronavirus crisis which the charity Family Rights Group's conducted in April 2020 on behalf of the Cross-Party Parliamentary Taskforce on Kinship Care.
CELCIS strongly supports this progressive approach to promote systemic change through legislation for the promotion of children’s rights through incorporation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). With a comprehensive approach to implementation, this historic Bill can embed children’s rights across our public services, change how we view and realise rights in Scotland, and raise the status of all children in Scotland, including those in need of care and protection.
As the LGBT Youth Scotland Care Commission concludes its work with a new awareness film, Commission member Charlie Mackenzie, discusses what the group has achieved in its two years and the personal impact the Commission has had.
For Challenge Poverty Week 2020, this blog post from Mhairi Reid on behalf of the Life Changes Trust and their Advisory Group, takes a look at how the Young People with Care Experience Programme responded to the new challenge of COVID-19.
Joanne McMeeking and John Ryan discuss the main themes to come from SIRCC 2020 Online.
We asked the residential community what the extraordinary ordinary has meant to them in recent months. Find out what they said.
Links to hints and tips for keeping physically and mentally well during COVID-19.
CELCIS has responded to the Scottish Government Care and Justice consultation on raising the age of referral to the Children’s Reporter to 18.
A recording of the Webinar in which Who Cares? Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and CELCIS learned together about current recording practice in residential child care.
A recording of the Webinar in which Who Cares? Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and CELCIS learned together about current recording practice in residential child care.
October 8, 2020 marks a very important moment for children and young people who experience secure care. That’s because it’s the day that the Secure Care Pathway and Standards will be launched in Scotland’s five secure care centres, celebrating the hard work, creativity and passion that children put into helping to develop these. Paul Sullivan, Sector Engagement Lead at CELCIS, explains what this mean for the future of secure care in Scotland.
Five short clips From Louise Wallwein's keynote at SIRCC 2019 have been extracted to support reflection individually and/or discussion by the residential child care community.
We've pulled together examples from across the CELCIS website of the extraordinary ordinary in residential child care during the public health emergency and lockdown.
The Scottish Government has today (5 October) published new Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland to guide all practitioners supporting children who are in or on the edge of secure care. This was produced with input from children and young people in secure care and with experience of care.
Claire Burns, Director of CELCIS (Acting), takes a moment to consider how much we have learned that we didn’t know before the COVID-19; how this emergency has thrown a spotlight on so much of what we already knew and what this means as we work to make change happen to realise The Promise.
A video summary of comments and thinking during week one of SIRCC 2020 Online
The UK Trauma Council (UKCT) was launched today (17 September) to drive positive change in the care and support provided to children and young people who have been exposed to trauma in their lives.
‘Beyond the pandemic: Strategic priorities for responding to childhood trauma’, is a new briefing by the UK Trauma Council (UKTC) which identifies three ways in which the COVID-19 public health emergency is impacting on the experience of childhood trauma:
A statutory code requiring digital organisations to provide better online privacy protections for children came into force for the UK on 2 September 2020. The Age Appropriate Design Code or Children’s Code applies to organisations providing online services and products likely to be accessed by children up to age 18, and gives organisations a year to integrate the necessary changes into their products.
Food and other essential items are something that we have always had available for our young people in the Youth Team, Aberdeen but we were aware that when COVID – 19 hit that we would need to be more creative about how we made sure food was available for young people in a safe and structured way.
The Scottish Government has introduced a new Bill to the Scottish Parliament to incorporate the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law (1 September).
The Scottish Government has today (1 September 2020) published the national Education Outcomes for Looked After children for 2018-19 statistics report.
The Scottish Government has published (1 September) national operational guidance for local authorities to help them decide how to use the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund.
The Scottish Government has today published an update to the official Children's Social Work Statistics for 2018-2019 published on 31 March 2020.
Care experienced student of social care Chris Marshall explains why digital is an essential connection in life. People don’t realise how hard it can be for a young person to be able to get a good bit of technology but for a care experienced person this can be even harder.
The Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament (13 August) and published (14 August). The Bill aims to provide tangible recognition of the harm caused to those who were abused as children in relevant residential care settings in Scotland before 1 December 2004 and, in some circumstances, where the survivor has died, their next of kin. Under the proposed new law, survivors of historical abuse in care can apply for a fixed rate redress payment of £10,000 or an individually assessed redress payment which will involve a more detailed examination of their experience. The individually assessed redress payment levels are set at £20,000, £40,000 or £80,000.
This is the third in a series of briefings – Beyond the Headlines – that has been providing further information and analysis on commonly reported statistics relating to children and young people in need of care and protection in Scotland.
Pride month 2020 was a bit different from previous years. The restrictions in place in various ways around the world to address the ongoing coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic meant that many of the usual parties, parades, and protests were cancelled, postponed, or moved online. One constant however was the opportunity to reflect on how far the LGBT+ community has come – and importantly, how far there is still to go.
The FRG has now published a supplementary analysis produced by CELCIS to provide a snapshot of Scotland’s kinship carers, as well as the legal context to influence national and local kinship care policies, practices and services of local authorities and other public agencies. CELCIS surveyed kinship carers in Scotland between April and June 2019 to replicate key findings from the UK-wide FRG report where possible .
Elaine Hamilton, Service Manager at Nether Johnstone House describes how lockdown due to the current emergency health crisis has changed the thinking, outlooks, and actions of both the young people and the team that surround them.
Although the impact of COVID-19 will be felt by many, evidence suggests that young people will be disproportionately impacted by the effects of the pandemic; for care experienced young people, the effects will be particularly acute.
The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020, altered several procedural requirements for Children’s Hearings in Scotland. This consultation exercise considered the experiences of those involved in Children’s Hearings undertaken using video-conferencing in order to inform consideration of whether virtual hearings can facilitate participation by those who cannot, or prefer not to, attend Hearings in person. This short report highlights for young people what young people said about their experiences of Children’s Hearings when surveyed for this consultation.
The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020, altered several procedural requirements for Children’s Hearings in Scotland. This consultation exercise considered the experiences of those involved in Children’s Hearings undertaken using video-conferencing in order to inform consideration of whether virtual hearings can facilitate participation by those who cannot, or prefer not to, attend Hearings in person. This short report highlights for parents and carers what parents and carers said about their experiences when surveyed for this consultation.
The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020, altered several procedural requirements for Children’s Hearings in Scotland. This consultation exercise considered the experiences of those involved in Children’s Hearings undertaken using video-conferencing in order to inform consideration of whether virtual hearings can facilitate participation by those who cannot, or prefer not to, attend Hearings in person.
The findings of a new rapid consultation published today (3 August) have identified key areas of focus for further strengthening the experience of virtual Children’s Hearings in Scotland. Those involved and affected by the Children’s Hearings System had the opportunity to share their views and experiences in the consultation undertaken by researchers at CELCIS and the Central for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ), at the University of Strathclyde. The research seeks to better understand the experience of moving from face-to-face Hearings to virtual Hearings, held online using video links, brought about under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020. By capturing the views of people involved and affected by this new way of convening Hearings, it aims to strengthen future experiences, service planning and delivery, and to determine to what extent virtual hearings can facilitate participation by those who cannot, or prefer not to, attend Hearings in person.
Jacqui Dunbar is the Project Lead at Our Hearings, Our Voice, an independent board for children and young people who have experience of the Children’s Hearings System in Scotland and want to help improve it. She works directly with 11 children and young people, 9 who are members of the board and 2 who are advisors for Our Hearings, Our Voice.
This report has been produced by CELCIS and the University of Edinburgh and investigates how Scotland’s care leavers have been affected by digital exclusion during the COVID-19 health crisis and how local authorities have responded to these specific needs.
New rapid research published today (22 July) by CELCIS, has revealed that COVID-19 has further deepened the impact of digital exclusion for Scotland’s care leavers.
£4m to fund early intervention and family support has been announced (16 July) in a Ministerial Statement by the Deputy First Minister as he updated the Scottish Parliament on next steps in response to the Independent Care Review and the implementation of The Promise.
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has today (16 July) published an independent Impact Assessment on how emergency laws and policies around the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the human rights of children and young people in Scotland.
Scotland’s leading care-experience organisations have written to the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, calling on the Care Experienced Students Bursary to be increased so that it is paid year-round – a change that would benefit over 2,500 students in Scotland.
This report presents the main findings of a self-evaluation survey that looked at the arrangements in place in local areas to support child participation in formal child protection processes in Scotland. The report includes examples of promising practice and learning identified by local areas.
At CELCIS we want to understand the views and experiences of people who participated in, or wanted to participate in, a Children's Hearing in Scotland during COVID-19. We would like to hear from young people over the age of 12, families, panel members, social workers, safeguarders, reporters, solicitors, advocacy workers, and anyone else involved. The information and feedback provided will be used to assist in improving everybody's experiences of hearings.
On 24 June, the Independent Care Review (ICR) published an evidence framework, comprising of research and evidence collated and analysed throughout the review’s three years of work as it undertook a root and branch review of care system in Scotland. The Review formally closes its doors on 30 June 2020, and from 1 July it will be superseded by The Promise, a new oversight body responsible for making sure that Scotland implements change for the care system.
The Independent Care Review (ICR)'s evidence framework, comprising of research and evidence collated and analysed throughout the review’s three years of work as it undertook a root and branch review of care system in Scotland.
CELCIS' response to the Scottish Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee Inquiry into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Equalities and Human Rights.
An overview of the evaluation of a trial of Lifelong Links – an innovative approach to supporting children and young people who are looked after away from their parents and families. The trial is being conducted in three local authorities in partnership with the Family Rights Group.
Reseach on children and young people’s experiences of the justice system in Scotland during COVID-19
New research undertaken by the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ) into children and young people’s experiences within Scotland’s justice system operating under the COVID-19 restrictions.
New research by CYCJ into children and young people’s experiences within Scotland’s justice system operating under the COVID-19 restrictions has revealed that they are feeling increasingly isolated.
Elaine Adams, Learning and Development Lead at Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnership, writes about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Children’s Hearings in Scotland and what this might mean for hearings in the future
Originally planned to coincide with the 21st Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care conference, the June 2020 issue of SJRCC centres on the theme, ‘the extraordinary ordinary: the power of everyday care’.
The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) has published its new Corporate Plan for 2020-23, driven by the organisation's strategic aims: care, connect and protect.
This section highlights some of the innovation and good practice that have helped carers to protect our children and young people from the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis.
Fiona Duncan has been appointed as the Chair of the oversight body to implement the review of care.
The Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee is seeking information around the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on vulnerable children. CELCIS responded to this inquiry, sharing information on how services are responding to and supporting the needs of children and families in need of care and protection.
CELCIS's Claire Burns writes for Holyrood Magazine's latest special feature on Kirsty, the Holyrood Baby, who is now four years old.
On 15 May 2020, Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) published its new three year Strategic Outlook for 2020-23.
Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) has published a new three year Strategic Outlook, which identifies the key areas where CHS will focus its efforts: children’s rights, high quality hearings, an empathetic and effective panel, and working collaboratively with partners.
Over 100 organisations and academics have written an open letter to the First Minister calling for a direct financial boost for all families living on low incomes to support them through the coronavirus crisis.
Bairnshoose Policy and Practice Lead Anna O'Reilly reflects on how far we've come towards securing a Scottish Bairnshoose, and what must still be done to give children the rights they deserve.
Announcement about the leadership of CELCIS and Inspiring Children’s Futures.
The Scottish Government has today (31 March 2020) published the Children's Social Work Statistics, which include the latest data on children and young people who were formally looked after, under child protection measures, or in secure care at some point between 1 August 2018 and 31 July 2019.
The Department for Education has today (26 March) published the latest national information on outcomes for children looked after by local authorities in England.
Child Protection Committees Scotland, a national grouping of child protection professionals, including CELCIS, supports all efforts by the Scottish Government, local authorities and the third sector to keep children safe from harm during the enforced break in normal routine.
Barnardo’s have released (11 March 2020) the second in their Care in Mind series, which looks at Health assessments for Looked-after Children. Their work with families and carers throughout Scotland highlights the need for there to be more attention paid to the mental health and wellbeing of looked-after children and care leavers.
How the Care Experienced Bursary is making a difference in the lives of care experienced young people.
Scotland’s first national observatory of children’s rights launched in Edinburgh (28 February). The Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland aims to bring together children and professionals with rights expertise from across Scotland to amplify the impact of research on policy debates, both nationally and internationally. It will work to improve the day to day lives and experiences of children and young people.
Core Component Checklist to support Child Protection Committees with their response to Child Sexual Exploitation by considering whether the “core components” of an effective response to Child Sexual Exploitation are in place across their local areas.
This issue includes a mix of peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and the Kilbrandon Lecture.
Claire Burns, Deputy Executive Director, CELCIS, sets out what it will take to make change happen as she writes on Care Day 2020, reaffirming our commitment to support all families and the findings of the Independent Care Review.
Our response highlights the need for children aged 16-17 to access child friendly justice responses, and for the rights of children as ascertained by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to be upheld for those who are deprived of their liberty in secure care.
Barnardo's Scotland has published a new report, ‘Supervision in Education – Healthier Schools For All’, which calls for better emotional and mental health support for those working in the education sector.
Barnardo's Scotland has published a new report 'Supervision in Education - Healthier Schools for All', which calls for better emotional and mental health support for education professionals to enab;le them to
The British Academy has undertaken a programme of work that seeks to re-frame debates around childhood in both the public and policy spaces and break down academic, policy and professional silos in order to explore new conceptualisations of children in policy making.
First published by Citizens Theatre, 30 January 2020.
Scotland’s Independent Care Review published its findings and recommendations,
CELCIS response to the publication of the conclusions and recommendations of the Independent Care Review.
Scotland’s Independent Care Review has published its findings and recommendations.
Resources from the November 2019 meeting of the CELCIS Education Forum.
The impact of the MCR Pathways’ mentoring programme on Scotland’s care-experienced young people.
This survey follows the first, baseline survey of Scotland’s Child Protection Committees completed in summer 2016. Developed by the CSE Data Indicators Sub-Group1 of the National Child Sexual Exploitation Group, the purpose of this survey is to understand the improvements that have been achieved over the duration of the National Action Plan.
New legislation has come into force in Scotland (20 January) which ensures that vulnerable child witnesses in serious criminal cases can have their evidence pre-recorded, sparing them from being re-traumatised by giving evidence at a trial in court.
The Expert Group on Preventing Sexual Offending Involving Children and Young People has today (23 January) published a report on 'Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) by children and young people’, commissioned by the Scottish Government.
Evaluation report of workshops delivered to Child Protection Committees Scotland to share key learning in relation to local area approaches to the care and protection of young people experiencing or at risk of sexual abuse and / or exploitation and trafficking, delivered jointly by members of the national Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Trafficking Strategy working groups, ensuring the linkages between CSE and child trafficking.
Call for more to be done on mental and emotional health services as deaths of care experienced children and young people are reported by the Care Inspectorate, Scotland.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published (14 January 2020) a new National Ambition for Care-Experienced Students aimed at increasing the number of care experienced students at Scotland’s colleges and universities.
The Scottish Government has published (13 January 2020) new statutory guidance on children’s services planning, in line with Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
The Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee has published its Stage 1 report on the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill.
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has announced an investigation into secure accommodation in Scotland.
SOS Children’s Villages International win a major European award.
Department of Education in UK Government publishes 'Children looked after in England including adoption 2018 - 2019 statistics.
The paper sets out CELCIS’ response to the consultation on Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Healthcare and Forensic Medical Services for People who have Experienced Rape, Sexual Assault, or Child Sexual Abuse: Children Young People and Adults (Draft Final Indicators).
The Scottish Government announces changes to the Advance Payment scheme following review.
The Upstream Project was set up to enable adults and communities in Scotland prevent child sexual abuse. Preventing child sexual abuse is all our responsibility and this depends on changing the thinking and behaviour of adults.
First milestone in the implementation of the Age of Criminal Responsibility Act as new regulations come into force
Publication of the first in a series of reports highlighting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people with care experience.
MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee are calling for better mental health support for young people ordered into either secure care or a young offenders’ institution.
A series of online courses on child care, offered by CELCIS and the University of Strathclyde, have amassed a total of 100,000 people enrolling.
Scotland will incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into law to the maximum extent possible within the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
Stephen Small explains how the voluntary adoption and fostering agency has worked with West Lothian Council to deliver a concurrent planning model to achieve early permanence for children
SOS Children's Villages have published a child and youth friendly version of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, which explains the key points of the guidance in a clear and accessible way.
SOS Children's Villages have published 'You Have the Right to Care and Protection! The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children in Child and Youth Friendly Language'. This guide uses accessible and clear language and illustrations to explain the rights children have if they cannot live with their parents or might be seperated from them. It is based on a document called the 'Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children' that describes what support you should receive in these situations.
Information from a recent Scottish delegation of care experienced adults who travelled to Jersey to work alongside their counterparts.
Here we highlight the rights of unaccompanied children to special protection, and the important place of Guardians in upholding these rights.
The CELCIS response to the Committee call for evidence on the Children (Scotland) Bill.
Report on research CELCIS carried out as part of Scotland’s second national Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) action plan. Scotland’s Child Protection Committees were surveyed to understand the multi-agency approach to delivering against the National Action Plan’s four intermediate outcomes in their local areas.
This report and recommendations have been developed to improve the housing journey of care leavers in Scotland, and prevent homelessness for people with experience of care.
New guidance published today (12 November 2019) provides recommendations to improve support for care leavers at risk of becoming homeless.
This issue includes a mix of peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and the Kilbrandon Lecture.
The Children’s Commissioners of the UK’s four nations have published their UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) mid-term review
This report by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) explores the nature, availability and use of child level administrative data at the local and regional level, by children’s social care departments in England and Wales.
The Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnership (CHIP) has published its Progress on Better Hearings report. This looks at the work taking place to meet the standards set out in the research report Next Steps to Better Hearings to improve the experience of children and families
Barbara shares the learning that she gained throughout designing, applying and adapting the model in Wales, England and Jersey, and how this has helped her to support the first case review in Scotland, based on the Welsh approach.
The Scottish Government has announced more than £12 million of further funding to improve the attainment of looked after children.
Researchers at CELCIS and the University of Dublin have published a new comparative study on the emergence of formal kinship care in Scotland and Ireland.
As part of Care Experienced Week, David Grimm has written a blog post and Simone Smith shares a vlog describing the learning and discussion from a group of care experienced young people’s recent trip to Jersey as part of the Scotland-Jersey Participation Project
This article was first published by The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland on 23 October 2019
The Why Not? community is campaigning for the Right to Relationships for all care experienced young people.
It is with our gratitude to each and every contributor to the series and the subsequent discussions that we draw this to a close here, but this is not, and must not be, the end of the conversation.
John Ryan, Assistant Director, Aberlour, reflects on what this new conversation about the use of restraint means for those working in residential care with children and young people today.
We know there are many things that need to change in residential child care in Scotland, and as a service manager, our team has been looking closely at our practice, the environment we work in and staff training to see what we can improve on to make the lives of the young people we serve better.
There’s no place for physical restraint in residential child care in the 21st century – there, I’ve said it, put it out there! I advocate for a total ban on restraining young people, and I would start it right now if I could.
A report by Emma Miller and Katherine Baxter for the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ) and the University of Strathclyde on behalf of the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures (IICF).
John Radoux, a child and adolescent counsellor who grew up in care and works in children's homes discusses why we need to reevaluate attitudes to physical restraint.
Erica Barr is a House Leader with South Ayrshire Council. Here she discusses the need to link theory with practice to improve our understanding of children and young people.
The criminisation of children in residential care. We need to be careful when changing practice as there can be unintended consequences.
The Scottish Government has today (3 October) voted in favour of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill, which will ensure children have the same protection from assault as adults
David Grimm asks if physical restraint should be used at all in residential child care, using his own experience of care to discuss the ability to adapt to the needs of individuals young people.
Louise Hill talks about the impact of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) Bill in Scotland.
Laura Steckley explains how people are coming together to consider how to apply what we know about both experience and theory to address the practice of restraint in residential care.
Joanne McMeeking heads up the Improving Care Experiences team at CELCIS. Here she explains why we need to put physical restraint in residential child care under the spotlight.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Deputy First Minister John Swinney also announced that the mandatory named person scheme for every child, part of the Children And Young People Act 2014, will be repealed.
This short paper contributes evidence regarding the situation of children without parental care and provision of suitable alternative care in an international context.
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2019/20 demonstrates a clear commitment and a number of important measures that if put into action will make lives better for some of our most vulnerable babies, children, young people and families.
The Scottish Government has published (3 September) and introduced new legislation in the Parliament that aims to modernise family justice, ensuring children’s best interests are at the centre of every family law case and that children’s views are heard by the court.
Consultation open for survivors of historical abuse in care to shape statutory financial redress scheme for Scotland.
New research has been published focusing on home Compulsory Supervision Orders (CSOs) in the Children's Hearings System.
More than 200 payments have been made to survivors of childhood abuse in care.
Incorporation of the UNCRC is an important piece of a jigsaw puzzle, but on its own it is not enough. Lizzie Morton explains the thinking behind the CELCIS response to the Scottish Government's consultation on children's rights.
CELCIS response to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on Children’s Rights: incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into our domestic law in Scotland
CELCIS response to Scottish Funding Council’s Consultation on the Widening Access and Retention Fund
The Scottish Funding Council are reviewing the best use of the Widening Access and Retention Fund in higher education. We consider changes which could positively impact on the educational experiences and outcomes for care experienced students.
South Ayrshire CHAMPS Board is working in partnership with Belmont Academy in Ayr to bring care experienced young people together and support and encourage them.
Why is there such a dichotomy in these two direct accounts from students with care experience? What makes the experience daunting? What makes it a joy?
Children’s Commissioner for England Anne Longfield has published new research which highlights the thousands of children growing up in homeless families, and the types of temporary accommodation they are placed in.
Our response provides evidence to support the Committee’s scrutiny of the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill, designed to strengthen and simplify the disclosure system to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded. We support proposals which advance children’s rights and transform the approach to childhood convictions. We also consider changes to the PVG scheme in relation to kinship carers.
This blog post by Dr Neil Harrison was first published on the ExChange Wales website on 14 August 2019. ExChange is an all-Wales network that brings together those working in social care, to share experiences and expertise, and to learn from one another.
A new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course on permanence for social workers in England has been launched by Research in Practice (RiP) While the course is based on English legislation, much of the content is useful for all practitioners engaged in permanence practice.
The Scottish Care Leaver’s Covenant support recommendations to extend the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2014. We highlight the rights and needs of care leavers to greater protection from experiencing unsuitable accommodation, and argue for prioritisation of care leaver’s needs when improving temporary accommodation standards in Scotland.
Research from Cardiff University looking into the outcomes for children and young people assessed as being ‘at risk’ of sexual exploitation
The Care Leaver Experience - A Report on Children and Young People’s Experiences in and after Leaving Residential Care in Uganda. A report by the Uganda Care Leavers project featuring the opinions of over 250 care leavers, collected using peer-led participatory workshops
Ahead of the Global Implementation Conference, Scotland’s National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch CBE shares some thoughts on his implementation journey, Scotland’s increasing use of change methodologies, and why learning from others makes sense
Our submission supports the alignment of responses to child sexual abuse with the Barnahus approach.
Iain MacRitchie is the founder of MCR Pathways, a school-based mentoring programme which supports young people in or on the edges of the care system to realise their full potential through education.
SCRA publishes statistics on children and young people involved in the Children’s Hearings System.
Care Inspectorate publishes data collected from service providers and service evaluation information.
A new initiative sees care experienced students who meet the mimimum entry grades awarded a place at university.
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Financial Education for Young People has published ‘Care to talk about Money? The Importance of Financial Education for Children in Care’ following the Group’s inquiry earlier this year.
Led by project director Professor Jennifer Davidson, CELCIS’s Executive Director and Executive Director of the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures at the University of Strathclyde, Justice for Children works in collaboration with international partners, including the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the Child Justice Advocacy Group, with Terre des hommes and Defence for Children International.
The first Scotland-wide survey of care experienced students in Scotland’s colleges and universities, on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council.
The first Scotland-wide survey of care experienced students in Scotland’s colleges and universities.
CELCIS has joined more than 70 organisations and leaders from across Scottish society to call on the First Minister to speed up the introduction of a new income supplement to tackle child poverty.
Reports from a study investigated decision making, permanence, progress, outcomes and belonging for children in Scotland who became looked after in 2012-13, when they were aged five or under.
A new child protection campaign is encouraging everyone to keep their Eyes Open for children at risk during the school holidays, as Scotland’s schools prepare to ring the end of term bell summer.
The Scottish Government has published the Educational Outcomes for Looked After Children 2017-2018 statistics.Linking school and social work data, it provides information on school leaver attainment and post school destinations.
Guest Joe Rankin of the Nevis Group discusses the need to stamp out stigma for those with care experience.
This report presents the findings of a review by the Care Inspectorate of 25 Serious Case Reviews (SCRs), conducted in Scotland over the three years from March 2015 to April 2018.
We've published our new strategy, Building Brighter Futures, setting out our direction and purpose over the next five years. Our vision is one where "Children and young people in care and protection are always well supported to be all they hope to be". CELCIS – the Centre for Children's Care and Protection - has come a long way since our earliest origins as the Centre for Residential Child Care founded in 1995. From these foundations, we will continue to find ways to come together with others, learn with them, and further build on our legacy, sharing what we know about improving the protection and care of children, young people and their families, to help practitioners and volunteers who are working locally, nationally and globally.
This issue comprises articles submitted in response to a call for submissions to celebrate the 20th anniversary conference of the Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care (SIRCC). The issue includes a poem by social worker and poet, Charlie Gracie, the key note address given by Professor Jim Anglin, and articles reflecting on child and youth care practice in several countries.
CELCIS publishes its new Strategy for 2019-2024.
An international partnership of humanitarian and children’s rights organisations behind a new training resource met with the UN’s OHCHR Committee on the Rights of the Child at their latest session in Geneva.
Vast numbers of children and families are on the move around the world. There are now 30m children displaced by conflict, the highest since World War II, and vastly more unaccompanied child migrants are being recorded than at the beginning of the decade.
Following the success of the pilot of the UK’s first – and only – Housing First project for care experienced young people, Rock Trust are expanding the model into Edinburgh.
This article was first published by TES on the support teachers can offer unaccompanied and separated children.
A new CELCIS briefing outlines how young people who have been in care can experience difficulties in securing housing
This is the second in a series of our Beyond the Headlines briefings aiming to provide further information and analysis on some commonly reported statistics relating to children and young people in care, care leavers, and care experienced people in Scotland.
A review of the implementation of Part 12: Children at risk of becoming looked after as set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
Report from the CELCIS evaluation of Quarriers Coaching for Life, a mentoring programme for care experienced young people.
CELCIS Briefing that presents the main features of the Child Practice Review Framework developed in Wales.
Providing clear guidance to improve the quality of care and support for young people with additional support needs who are making the transition to young adult life.
This issue includes a mix of peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and book reviews.
The Advance Payment Scheme comes ahead of the planned legislation for a statutory redress scheme for survivors of abuse in care in Scotland
Report of the Secure Care Strategic Board to Scottish Ministers
To help professionals make evidence-based decisions, the NSPCC has published a briefing introducing the data available on child sexual abuse and exploitation.
A new online course dedicated to responding to the needs and rights of unaccompanied and separated children.
The Job Grant is designed to provide assistance to young people to meet the initial costs of starting work. We support its introduction, and welcome proposals to ensure increased eligibility for care leavers in recognition of the additional barriers they may face in accessing employment. We suggests changes to eligibility criteria to ensure all care leavers can access the grant, and the provision of guidance to ensure the grant enhances (rather than replaces) financial support already available.
The Care Inspectorate has published data providing insight into fostering and adoption services in Scotland.
Scottish Guidelines to aid healthcare professionals in diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Ten year national vision to approach mental health.
The Scottish Government has published its children’s social work statistics for 2017-18. These statistics were collected from local authorities and secure units on children who were looked after, on the child protection register, or in secure care accommodation between 1 August 2017 and 31 July 2018. This year the statistics include Continuing Care figures for the first time.
Carol Wassell, Permanence and Care Excellence programme lead at CELCIS, provides an update on a programme of work which is making lasting and profound improvements to the lives of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.
To mark World Social Work Day, Janine Fraser, a Social Work Team Leader for Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership in North East Glasgow, reflects on her profession and the challenges it faces.
The Scottish Government has joined forces with Barnardo’s Scotland to support the launch of a new report: 'Public Understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation', the first survey of its kind carried out across Scotland.
We have produced a briefing for corporate parents about the rights of care experienced people to access their records, the importancce of records to understanding their family and identity, and the duties and best practices for corporate parents when dealing with requests to access them. This briefing highlights experiences, views and needs of care experienced people, alongside research evidence, and discusses key issues for best practice.
If you missed SIRCC 2018, then don't miss the social story and highlights from our amazing conference.
The Institute Inspiring Children’s Futures and CELCIS at the University of Strathclyde have combined forces with a number of other leading international organisations, to oversee the development of a Challenge Paper on Justice for Children.
The joint strategic inspection of services for children and young people.
The first annual progress report sets out the progress made during the first year of implementation of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy.
Guidance written for paediatricians; other health professionals, such as general practitioners or nurses, might also find the document relevant.
Guidelines aiming to raise awareness and help health professionals to identify child maltreatment, including fabricated or induced illness.
Guidance for England and Wales outlining what is known about fabricated or induced illness, including the impact on the child’s health and development, and detailing the roles of relevant professionals.
Article investigating the demographic and clinical characteristics of 796 worldwide cases of medical child abuse.
NSPCC research briefing on Fabricated or Induced Illness in children.
Definition of child sexual exploitation for Scotland, and summary of how the definition should be applied.
This paper outlines the new national definition of child sexual exploitation (CSE) for Scotland and some key contextual considerations.
This Practice Note aims to celebrate good practice already taking place throughout Scotland, and give residential child care managers and practitioners ideas as to how they might help music become a greater part of the lives of looked after children and young people.
We contribute to the Westminster APPG’s inquiry into care experienced children and young people’s access to financial education.
We are working with the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate to gather stories about what it feels like to experience compassion and kindness in care settings.
Scotland’s strategy to improve health by preventing and reducing alcohol and drug use, harm and related deaths.
Updated good practice guidance for all agencies and practitioners working with children, young people and families affected by problematic alcohol and/or drug use.
This strategy sets out a significant programme of reform to tackle Scotland’s drug problem.
This Framework sets out the Scottish Government's strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland.
The Fostering Network has highlighted a lack of support for foster carers and a failure to recognise the vital role they play at the heart of children’s social care in its latest State of the Nation’s Foster Care report published today.
This Scottish review builds on a series of UK wide reviews of child neglect undertaken by Action for Children in partnership with the University of Stirling.
An annual review by Action for Children in partnership with the University of Stirling.
Information on the role of Dentists in the recognition of neglect.
Taking a fresh look at noticing and helping the neglected child.
Annual statistical information on the children's services workforce from the Scottish Social Services Council.
This plan builds on actions set out in the Scottish Government's 2010 Action Plan on Child Internet Safety and the 2011/12 Scottish Action Plan on Child Internet Safety and Responsible Use.
The agreed range of actions to be taken forward by the Scottish Government and its partners to prevent and ultimately eradicate FGM.
Scotland’s pledge to combat FGM including a list of support services. The statement is available in English, English, Arabic, French, Swahili and Somali.
The document raises awareness of FGM, provides details on UK legislation and measures against this abusive practice and signposts to other resources.
The 2005 Act re-enacted the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 and extended protection by making FGM a criminal offence.
A framework for agencies and practitioners to develop and agree processes that promote the safety and wellbeing of women and girls.
The agreed range of actions to be taken forward by the Scottish Government and its partners to prevent and ultimately eradicate FGM.
CELCIS are calling for papers for a special themed issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care Annual Conference.
This reports against the actions in SCRA's Corporate Parenting Plan.
What Works? A review of interventions to combat modern slavery
Summary of responses to the consultation on the Continuing Care (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019.
Key issues for children and young people living with domestic abuse, research and implications for practice.
Briefing on the factors that influence children’s views about contact with non-resident fathers in the context of domestic abuse.
This study identifies five main reasons why mother-child relationships were (or were not) detrimentally affected by domestic violence.
This practice briefing is for professionals working with young people experiencing domestic abuse.
Research on the views of children who have experienced domestic abuse about contact with their fathers following parental separation.
The PACE Community is engaged in driving forward improvement for looked after children, and recently hosted a PACE Data Community Event, Milestones, Measures & Aims. How to incorporate the Data 'ask' into the system which looked at how data can practically be captured and analysed to drive and evidence improvement in achievement of early permanence for our looked after infants, children, and young people. The aim of the session was to look specifically at the key milestones on the journey to permanence and the data issues that these pose. We learned from examples of how local authority partnership areas have sought to address and overcome particular data issues, and shared general learning from CELCIS resulting from implementation of the PACE programme.
Dr Chrissie Gale, CELCIS international lead, argues that we need agencies to unite with one voice if we want to uphold children’s rights internationally.
A response to the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill proposed by John Finnie MSP, which aims to remove the legal defence of ‘justifiable assault’ against children from Scots law.
Review of findings from the Care Inspectorate inspection programme of services for children.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has published State of Child Health: Two Years On, which highlights progress made against the policy recommendations in their landmark State of Child Health 2017 report.
Coram Voice has launched their creative writing competition for 2019.
Guidance from the Care Inspectorate on best practice in admissions and matching of children and young people to make residential care a positive choice for all children in Scotland who require it.
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) has launched a photography competition aimed at young people in the Falkirk area
Here we provide evidence to inform the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s scrutiny of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill (the Bill) at Stage 2.
The Scottish Social Services Awards 2019 are now open for entries.
Young people with care experience are invited to apply to spend seven weeks studying at Harvard University in the USA.
In this blog post, Alastair Redpath, Co-Chair of the Independent Care Review’s Stigma Work Group, considers why Christmas might not be all joy and cheer for everyone but sees hope for change.
John Ryan reflects on the fight to continue to do best by Scotland’s children.
Our evidence highlights the need for greater focus on meeting the mental health needs of care experienced children and young people, through services which ensure an attuned response to their developmental needs.
This special issue on perspectives and understandings of disability represents the great diversity of people with disabilities and their experiences.
Professor Julie Selwyn, from the University of Bristol, and Dr Claire Baker from Corum Voice talk about the Bright Spots programme looking at young people's wellbeing.
Response to the Scottish Governments consultation on the Continuing Care (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019, which will ensure the continued eligibility of the current cohort of young people to continuing care as they increase in age. We fully support the Order, as the final annual increase extending the duty to provide continuing care to all eligible sixteen to twenty one year olds. Challenges to the full and consistent implementation of continuing care are also explored in this response.
Laura Sharpe from See Me to talks about the results of a survey looking at the mental health of young people in Scotland.
The powerful voices of care experienced young people in this film explore the journey from care to independence through a character they created within workshops with Inspired Youth.
The Scottish Universities Insight Institute programme addressed the unique issues for children who experience stigma, as well as common issues which allow learning from the experience of stigma in adulthood.
Fouzi Mathey Kikadidi explores how ignorance and labelling affects children and communities in France, arguing that empathy is essential in order to prevent stigma
A new public attitudes survey has revealed that while attitudes in Scotland to care experienced young people are generally very positive, some people still hold discriminatory attitudes.
Daniel Busso of the Frameworks Institute writes about how stigma could be changed.
Evaluation of the Caledonian System: a programme to tackle domestic abuse in Scotland.
Study that reviews programmes for children exposed to domestic violence and abuse.
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
In this interview for REACH, Fiona Dyer, Deputy Director at the Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice, explores common misconceptions about young people in the justice system.
University of Glasgow student, Jamie, grew up in care. In this short film he talks about the challenges on his path through education.
The representation of care experienced people in literature, film and storytelling.
Guidance from Care Inspectorate promoting best practice in admissions and matching.
The Practice Guidance has been developed with the aim of building knowledge and skills of professionals, carers and other stakeholders responsible for supporting children and young people leaving care.
Chapter 9 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 relating to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Scotland's national action plan to prevent and eradicate FGM.
Good practice guidance to support social workers, their managers and others involved in undertaking and contributing to age assessments in Scotland.
Progress made during the first year of implementation of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy.
Slavery and human trafficking advice for larger and smaller businesses.
The Scottish Government's Trafficking and Exploitation strategy.
This guidance is for all services, agencies, professional bodies and organisations, and for individuals working within an adult and child service context who face, or could face, child protection issues.
Report on work undertaken to improve service responses to domestic abuse in Scotland.
Guidance for Child Protection Committees when conducting a Significant Case Review.
This report presents the findings from an audit and analysis of 56 Significant Case Reviews (SCRs) and 43 Initial Case Reviews (ICRs) conducted in Scotland since 2007.
This report makes a number of recommendations relating to service provision; training for professionals; and policy change.
This report presents the findings of a review by the Care Inspectorate of 20 SCRs, conducted in Scotland over the three years from April 2012 to March 2015.
Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.
A study that looked at the populations potentially affected by Female Genital Mutilation in Scotland, explored interventions across the EU and presented data and recommendations.
Scottish Government consultation on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Working with the Foundling Museum in London, award-winning poet, playwright and broadcaster, Lemn Sissay MBE has created a written installation - ‘Superman was a Foundling’ – to explore the representation of orphaned, fostered and adopted children in popular culture.
The team at Seamab reflect on their experiences of working in social care and misconceptions about the care and support of children and young people.
A new snapshot report by Coram Voice and the University of Bristol – Our Lives, Our Care – provides an insight into the factors affecting the experiences of children in care.
Joe Rankin of the Nevis Group talks about whether young people should tell future employers that they're care experienced. With video of James Calder.
Tommy McDade from Barnardo's Scotland talks about a programme that is supporting young people into the world of work for the first time.
David Grimm's portrays what stigma means to him through drawings.
Continuing the theme of Graham's first blog post on language and labelling, giving examples of when this is unhelpful.
Introducing issue 12 of REACH, which explores stigma, language, perception and the representation of care and care experience.
BBC Journalist Ashley John-Baptiste talks about his early life, his care experience, going on to study at one of the world’s best universities, and shares his views on the stigma that some young people face and what can done about it.
The report of an independent enquiry on youth justice in Scotland, Kilbrandon Again, has been published today.
The CELCIS annual Gathering PACE event took place at the Perth Convert Hall on Wednesday 7 November 2018, where we welcomed 96 delegates to the event from across Scotland.
A survey, commissioned by the Life Changes Trust on public attitudes to young people with care experience has just been published.
Tuesday 20 November is World Children’s Day, led by Unicef, the world’s leading organisation for children in danger working in 90 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child.
Adoption Week in Scotland takes place between Monday 19 – Saturday 24 November 2018, and is being run by Adoption UK in Scotland and the Adoption and Fostering Alliance (Scotland).
Department for Education has published the Children looked after in England including adoption: 2017 to 2018 statistics for the year ending 31 March 2018
The PACE (Permanence and Care Excellence) team at CELCIS hosted a Practice Echange Workshop on 15 November 2018 in Glasgow, with almost 70 delegates attending from local authorities and organisations throughout Scotland. The workshop theme was “Pre-birth planning, Assessment and “Getting it right from the start”, and included a keynote presentation by Alan Sinclair, author of 'Right from the Start', as well as talks by Linda Davidson, examples from practice from Shona Irvine, Helen Runciman and Julia Donaldson and group discussion sessions. The basis of this event was the Early Years Framework, which was published in 2008 as a ten year plan. Ten years on, we consider what the current landscape looks like in Scotland and reflect on the ambitions of the Early Years Framework, what has been achieved, what best practice might look like and how we can work towards this.
The UK Government’s Department for Education has published the Children looked after in England including adoption: 2017 to 2018 statistics for the year ending 31 March 2018. The statistics show that 75,420 children were looked after in the period covered, a 4% increase on 2016 to 2017. The statistics include information on demographics as well as age, gender and ethnicity, proportions of children in each placement type, and reasons for being looked after.
Resources and presentations from the CELCIS Education Forum meeting in October 2018
CELCIS response to the Scottish Government’s consultation “Protecting children: Review of section 12 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 and section 42 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009”
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report today titled ‘Who knows what about me?’ on the data collected about children and the potential implications of sharing this data. It expresses concern that there is a lack of awareness about the types of data collected and how it might be used in ways that could jeopardise a child’s future.
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report ‘Who knows what about me?’ on the data collected about children and the potential implications of sharing this data. It expresses concern that there is a lack of awareness about the types of data collected and how it might be used in ways that could jeopardise a child’s future.
Chris Small from Children in Scotland explains how and why tackling stigma on poverty led to a new campaign for action to improve children's lives
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has commissioned CELCIS to conduct a survey of care-experienced students currently enrolled at colleges and universities in Scotland.
The CELCIS annual Gathering PACE event takes place on Wednesday 7 November 2018 at the Perth Concert Hall.
This report from the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) explains the concept of early intervention and how it works to support child development and improve outcomes for children and families. It details the current situation and barriers within the system in England, and the long-term nature of the impact of early intervention. While offering a number of arguments in favour of early intervention, EIF acknowledges that the necessary infrastructure is not yet established and there is still a significant knowledge gap. The report concludes with suggested national and local actions that could be taken in England to help pave the way for implementing early intervention.
Dr Louise Hill considers the implications of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill and how similar measures have impacted on support services in other countries.
Evaluation of the pilot National Partnership Agreement for Looked After Children who go missing from residential and foster care.
A new survey being carried out by CELCIS will help to develop a deeper understanding of what can help parents when there is a possibility that a child may become ‘looked after’ (or taken into care) by a local authority
Evaluation of the pilot National Partnership Agreement for Looked After Children who go missing from Residential and Foster Care in Scotland
The Early Intervention Foundation (EIF), a member of the UK Government’s What Works Network, has published a report (30 October 2018) on the importance and benefits of early intervention to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children, setting out a call for a number of national and local actions in England.
This report details the journey of Stop to Listen from planning to implementation and evaluation. It will focus on the changes the pathfinders applied in their localities and the learning captured from evaluating this.
The newly launched Care Leaver Covenant promises to provide support for care leavers aged 16-25 in England to help them to live independently.
CELCIS has published a qualitative study to examine independent supported accommodation commissioned by local authorities in Scotland.
We've published a qualitative study to examine independent supported accommodation commissioned by local authorities in Scotland.
The Department for Education has published its annual children in need census in England for 2017 to 2018. The numbers are based on data from 152 local authorities in England and Wales. The report provides total numbers and demographics - such as gender, age and reason for assessment - of children referred to local authority social care services, children assessed to be ‘in need’, and children with child protection plans. Cases reported on include referrals, referrals leading to no further action, assessments, initial child protection conferences, child protection plans and child protection plan reviews.
The Department for Education has published its annual official children in need census in England for 2017 to 2018. The numbers are based on data from 152 local authorities in England and Wales.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney announces that a financial redress/compensation scheme for victims/survivors of abuse in care in Scotland will go ahead.
Practice Note published to help local authorities implement recent changes in law, giving young care leavers exemption from council tax.
This practice note outlines key considerations and a range of measures for local authorities to take as Corporate Parents to ensure consistent and effective implementation of the regulations now established in law
A ground breaking project by the social care organisation, Care Visions, has received charitable status.
This short document provides a summary of initial learning from data gathered for an evaluation of the Why Not? initiative. The study was commissioned by the social care organisation, Care Visions.
The Children’s Commissioner’s Office for England published a report which examines the number of children living at home who are considered by local authorities to be highly vulnerable.
This blog post explores the findings of a recent briefing from CELCIS about going to university from care.
Children in Scotland is celebrating its 25th year creating a plan of action surrounding children’s rights and equality.
Infants subject to care proceedings as newborns are the focus of this report from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory for England and Wales.
A new study published has reported that the likelihood of newborn babies being involved in care proceedings has increased.
The Mental Health Foundation, has launched a new campaign focussing on the mental health of schoolchildren in Scotland.
A research project which addressed how looked after children and young people accessed music opportunities, if at all, what barriers there were, and how they might be overcome.
Figures show that total spend by local authorities across England will increase to £4.16bn for 2018/19.
In this film interview with Alison Penman from Dumfries and Galloway, she explains how her team has been able to use data to help visualise a child's journey through care.
Laura Conachan explains how the Children's Hearing System can be improved by seeing the bigger picture.
The report summarises important learning from academic and other literature about relationships between young people and those caring for them.
Evidence suggests that DDP (attachment-focused family therapy) is effective in helping recovery from developmental trauma. Here's how.
Mark Brotherton, Educational Psychologist, explains how strong relationships between carers and psychologists have been nurtured.
Jo Derrick at Foster Care Associates explans how additional support for foster carers at the early stages of placement helps to improve outcomes.
Social Services Workforce Week enters its fifth year, between September 24 – 28, with the aim of bringing more attention and support to the social service workforce, and to build awareness of various workforce strengthening activities happening throughout the world.
Jillian Ingram from CELCIS, explains how a new model for shared learning has helped child protection in North Ayrshire.
This study draws in part from statistically validated assumptions regarding prevalence, age relationships and role characteristics of child sexual abuse and in part from correlations and observations that have emerged as self-evident within an extended network of child abuse treatment programs and self-help organizations.
A critical assessment of child sexual abuse in the family network in England and priorities for action.
A framework is proposed for a more systematic understanding of the effects of child sexual abuse.
David McQueen from Shetland explains how data is being used to help support decision making for children and young people in Shetland in order to achieve better outcomes.
Michael Stewart, from Fosterplus, gives an insight into a model used to improve foster care practice.
In this issue, we present three peer reviewed articles, five commentaries, and a book review. These cover a wide range of topics and experiences, encouraging readers to reflect on ways of supporting young people and practitioners.
How an analysis of data has enabled Stirling’s services for children develop to better fit their needs.
Jim Lyon from East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership talks about the importance of listening to the voices of care experienced young people as part of Connecting Voices, a participation group of young care experienced young people, run with the support of East Ayrshire Council.
Dr Neil Harrison argues that we need to use better data to better understand care experienced young people entering higher education.
This is the first in a series of our Beyond the Headlines briefings to provide further information and analysis on some commonly reported statistics relating to children and young people in care, care leavers, and care experienced people in Scotland.
CELCIS has published a new briefing going behind the common headlines that indicate only a small proportion of care experienced young people in Scotland go to university, compared to their peers.
Ruairi Hunter, Family Support Practitioner, explains how relationships and views are key to improving the lives of young people who are care experienced in East Ayrshire.
CELCIS response to Scottish Government’s consultation on the review of legislation relating to children and their families in Scotland.
Dr Christine Puckering from Mellow Parenting tells the story of a family and how trauma informed care can foster better relationships.
Many paths to higher education are not straightforward. A care experienced student talks about overcoming such challenges.
Report from the evaluation of the Notre Dame Centre’s support programme for kinship families
Liz and Reena, parents of pupils at Auchenharvie Academy have been involved in a project where the attend their children’s school to learn more about the curriculum, with the aim of supporting their children’s attainment at school.
The SHRC InterAction Action Plan Review Group, in partnership with CELCIS has today published a set of reports and recommendations regarding a potential financial compensation/redress scheme for victims/survivors of abuse in care in Scotland.
How a Maori model of improving care has been transformative for a family in Glasgow.
Claire Burns introduces the evidence into practice theme of the new issue of our REACH publication.
Shannon from Kilmarnock talks about her experience of being brought up in care and what her views are of improving sibling contact.
Kieran Morrell, Family Learning Worker, talks about how Parents in Partnership (a model for parental involvement in the school curriculum) is having a real impact on parents and pupils at Auchenharvie Academy in Ayrshire.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has published its 2017 Workforce Data Report showing an increase in the size of the social service workforce.
Scotland’s Social Services sector to share best practice and innovation.
Barnardo’s Scotland call for more support for teachers working with children and young people who experience trauma.
Lorraine Gray is the new head of the Scottish Social Services Council.
This mixed-methods evaluation describes the person-centred model that has evolved within the life works service.
A review of the evidence on the physical punishment of children.
Kenny Murray comments on the Children's Hearings Scotland 'Be A Force For Good' campaign.
Gordon Main continues the conversation on commitment, discussing the emotional investment of foster carers.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition highlight a worsening in the ratio of those with additional support needs (ASN) being supported by specialist staff.
Community disclosure is now running in your area. This will provide a formal route for the public to directly raise child protection concerns and be confident that action will follow.
The benefits of being around and caring for animals across care settings.
A new report on the life chances of care experienced people in Scotland has been published.
Leaflet on what is known about children aged 5-14 years who have been neglected or emotionally abused.
Leaflet on what is known about children aged less than six years who have been emotionally neglected or emotionally abused.
Leaflet summary of the scientific literature that describes what teenagers aged 13-18 who are experiencing neglect or emotional abuse say about themselves.
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) has today (26 July 2018) published its latest statistics on young people referred to the Children’s Reporter.
Zero Tolerance, Scotland’s charity working to end men’s violence against women, are looking for experienced trainers and youth work staff to join their network of Under Pressure trainers.
A briefing detailing the legislation exempting youg care leavers from paying council tax in Scotland.
Jillian Ingram ponders how getting a train from A to B might just offer clues to how to meet children’s needs.
The National Confidential Forum has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging people to share their experiences of growing up in care.
CELCIS is backing the 2018 Herald Society Awards by supporting the creation of a new category - Improving Children’s Lives Award - aimed to reward those initiatives, projects or services that have the needs of children, young people and their families at their centre.
Response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Protection of Vulnerable Groups and Disclosure of Criminal Information.
The Education and Skills Committee have published a new report that examines how poverty impacts school-age children and young people in Scotland.
The circumstances in which children and young people are born, grow up and learn contribute to inequalities in educational outcomes
This report builds on the findings of the APPGC's first inquiry into the state of children’s social care in England and examines if where a child lives affect their chances of getting support.
CELCIS in partnership with SCRA (the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration) research project looking at contact decisions in the Children’s Hearings System, a unique system to Scotland.
Here we provide evidence to inform the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s scrutiny of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill (the Bill) at Stage 1. We highlight the need to ensure children, particularly those with care experience, are cared for and protected, not criminalised.
The PACE (Permanence and Care Excellence) team at CELCIS hosted a Practice Exchange Workshop event on 19 June 2018 in Glasgow, where we welcomed over 60 delegates from across Scotland.
The Scottish Government share Corporate Parent progress in supporting care experienced Children and Young People, and care leavers.
This report presents findings from a project sponsored by and conducted in close partnership with The Robertson Trust, Life Changes Trust and CELCIS.
More voices of survivors to be heard after timescale change to the independent inquiry.
The Scottish Government has announced it will invest £32 million specifically to support the educational needs of care experienced children and young people.
The findings in this report arose from a focused programme of scrutiny to see whether the foundations are in place to support care services to prevent and respond effectively to child sexual exploitation.
Kenny McGhee continues the conversation from Gordon Main’s recent blog Commitment, like love, is not enough.
Everyone in Scotland should be keeping their ‘Eyes Open’ for children at risk during the schools holidays.
Foster carers in Scotland are being asked to take part in a new study. The study aims to explore the unique circumstances and challenges that come with caring for children and young people at a time when they may be vulnerable.
The latest data on looked after children's attainment, post-school destinations, school attendance, exclusions and achievements.
Are you a foster carer? Take this short questionnaire and share your experiences of fostering.
An assessment of progress and improvement in integrated children's services, published by Social Work Scotland, and a literature review.
A Nuffield Foundation funded Review has confirmed that there is a crisis in the Children’s Social Care and Family Justice Sector in England and Wales and sets out 20 options for change.
A Nuffield Foundation-funded Review has confirmed that there is a crisis in the Children’s Social Care and Family Justice Sector in England and Wales and sets out 20 options for change.
There's a vacancy at Harmeny Education Trust Ltd for an Education Trustee / Board Member
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon commits to increasing financial support for care experienced young people in higher and further education.
Ofsted's Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman highlights her department’s concerns and the need for early years workers to play their part in the development of young children.
In this issue - a special edition coinciding with the 19th annual Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care (SIRCC) conference - you will find peer-reviewed papers, commentaries, book reviews and some special pieces touching on the theme of the conference: the developmental approach to supporting children’s potential. Included amongst the pieces which cover education, leaving care, peer relationships, Adverse Care Experiences (ACEs), love, human rights and young people’s participation, is an article from Terje Halvorsen on the need to approach professional theories in residential care in a more useable way; and reflections from Jim Gillespie, CEO of Kibble Education and Care Centre, on the history and developments that have led many of the changes in group living.
Gordon Main talks about how commitment in the care system is not enough.
The Independent Care Review of Scotland’s care system enters its 'Journey' stage.
A new report highlights the disruptive impact of changes to circumstances.
As part of the current Child Protection Improvement Programme, the National Child Protection Leadership Group hosted an event for all Child Protection Chief Officers’ Groups and Chairpersons of Child Protection Committees across Scotland.
This Scottish Government report, and related materials, reflect the content of an event that was held by the Deputy First Minister for Scotland in March 2018 on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
The third annual report from the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance highlights the many ways that the social service workforce positively impacts the lives of children and families affected by violence.
Response to Scottish Government’s survey on the review of Care Allowances where we recognise the complexity of the issues, and support the implementation of a National Core Allowance for foster and kinship carers.
The School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde has just announced that it has five fully funded places available to Scottish and EU applicants for the MSc Child and Youth Care Studies by Distance Learning.
The difficult issue of self-harm in residential care, exploring the experiences of young people and the support workers need to help.
The Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection, based at the University of Stirling, was commissioned by Scottish Government to undertake a rapid review of policy with a particular focus on child neglect to inform the Child Protection Improvement Programme.
This 2016 survey was commissioned by Scottish Government to inform the Child Protection Improvement Programme and the Neglect Improvement Pilot lead by CELCIS in three local authority areas. The survey was developed in partnership with the Neglect Subgroup of Child Protection Committees Scotland.
Action on Neglect is a resource pack for practitioners who work with neglected children.
The aim of this rapid review of the evidence was to identify the core and common elements and principles shown to be associated with effective practice with chronic neglect, including those incorporated within routine practice by a range of disciplines as well as those embedded within formal evidence-based programmes.
CYCJ, in partnership with the Staf has focused on developing an understanding of, and influencing, local practice in four children’s houses from across three geographical areas.
This contribution provides evidence on how suicide and self-harm affects not only the health and well-being of care experience children and young people but also those who care for them, including foster carers and residential care workers.
The importance for children in residential care to develop the ability to navigate friendships with each other.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (England) has published its Interim Report, identifying steps to tkae and making recommendations to the UK Government
The University of Strathclyde has won an award for its innovative programme which supports young people with experience of the care system, progressing through higher education, from pre-application to graduation and beyond.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a charity committed to eliminating child sexual abuse imagery online, has released figures that reveal a 37% increase in child sex abuse imagery on the web when comparing last year to 2016.
The 15th Kilbrandon Annual Lecture took place on 23 November 2017 and was presented by Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Read the full transcript and watch a film clip of the First Minister.
In this issue you will find the usual mix of peer-reviewed papers, commentaries and book reviews. Included in the collection are: the text of the 15th annual Kilbrandon Lecture given by the Right Honourable Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister of Scotland; a tribute by Merle Allsopp to the ‘father of the child and youth care profession in South Africa’, Brian Gannon; and a critique of ‘orphanage tourism’ by Nigel Cantwell and Emmanuelle Werner Gillioz.
A new report looks at life in children’s homes and with foster carers.
The National Action Plan to Prevent and Tackle Child Sexual Exploitation was initially published in 2014 and updated in March 2016. This is a progress report on actions over the last year.
The Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) is looking for children, young people and their families with direct experience of the current CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) system. Their experiences and views will help to shape Scotland’s approach to mental health services.
Voices of care experienced children and young people are to be heard in new inspections.
Our report showcases and shouts about examples of our partnership work where we're making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Full Fact, the UK’s independent factchecking charity, has examined the claim that the state is removing more children from their families in England, than at any time since the 1980s.
Steve Harte from City of Edinburgh Council discusses the staggered approach to services and the need for standardisation.
National force to target online perpetrators in Scotland.
Professor Mike Stein gives a summary of his keynote speech on research in relation to corporate parenting, at the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant conference
A snapshot of corporate parenting practice taking place across Scotland during 2017.
How the Seen + Heard project in Fife informs developments in policy and practice, and engages Corporate Parents.
The Scottish Funding Council speak about National Ambition, their three-year improvement programme to support care experienced young people in college and universities.
Scottish Government publish the Children's Social Work Statistics for 2016 - 2017
Change is coming in the inspection of how well corporate parents are meeting their responsibilities in improving the lives of care experienced children and young people.
Bruce Adamson, The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland talks about the content of his keynote speech at the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant Conference.
Rachel Farrier of Clan Childlaw talks about the issues some young people face in accessing continuing care.
Andrew Skinner is a unit manager at Hillside Residential School for boys with emotional, social and behavioural problems. Corporate parenting there is complex.
Harvey Gallagher of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers, reflects on positive legislation, problems with provision, and challenges thrown up by legislative efforts to help.
This video explains the meaning behind the idea: enabling holistic learning and well-being through empowering and supportive relationships.
Peter Tormey, part of the Widening Particpation team at Edinburgh Napier University has responsibility for care-experienced youngsters studying there.
Charity network highlights Child Sexual Exploitation.
A throughcare and aftercare team manager is concerned is concerned about the gap betwen the ideals of Corporate Parents and the reality for workers on the ground.
How should Scotland’s care and justice system be improved for children and young people? A new enquiry aims to find out.
The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration publishes it's first annual report for young people as an update on achievements in corporate parenting.
Maryellen Fegan chairs the Highland Champions (CHAMPS) Board. In this blog she describes what she believes it has achieved.
The aim of the workshops were to provide an opportunity for child protection committees to share key learning in relation to local area approaches to the care and protection of young people experiencing sexual abuse / exploitation or at risk of sexual abuse / exploitation.
David Graham , UK National Director of the Care Leavers’ Association explains the association’s work, the differences he finds north and south of the Border, and how his group reflects issues back to corporate parents.
A new multi-agency partnership ‘Stand Up For Siblings’ has been launched, championing the improvement of contact between siblings in the care system.
Stephanie is a Modern Apprentice at CELCIS, and here she talks about landing her first ‘real’ job at only 16.
Victoria Bogle talks about how the Good Shepherd Centre fulfils its role as a corporate parent to youngsters moving on from the centre.
As a corporate parent East Renfrewshire Council is as concerned as any other parent that its young people can get into work and be productive members of society.
Findings from a public consultation on the extension of the higher age limit for eligibility for continuing care.
Who Cares? Scotland has launched its #LifetimeOfEquality campaign, asking people across the UK to help protect care experienced people from discrimination.
Lizzie Morton introduces the corporate parenting issue of Reach and talks about the big things happening for looked after children and young people.
Mentors needed to help vulnerable young people in Glasgow.
A new report from the charity Coram Voice and the University of Bristol has revealed that 83 per cent of looked after children and young people in England feel being in care has improved their lives.
A summary of the Walking the Walk conference by the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant Alliance Group.
Children in Scotland look at the influence of children and young people in six policy areas.
Amanda Lawler explains why CELCIS really cares about training and learning.
This video features kinship carers discussing issues affecting the health outcomes of children in care.
Global campaign promotes positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
CELCIS response to the Scottish Government's A Healthier Future: Action and Ambitions on Diet, Activity and Healthy Weight consultation.
CELCIS response considers how the draft ‘Guidance on the Presumption of Mainstreaming’ reflects the needs of looked after children and those on the edges of care.
The International Children’s Rights Symposium report has been published which sheds light on topics and themes discussed throughout the day.
CELCIS responds proposed amendments to the Education (Scotland) Bill and the impact on the educational experiences and outcomes of looked after children.
The End Child Poverty coalition has issued a new report identifying child poverty rates within UK constituencies.
The Scottish Care Leavers Covenant responds to UK wide consultation on short-term supported accommodation.
The UK Implementation Society, formerly known as Network, has relaunched as a registered charity.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has issued their “State of Child Health: One Year On” scorecard, praising Scottish policies regarding children's health.
The Active Implementation Hub provides learning resources and lessons to support and promote knowledge and practice of Active Implementation Frameworks.
CELCIS has partnered with Dundee Partnership on the new initiative Getting it Right in Dundee, a programme utilising Active Implementation to address neglect in Dundee.
The International Children’s Rights Symposium took place in June 2017, and brought together those who are committed to shaping and promoting children’s rights.
CELCIS has joined with FutureLearn, the digital education platform, for the second run of its massive online open course (MOOC) which delves into the details of the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
CELCIS has partnered with the Robertson Trust and Life Changes Trust on a new initiative aimed at improving public understanding of the issues affecting vulnerable children and families, and of the policy solutions available.Find out what framing is and why it is important.
Online survey and workshops will collect views on advocacy
The Care Inspectorate is looking for young people with personal experiences of care to get involved as young inspection volunteers.
Research from the Children's Commissioner for England on the impact of social media on primary aged children.
New Journal edition focuses on the history of child care in the UK and abroad.
We announce the winner of our Annual competition
How the Student Support Review Group is trying to ensure care experienced students have a fair standard of living.
The Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice (CYCJ) is asking the views of practitioners, managers and policymakers views on how to keep Scotland’s girls and young women safe.
A new report launched by Together, an alliance of Scottish of children’s charities, shines a light on the steps taken by public bodies to further children’s rights.
Notes and presentation from the November 2017 Education Forum meeting.
The report sets out the main findings of a national survey of Designated Managers in educational establishments within Scotland.
Training website updated with materials to improve the lives of children and young people.
A new tool developed by CELCIS will help professional groups better navigate through the child’s journey, leading to a better future for Scotland’s looked after children.
A new campaign highlights the increased use of live streaming by online sex offenders.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds 400,000 more children in the UK living in poverty.
How a new tool can help map a child’s journey to a better future.
At our annual Gathering PACE (Permanence and Care Excellence) event on 16 November, we welcomed over 120 delegates from across Scotland. Gathering PACE is about sharing learning from all our PACE sites and giving opportunities for learning and discussion about what is working to achieve better outcomes for our looked after children. Presenters included: Maree Todd, Minster for Childcare and Early Years; Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director of Healthcare Quality and Strategy; and University of York’s Professor of Social Work, Nina Biehal. Here you will find the presentations that were given on the day. A number of local PACE areas produced posters that outline what they have achieved, along with the challenges along the way. There is also a short video that was produced during the event that asks of speakers and delegates what PACE means to them.
Strathclyde student explores residential childcare experiences.
Who Cares? Scotland is recruiting a Director of Fundraising and Development to help help support the organisation's 5-year strategic plan.
As part of the Adoption Task Force, facilitated by CELCIS, Adoption UK is collaborating with St. Andrew’s Children’s Society, Scottish Adoption and social work and third sector agencies to raise the voice of the adopted child in Scotland.
Care Inspectorate publishes Our Creative Journey.
Report from the UK-wide survey asking adoptive parents about their children’s experiences in school, particularly of exclusions.
Fiona Aitken, Director Scotland for Adoption UK, talks about the significance of Adoption Week in Scotland and the need to listen to the voices of adopted young people
Head of Care needed to develop Harmeny’s care provision with overall operational responsibility for the day-to-day running of Harmeny School.
This document provides a snapshot of examples of ‘tests of change’ that have been successfully introduced in some of our local Permanence and Care Excellence (PACE) areas across Scotland.
Response to the Scottish Government consultation on Section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980
CELCIS response to Scottish Government consultation on measuring the attainment gap and milestones towards closing it
A response to the Scottish Government consultation on assessing children with additional support needs’ capacity to use their rights, and considering their wellbeing.
Response to Scottish Governments consultation considering proposals for free bus travel for Modern Apprentices.
Who Cares? Scotland are offering two young people with care experience the chance to study at Harvard University.
Information sharing and the named person are being debated in Parliament just now; Ben Farrugia gets to grips with the latest developments.
Response to Scottish Governments consultation the Continuing Care (Scotland) Amendment Order 2018, which will ensure the continued eligibility of the current cohort of young people to continuing care as they increase in age. We fully support the Order, and this transformational policy. However, we also highlight challenges to the full and consistent implementation of continuing care, and explore solutions.
Active Implementation - what it is, what it is not, and how it could help bring about lasting change to children's services.
A new free online tool allows organisations and individuals globally to successfully deliver on UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
A key challenge for countries is measuring and keeping track of their progress in implementing the standards they set out. An inter-agency initiative set out to address this challenge. The initiative was funded by Oak Foundation, co-facilitated by the Better Care Network and Save the Children, and conducted in close collaboration with the Children without Appropriate Parental Care Working Groups in New York and Geneva. CELCIS and Save the Children have been working on developing an interactive, strengths-based diagnostic and learning tool. This tool will be vital in helping governments, children’s service providers, NGOs, civil society, academics and others to determine the extent to which a state or region has effectively implemented the Guidelines, and the priorities for change still ahead.
Report highlights the high level of skill within the social service workforce, and the skills and development they'll need to meet future demands.
A report on mental health support for young people leaving care.
The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care (SJRCC) is inviting submissions for a special themed issue on disability to be published in December 2018.
Survivor groups encourage all survivors of abuse in care to take part in milestone consultation
Linda Davidson discusses every child's need for sensitive and responsive care.
These postcards and posters have been developed to support night-time economy staff with their role in preventing Child sexual exploitation.
Response to Scottish Governments consultation on proposed funding arrangements to achieve excellence and equity in education. We highlight the educational and additional support for learning needs of looked after children, and call for funding approaches to take these needs into account.
The report sets out the extent to which Child Protection Committees and Chief Officers’ Groups across Scotland’s 32 local authority areas are following the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2014). Drawing on questionnaire findings, the report provides detailed analysis of the membership and activities of Child Protection Committees, the membership and responsibilities of Chief Officers’ Groups, child protection reporting arrangements, and the involvement of elected members. The findings support and inform the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Child Protection Improvement Programme.
This Iriss Insight uses the evidence base to help explore how we can learn from parents whose children have been referred, in order to avoid causing harm and provide the best and most helpful support.
This is our report to update the Scottish Government about the exploration stage (September 2016 – May 2017) of our programme of improvement to address neglect and enhance wellbeing.
An innovative education project is helping Renfrewshire pupils to reach their full potential by inviting their parents to get back into school.
Our statement in support of Scottish Government's announcement to exempt young care leavers from council tax payments.
Dr Graham Connelly discusses the use of acronyms when talking about looked after children and children in care.
Life Changes Trust launch funding opportunity for care experienced children to try music, art, sports and crafts.
The Scottish Government has announced that a long-standing barrier to survivors of childhood abuse being able to take civil legal action, has been abolished.
Report on the #NotWithoutMe pilot programme challenges the assumption that young people are ‘digital natives’ who have basic digital skills.
North Ayrshire Council wants to be the first local authority in Scotland to exempt care experienced young people from Council Tax.
Disadvantaged and care experienced young people in every Glasgow secondary school will now benefit from the mentoring programme developed over the last decade by MCR Pathways and Glasgow City Council.
Evaluation of the Notre Dame Centre designed a designated Kinship Family Project.
This issue contains a collection of four peer-reviewed research articles, three shorter commentaries, a paper previously published in the India-based journal, Institutionalised Children: Explorations and Beyond, and two book reviews.
In this special history issue, we begin with Professor Roy Parker’s last article, published posthumously. We include an obituary of him. This issue also features: a review of history of child and youth care from North American; two articles on the development of child welfare systems in the nineteenth century; and a paper on findings of research with survivors of historic abuse.
Course moderator Sarah Hume-Anthony gives a snapshot of the interactions on the CELCIS MOOC.
An updated briefing on welfare benefits for over 16s looked after away from home or in continuing care.
Report by The Children's Society provides evidence of the financial difficulties faced by care leavers in England.
A new adviser to support young people as they leave the care system has been appointed in England to help improve the lives of vulnerable children.
A survey carried out by Action for Children has revealed that 88 per cent of adults in Scotland show little to no interest in foster caring. A new campaign seeks to rectify this.
A response to the Education and Skills Committee’s call for views on the proposed legislative amendments to the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 concerning information sharing. Bringing consistency, clarity and coherence to the practice of information sharing about children’s and young people’s wellbeing is critical. Here we discuss what more is required from legislation and guidance to achieve this
Response to Scottish Governments consultation on the review of financial support for students. We support the general findings of the review, and consider how access to post-school education can be improved for students in disadvantaged circumstances. We argue that despite welcome advancement in policy, such as full bursaries for all care experienced students, the global sum available to students with no access to financial support from family is insufficient.
Adult survivors of abuse whilst in care are being encouraged to share their views on a possible financial redress scheme, by taking part in a consultation.
A response to Scottish Government’s consultation on Scotland’s Ten Year Strategy for the Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs. Amongst the population of children with complex additional support needs, the rate of those who are looked after is disproportionate to their number in the whole child population. Attention to the particular needs and vulnerabilities of looked after children in the Strategy are our key considerations in this response.
Winners of the Get Write In creative writing competition were announced at a star studded event to celebrate their talent.
Charlie Gracie tells of a new creative writing comp for looked after children
The Scottish Government has delayed the introduction of the requirement for residential child care staff to get a new qualification pending the outcome of the first phase of their Independent Care Review.
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administrator (SCRA) has published their official statistics for 2016/17.
Consultation process launched for healthcare forensic medical services for people that have experiences, alongside other things, child sexual abuse
An evaluation report of the CELCIS Parents In Partnership programme, a parental and carer involvement model implemented in three high schools in Renfrewshire Council in 2016/17
The introduction of Continuing Care has raised questions about how staff and services should be registered with the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate, given that young people will move from childhood to adulthood.
Leanne Mattu, Research Associate at CELCIS, explores what Bill Potts’ character does and does not tell us about being in foster care
We comment on the Scottish Government’s draft Delivery Plan on Equally Safe, a strategy for eradicating violence against women and girls.
A response to the Scottish Government consultation to transfer the functions and members of Additional Support Needs Tribunals to the Scottish Tribunals. We highlight the uneven implementation of duties to assess and meet the additional support needs of looked after children across Scotland, and consider how new arrangements can support looked after children if their cases come to a tribunal.
Dr Chrissie Gale, international lead for CELCIS, reflects on research which could help shape the drive for better alternative care for children in countries around the world.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney welcomes University of Strathclyde’s ambitious plans to support children facing adversity globally
Care leaver Helen Johnston compares her life to a Disney movie
Looked after school leavers continue to have lower levels of attainment and lower proportions are in positive post-school destinations, but the gap has narrowed since 2009
An information day for care experienced young people interested in going to college or university.
What does relational based practice look like in reality, for a busy statutory team?
A new Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy has been published by the Scottish Government.
Independent Review of Scotland’s Care System (Children and Young People) was officially launched at an event in Edinburgh.
Advice and resources for talking to young people upset by events in Manchester.
How the Education Forum brings together those with an interest in the education of looked after children
The KidsRights Index is the annual global index published by the KidsRights Foundation, which ranks how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve children’s rights.
Head of Education wanted to lead, manage and develop Harmeny’s educational provision.
Judge of our writing competition for care experienced children, Raymond Soltysek describes how creative writing can improve confidence.
Has the term additional support needs simply become another way of saying special educational needs?
The differences between additional support needs and special education needs and how we need to be careful when using the terms.
Louise Martin, the University of Strathclyde’s Widening Access Support Officer, and Jennifer Lynch Care leaver talk about going to university.
New groundbreaking study by the Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice (CYCJ) has been praised for highlighting the current issues, challenges and opportunities for Chief Social Work Officers.
New national framework to deal with preventing people, including the young, from going missing and harm associated with it.
Lizzie Morton describes how corporate parenting should work in the classroom.
Kathy Allan from Adoption UK explains how an attachment awareness programme in East Lothian is helping looked after and adopted children have a better experience of school.
Pupils from Castlehead High School in Renfrewshire share their experiences of the paired reading scheme.
A response to the Justice Committee’s call for evidence on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, which aims to improve how the justice system responds to domestic abuse. We consider how the impact of domestic abuse on children is captured by the Bill.
A secondment opportunity for a solicitor or legal officer with family law experience, in the Looked After Children Unit within the Children and Families Directorate.
We need access to data at both population and individual levels if we're to be successful in improving the attainment of looked after children.
Ben Farrugia talks about the Named Person and how it affects looked after children
The Dollywood Foundation send free books to all registered looked after children in Scotland and beyond.
This Report sets out the findings of the Education & Skills Committee's short inquiry to take stock ofthe reforms brought about by the 2011 Act and how they were being implemented in relation to the Children's Hearing System in Scotland.
In this issue we provide the usual mix of peer-reviewed research, commentaries on practice, and book reviews aimed at researchers, students and child and youth care practitioners. We also publish the transcripts of the 14th annual Kilbrandon Lecture by Professor Guy Standing and the Care Leavers’ Annual Lecture 2016 by Jimmy Paul. Happy reading.
A response to the Education and Skills Committee’s call for views on teacher workforce planning. We give our views on the issues impacting on teacher numbers in Scotland, and suggest improvements for preparing and supporting teachers to nurture vulnerable children’s learning.
We highlight issues pertinent to supporting vulnerable and looked after children with healthcare needs in schools. We recommend ensuring the Draft Guidance is fully aligned with GIRFEC, and that wellbeing is considered holistically, with the child’s views at the centre.
Professor Kate Wall of Strathclyde University reflects on student voice for young children, and those who are looked after.
A new film for parents and carers with learning disabilities who have a child or children going through the Hearings System.
Research into how music could and should help shape the experiences of children and young people in residential care settings.
David Woodier talks about the CELCIS Education Forum, and his role in the Inclusion Base at North Lanarkshire Council.
Summary of the responses to the public consultation on the Draft of the Continuing Care (Scotland) Amendment Order 2017.
The work CELCIS and other professionals are doing to improve educational experiences and outcomes for looked after children and young people.
For the first time, the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children will be shared with learners around the world, including policy makers, practitioners and carers, in a free online course.
Response to Scottish Governments discussion paper on workforce planning for the health and social care sector.
The impact of poor financial education and removal of support on care leavers (England)
The care leaving team at Falkirk Council received funding to mitigate against the effects of the Welfare Reform Act on care leavers.
A detailed breakdown of the workforce in children’s services in Scotland
Norma Brown of Falkirk Council describes their Moneywise project and the difference it's making to the lives of care leavers in the area.
Dean and Cauvin Trust has launched a new major campaign to recruit full time and short break foster carers for teenagers and for young parents and their babies.
What the latest round of Scottish Government’s stats on looked after children do and don’t tell us
Finding the links between educational attainment, individual characteristics, and experiences in care and education
Recognising the part we can all play in helping children to build their cultural and social capital
A creative writing competition for all school-aged children who are looked after or have care experience.
Key aspects of early learning and childcare services that make a difference to children having good early language skills
How a social work team in the East End of Glasgow is working tirelessly to support its local community
An intensive support programme aimed at young people who were looked after at home announced.
Children’s Hearing Scotland has published its Feedback Loop report. The report comprises a national overview and breakdown of the numbers and nature of Compulsory Service Orders.
Our response to the Education and Skill’s Committee’s call for evidence on changes to the Children Hearing System since the introduction of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.
The Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, made a statement in Parliament regarding the Named Person Service and the legal challenges involved in information sharing.
The Scottish Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald gave a statement to Parliament in response to recommendations made within the Child Protection Systems Review Report.
The Child Protection Systems Review, commissioned by the Scottish Government and supported by CELCIS, makes recommendations of what changes or improvements might be needed on order to protect children and young people more effectively.
We are now moving towards a professionalism that is defined by passion and commitment expressed through the transparent and responsible use of relationships.
Become, the charity for children in care and young care leavers launches Propel Scotland, an online resource for care-experienced youngsters and the carers and professionals that support them.
Our response to the Education and Skill’s Committee’s call for views on the provision of Additional Support Needs in schools.
Guest blogger Fiona Bennett of Barnardo's Scotland describes the Family Firm Action Research project.
Scottish Government announces Fiona Duncan, CEO of Lloyd TSB Foundation, as Chair of Independent Review of Scotland's Care System (Children and Young People) - CELCIS responds.
Linda Davidson, Permanence Consultant at CELCIS, explains how a timeline can be a powerful tool in making child-centred decisions.
Response to Scottish Governments consultation on the strategy for education and training in STEM.
Award winning massive open online course (MOOC) inspires next generation of child care professionals
A massive open online course (MOOC) created by CELCIS and the University of Strathclyde, is attracting high levels of social participation, and is running for the sixth time.
Notes and presentation from the December 2016 Forum meeting.
CELCIS is offering a unique opportunity for bespoke training, where you can pay now and train later.
We launch our special issue on love from the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
Our special issue on love in professional practice is packed with articles and reflections from academics and practitioners across the globe.
We've two exciting new posts to fill at CELCIS and we're looking for some great people to join the team.
Following a survey of 2,500 foster carers, the Fostering Network has warned that the UK’s fostering system is under ‘unsustainable strain’.
A wide variety of adoption resources based on learning and experience of adoption practitioners.
Response to Scottish Government's consultation on the new proposed Standards for Health and Social Care.
Response to Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) consultation on the draft revised standards in social work education.
Children's charity Aberlour is opening three new residential houses across the Fort William, Inverness and Moray Firth areas in April 2017.
A handbook aimed at foster carers and those who support them has been published by the Rees Centre
Child Abuse Review has published a special issue covering digital technology, child abuse and child protection.
New report examines the circumstances of children and families in relation to the care systems across Asia, African and Latin America.
The first study of it's kind, Towards the Right Care for Children is the result of the European Commission project in partnership with the SOS Children’s Villages International.
A summary of the Making Connections workshop to support the implementation of the agenda for change under the Youth and Criminal Justice section of the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant.
CELCIS responds to new initiative involving 10% of Glasgow City Council workforce mentoring young people.
Response to the Department of Work and Pensions public consultation, highlighting the important distinctions in the provision of kinship care in Scotland, compared to the rest of the UK.
Our response to the consultation on the current review of governance arrangements within education.
Jennifer Davidson blogs about what 2016 has meant for the children’s sector and what the year ahead will bring.
In this evaluation, we report on the initial set up of a pilot fostering project in Tajikistan.
CELCIS has announced the winner of this year’s Christmas card competition.
Information for employers on how to offer appropriate and supportive Modern Apprenticeships to young people with care experience.
Catch up on the work of the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant.
A report by the Local Government Association on supporting the health needs of looked after children in England.
Our response to the draft statutory guidance considers the impact on looked after children of amendments made to the 2000 Act, by Part 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.
Research in Practice is inviting colleagues to take part in a project on edge of care services, running fromFebruary to July 2017.A tool is being developed to carry out longitudinal analysis of the needs, services and outcomes of children and young people on the edge of care.
A case study of the use of the Relationships Matter toolkit to facilitate conversations with corporate parents from Scotland’s colleges.
Feedback on the proposed oral health plan for Scotland. We highlight the oral health needs of looked after children and care leavers.
Contact directory for all corporate parents to support collaboration and share practice.
Virtual presentation from Boyd McAdam, National Convenor of Children's Hearings Scotland. Boyd focuses on the Child's Plan, it's place in the children's hearings system, decision-making and improving outcomes.
CELCIS’ flagship magazine, Reach, has just published its permanence focused edition. The magazine is packed full of stories and case studies about what’s happening to provide looked after children a secure, safe and long-term home for as long as they need it.
What’s known as concurrency planning is beginning to be adopted in Scotland, and it's a potent means of achieving permanent, stable homes and futures for the youngest looked-after children.
Paul McKee is an advocacy worker who helps parents to express their views when decisions are being made about their children.
Jennifer McKearney, of Aberdeenshire’s legal and governance department explains how PACE has cut drift and delay in their decision making
In East Renfrewshire Council, social workers have been working hard to tackle drift and delay in looked-after children in the pre-birth to three-year-old age group
Kinship care can have major benefits for children and young people in terms of stability and permanence –but, it’s not always that simple...
Our permanence consultant Carol Wassell works with local authorities and other agencies to help ensure children get good permanent placements that involve their past when possible.
A new institute, based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, will help to shape a brighter future for children who face difficult circumstances in Scotland and beyond.
Lisa McKenzie from East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership talking about the improvements they made with the help of PACE
The rewards of adopting can far outweigh any barriers
Diana Beveridge of Scottish Government explains why improving permanence by reading the data works.
Jamie Willox of Aberdeenshire Council explains the attention given to the workforce as part of PACE
CELCIS launches its Christmas card competition for looked after children
The Scottish Government has a vacancy for a two-year secondment in the Looked After Children Unit within Children and Families Directorate.
How social workers sharing ideas has been inspirational for their learning and practice.
Panel Member and PACE champion Calum Swanson explains the difference PACE is making in Orkney
Aberdeen City Council, through the PACE programme, cuts 12 weeks off the time it takes to make permanence decisions for children in their care.
Our report showcases and shouts about examples of our partnership work where we're making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Cathie O'Donnell of Renfrewshire Council describes the case of a child who was able to return home permanently.
Scott McCallum of Midlothian Council discusses what they have put in place to get ready for the PACE programme.
In this podcast Peter, a kinship carer tells us about his struggles as he looks after his grandaughter.
Getting ready to start on the PACE journey.
Dumfries and Galloway Council aims to make real changes in the prospects of looked after children with better data gathering.
Lynne Shuttleton on how Aberdeenshire Council reduced paperwork to cut delays in permanence.
An analysis of workforce data help future workforce planning in implementing the new Level 9 qualification for residential child care workers.
Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire City Council and CELCIS win the Herald Society Young People’s Project of the Year Award for their work on the PACE programme.
Podcast of Anne MacKenzie, a Children's Reporter, reflecting on the PACE programme in Aberdeenshire.
Life Changes Trust launches awards supporting care experienced young people to think big about their future.
Why permanence matters for looked after children, and why we must share our passion to improve.
Response to proposals for a new future for social security in Scotland. We consider how proposals could impact on looked after children and care leavers, and highlight considerations for this group.
First Minister confirms her commitment to an independent review of the care system to ensure Getting it Right for Looked After Every Child is delivered in full.
Cal for evidence from everyone involved in adoption, especially social workers in BASW research study on the role of the social worker in adoption. Complete the questionnaire by 31 Oct 2016.
We're delighted with the First Minister’s announcement to review the care system, and in particular the new level of prominence which will be given to children and young people’s views in the process.
CELCIS and the Scottish Legal Aid Board publish research on the role of solicitors in Children's Hearings.
Professor Michael Smith, Associate Medical Director, Mental Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde looks at childhood experiences and their impact on mental health later in life.
Our research findings exploring the role and impact of solicitors in the Children's Hearing System
Report from the Children's Society highlights the impact of poor financial education and removal of support on care leavers.
Feedback on the proposed Learning Standard for Foster Care, framing the core knowledge and skills required by today’s foster carers.
Our response to the proposal by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to increase registration fees.
Feedback on the Draft Police Priorities for Scotland 2016, focussed on considering how the lives of looked after children and care leavers could be further improved.
Kenny McGhee responds to the recent STV 'Who Cares' programme by exploring the need for genuine and caring relationships and removing barriers for looked after children and young people.
Social work in Scotland is at a watershed and the public and service users must be more involved in shaping future provision.
A group of young people has launched a new guide for school staff and pupils in Aberdeenshire, on how they can support looked after children.
Real stories of life as a looked after child in Scotland, it examines what needs to change to improve the lives of young people in care.
This exciting competition is open to all budding poets ages 3-9 years. Go wild creating animal themed poems.
Aberdeenshire Social Work Dept has been nominated for a Quality Improvement Award for their PACE programme, supported by CELCIS
Feedback on the proposed ten-year mental health strategy for Scotland. We highlight the mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of looked after children and care leavers, and the responsibilities of corporate parents to meet these needs.
Our very own Graham Connelly was recognised for his contribution to the University Values when he awarded the Strathclyde Medal at a ceremony on Friday.
Glasgow City Council Social Work Services hosted an event for Glasgow’s Registered Social Landlords to relaunch its Care Leaver Protocol.
Services for children and young people across Scotland are performing well but there's still room for improvement.
The Scottish Government is not commencing with Parts 4 and 5 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act. The order required to stop the commencement and associated secondary legislation has been laid in Parliament.
Child Rights Partners, Unicef UK took time out of their busy schedule to endorse the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant to help ensure a brighter future for care leavers.
Scotland's Children's Panels have launched a recruitment drive for new members.
A review commissioned by the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in NI, and chaired by Alexis Jay.
Too many children in care end up in the criminal justice system says new report (England and Wales).
Children and young people can now benefit from being shown around a Children's Hearing Centre prior to their Hearing.
Find out what was discussed at the June meeting of the forum
The values and vision of work carried out by CHIP, for and on behalf of children and young people in the Hearings System .
Scottish Government's 'named person' policy goes ahead with amendments to information sharing provisions
Senior judge, the Right Honourable Lady Anne Smith will take on the role from 1 August.
A new report from The Prince's Trust highlights the difficulties facing children when their parents are not socially well connected.
Scottish Government will tackle the deep-rooted causes of child poverty for the first time in its history
Introducing the PACE project which aims to reduce waiting times in finding permanent homes for children and young people.
Government proposals for social work reform in England have significant weaknesses, says the Education Committee.
Vacancies throughout Scotland for individuals who are committed to making decisions in the best interest of children
National guidance on part 13 (support for kinship care) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act published
Research to assess the impact of unproven allegations of maltreatment on foster carers in England.
Who Cares? (Scotland) is planning their biggest and best NCLWS yet. It's running from 20-29 Oct. Get involved!
Linda O'Neill tells the story behind the recent education statistics.
New optional training programme will offer more opportunities for professional development, which promote depth of practice.
Report of Sir Martin Narey’s independent review of children’s residential care.
Report of Sir Martin Narey’s independent review of children’s residential care.
New funding for Champions Boards announced
Remembering the life of Bob Holman, the community worker and poverty campaigner who died recently
How can the lives of looked after children be further improved through the strategic priorities of SFRS?
Get the latest statistics on educational outcomes for looked after children 2014 - 2015, published by Scottish Government.
Laura's passionate keynote speech about her experiences of the care system was a highlight at SIRCC 2016
Scottish children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) may not be getting the support they need according to the SCSC.
Investigates the impact of key features of the Glasgow Infant Family Team, a service putting infants’ attachment relationships at the heart of decisions about whether they should enter care permanently.
Read this issue on children and young people looked after at home or in kinship care.
Report by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child says UK and Scottish Governments need to improve children's rights.
In this new issue of REACH you can read articles and stories about children looked after at home or in kinship care
Kenny McGhee talks about his research into implementing Staying Put for care leavers.
Our response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the minimum age of criminal responsibility
SASW is touring Scotland to hear the views of social workers
Can't make the SIRCC 2016 conference? Then tune in to to hear from our fantastic keynote speakers.
An easy to follow practitioner’s guide to the key processes involved as a young person considers leaving care.
Ben Farrugia raises some interesting questions. Some of these stats don't ring true. Why?
For anyone interested in the operation and challenges of a care system in South-east Europe. This is a review of the care system in Kosovo.
The report on an action research project using improvement methodology to provide enhanced transition support to looked after young people moving from P7 to S1 in North Lanarkshire.
Evaluation of a developing parent and carer engagement model aimed at engaging parents and carers involvement in high school.
Kenny McGhee reflects on the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant, six months after the launch.
The Prime Minister will introduce new laws in England that will encourage the permanent adoption of children.
The statistics showing the number of children looked after by local authorities in England at March 2015 has just been published.
Could this style of care -which has seen some success in the USA- fly in the UK?
Our analysis and briefing on the Scottish Government's statistics on looked after children and care leavers
Data compiled on ASL assessments and the number of coordinated support plans prepared for looked after children.
An insightful presentation of a local authority project, on how to make the leap to secondary school easier.
This presentation explains the potential impact the Bill will have on looked after children.
Alison Hennessey talks about how CELCIS uses of improvement methodology with local authorities to make school life better for looked after children.
In this issue Nazirah Hassan writes about the challenges of carrying out research about bullying and victimisation and Laura Beveridge shares the text of her Care Leavers’ Annual Lecture.
In this issue we cover a wide range of subjects: redesigning leaving care interactions, participation of young people with disabilities and exploring the role of storytelling in social care practice.
Graham Connelly discusses the report of the Commission on Widening Access and questions what it actually means for students.
Check out this new toolkit produced by Scottish Government
Take part in this consultation around the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
A paper to help corporate parents understand and implement the duty to collaborate within Section 60 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
A paper to help corporate parents understand and implement the duty to promote interests, provide opportunities and improve access to services within Section 58 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
A paper to help corporate parents understand and implement the duty to plan and report within Sections 59 and 61 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
A paper to help corporate parents understand and implement the duty to improve performance within Sections 58 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
A paper to help corporate parents understand and implement the duty to be alert and to assess within Section 58 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
Lizzie Morton blogs on how Corporate Parents are taking ownership of their new duties.
Check out the great new CHIP website, which includes some fantastic resources.
Melissa Van Dyke speaks about implementing change and the science behind it.
Get the latest statistics on looked after children in Scotland, based on data collected from local authorities and secure units by professionally independent statistical staff.
Ainsley Hainey blogs about the success of the Massive Open Online Course on Caring for Vulnerable Children.
In this free online course we’ll help you to explore some of the approaches involved in caring for vulnerable children.
Response outlining CELCIS view on Petition PE1596, which calls on the Scottish Parliament to protect the In Care Survivor Service Scotland
The ‘Blueprint for Fairness’ aims to make sure a student’s background is not a barrier to going to university.
Timescales for the roll out of the level 9 qualification for residential child care workers.
Scottish Government announces new programme of work for child protection and additional funding for CELCIS to extend its improvement work into child protection.
A new, interactive online resource that aims to simplify how the youth and criminal justice system works for under 18s in Scotland.
Latest findings highlight the support required by birth mothers after adoption.
The Immigration Bill 2015-16 has major implications for access to post-school education and the provision of leaving care support for young people who do not have leave to remain in the UK The Immigration Bill has completed its second reading in the House of Lords, and has begun line-by-line consideration at the Committee Stage in the Lords. It includes provisions which have major implications for young people who are not asylum seekers and do not have leave to remain in the UK when they reach 18 years of age. Many of these young people will have, or are, being looked after by local authorities. The effect on care leavers The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) has produced a detailed briefing on the Bill, and says Schedule 9 would prevent local authorities providing leaving care support to these young people (see p.14 of their briefing). According to the Association: ‘Care leavers caught by the Bill, however, will not be allowed to remain in their existing foster placement whilst they make the transition to adulthood…or benefit from provisions which ensure that a personal adviser is allocated to children leaving care in a role established in regulations to provide advice and support to young people leaving care in place of a parent.’ Amendments, in the names of MPs Angus Robertson, Stuart McDonald, Anne McLaughlin and Gavin Newlands (all SNP), were introduced at the Report Stage in the House of Commons on 1 December 2015, proposing that the provisions which would prevent local authorities offering leaving care support should be deleted from the Bill. What it means for Scotland The relevant references in the Bill are to the Children Act 1989 and related Regulations apply to England or to England and Wales, but elsewhere in the Bill, and in the accompanying Explanatory Notes, it is clear the Government’s intention is that the provisions should apply throughout the UK. The Notes also say that ‘there will be further consultation with the devolved administrations’, about parts of the Bill which have implications for applicable law, though the ILPA says it does not know whether this has happened so far. Immigration takes precedence over child welfare The thrust of the Bill is to ensure immigration law takes precedence over child welfare legislation for families with children and adults who have been in the care system and who have failed applications for asylum, or who have no right to remain in the UK. These provisions mean that local authorities will no longer have powers to support children under relevant children’s legislation. Tuition fees for care leavers affected A late amendment to the Bill proposed by the UK Government would prevent local authorities from providing funding for higher education tuition fees for a care leaver who has limited leave to remain (humanitarian protection, discretionary leave or leave under the immigration rules) or a pending asylum application. In Scotland, these fees are paid directly to institutions on behalf of the Scottish Government by SAAS (the Student Awards Agency for Scotland), so it is assumed that the UK Government’s intention is that the proposed changes should also apply to SAAS. Impact on the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 The ILPA points out that the changes proposed will cut across the generally accepted view that there is a transition to adulthood, even when certain legal rights are gained at age 18, and that this is even more important in supporting the transition of looked after young people from care placements. The Bill will have significant implications for the enhanced leaving care provisions of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Find out more about uncertain immigration status of looked after children CELCIS’s recently published guidance for teachers and other professionals Supporting the education of looked after children with uncertain immigration status.
Our evidence which informed part 3 of the Scottish Parliament’s Inquiry - how parents and schools can work best together to raise all pupils’ attainment.
Our evidence which informed part 2 of the Scottish Parliament’s Inquiry - role of the third sector and private sector in improving attainment for all pupils.
A response to a consultation around people who go missing in Scotland, where looked after children and care leavers are over represented.
A blog by Linda O'Neill discussing what children had to say in the recent Rees Centre report
Our consultation response to the draft guidance on decision making for foster carers.
Our consultation response to the review of the National Care Standards for health and social care services - looking at the core principles on which all standards should be based.
New guidance for adults working with and caring for children and young people involved in the Children's Hearing System
An account of residential child care staff from three local authorities that shared learning by working in each other's workplace.
A briefing for educators on what it means to have an uncertain immigration status and be looked after.
New guidance to help local authorities and children’s services support children and families .
In this issue we feature the 2015 Kilbrandon Lecture, given by Alexis Jay. The issue also contains a ‘Named Person’ debate and an article on attachment previously published in Institutionalised Children: Explorations and Beyond, as well as the usual mix of peer reviewed papers, commentaries and book reviews.
The hugely successful Permanence and Care Excellence (PACE) programme is to expand to all areas across Scotland.
First online edition of SJRCC, full of fascinating articles and reviews.
Evidence submitted by CELCIS, to inform the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of the Education (Scotland) Bill at Stage Two. The paper focuses on Scottish Government (proposed) amendments to place the National Improvement Framework on a statutory footing.
Guidance for managers of residential services, and individual residential practitioners, and it is also intended to inform local authority outdoor education staff.
Guidance for adults who come into regular contact with homeless children and young people.
There is growing interest across the UK in European models of social pedagogy.
Our statement welcoming the ambitions of Scottish Government's new strategy to improve services for looked after children and young people
We’ve launched our new site. Check out our old fave stuff and some of our fantastic new features...
In this blog Liz Brabender discusses how CELCIS tackles drift and delay in permanency.
Watch Professor Brigid Daniel and Professor Karen Broadhurst at our inaugural lecture.
If you have an idea for a workshop then get in touch with us to showcase your practice.
Calling all MSPs to sign the Child Rights Manifesto and become #ChildRightsChamps ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
A practical and useful step-by-step process for corporate parents in fulfilling their duties of the Part 9 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
A blog by Moyra Hawthorn detailing a decade striving for justice.
Additional evidence supplied by CELCIS to assist the Education and Culture Committee
Empowering communities, combatting poverty, improving services World Forum, The Hague | 20-22 June 2016
The Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland want your views on the principles that will form the new National Care Standards.
Looked after children that reject love are the ones who need it most.
Our consultation response draws on academic research, our own activities, and the experience of professionals.
The Standard for Residential Child Care is the new benchmark underpinning the development and delivery of Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 9 qualifications for the residential child care workforce.
The KidsRights Index - ranks how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve children's rights - found that all 165 countries analysed should increase their efforts around children’s rights.
At the start of National Care Leavers Week 2015, a major project to support young care leavers in Scotland has been announced. (Thursday 22 October.)
Attend, encourage and enjoy to learn - a blog by Graham Connelly
Are you a corporate parent? Sign up to the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant and support our care leavers.
Leaving care too early. Kenny McGhee blogs on the problems facing care leavers in Scotland.
Our report showcases and shouts about examples of our partnership work where we're making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Jennifer Davidson blogs about her mission to change the world for the better.
In this research summary Stacey Mckillop provides a summary of her 'How Can Primary School Teachers Effectively Address the Needs of Looked After Children?'
Chrissie Gale blogs about working in partnership around the world.
Video highlights and resources from our annual conference on how we can work together to ensure the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 delivers for our most vulnerable children.
Home supervision provides an unparalleled opportunity to support our vulnerable children. We call for greater investment in family support services to bring about a more consistent approach.
Read this issue about emotional wellbeing, packed full of good stories and case studies about work going on across Scotland.
A practical resource to help teachers and educators deliver a positive learning experience for every looked after child
Study exploring the needs, outcomes and service provision for children currently or previously looked after at home.
The evaluation shows that St Andrew’s outreach services has been very effective in meeting the needs of children, young people, and families.
The Historical Child Abuse Inquiry started its work on 1 October 2015.
The CELCIS statement at the start of the Historic Abuse Inquiry.
A special issue on the theme of leadership and management, guest-edited by Dr Leslie Hicks of the University of Lincoln. It features a mixture of articles on leadership in Scotland and Italy, and an interview with Graham McPheat who offers a starting point for debates about the nature of leadership and management in children's homes, and ways of bringing about best practice
The report offers a number of suggestions on how the Bill can deliver real change including the need to report on efforts to reduce inequalities in a transparent, meaningful and effective way.
£10 million to go to councils to raise kinship care allowances to the same level as foster care families.
Our response to Scottish Government consultation: Regulations and Guidance under the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015
We're looking for writing and artwork from care-experienced young people to display in our Creative Gallery at CELCIS 2016.
With the voting age now 16 in Scotland, help to encourage all 15-17 year olds who will be eligible to vote to register.
Our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on regulations governing the operation of Scotland’s Adoption Register
A profiling process, which can benchmark skills developed in informal settings against academic qualifications.
Secure, safe and stable accommodation is an essential building block for success and achievement.
Evaluation report of Educating through Care Scotland Pilot - an outcomes framework for children with significant additional support needs in residential education.
Our consultation response to inform the development of Statutory Guidance for Parts of the Children and Young People Act 2014: the Named Person, Child’s Plan and Wellbeing.
Our super successful MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) helps you explore and develop an understanding of the approaches involved in caring for vulnerable children.
A new website, which includes five short films, has been created showing how human rightsare being used in health and social care.
Film showing what helps make health services accessible to young people in care. Produced by the National Children's Bureau and A National Voice.
Our consultation response to the Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee Inquiry on the educational attainment gap
Our evidence response to the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of the Education (Scotland) Bill
Evaluation of a model of early intervention to improve the care and support to vulnerable families during pregnancy and once the baby is born.
Browse the resources from our 2015 National Conference exploring Steps to Success: Supporting quality transitions through and beyond residential child care.
How the integration of adult health and social care services may impact on children and families.
Vicki Welch blogs on the good and bad of integrating services.
The statistics show an improvement in looked after children’s levels of attainment and transition into positive destinations like employment, education or training.
CELCIS written evidence to Independent Advisory Group on Stop and Search
This special issue commemorates 50 years since Lord Kilbrandon's report Children and Young Persons: Scotland, was published. The 1964 report led to the establishment of Scotland's Children's Hearing system.
This issue features a debate on the implications of YES or NO votes in the Referendum on Scottish Independence in September 2014 for children supported by the care system. We also have our usual mix of peer-reviewed articles and commentaries.
East Renfrewshire Council listen and learn from local residents to revamp their foster carer campaign.
Our Statement following the announcement by Cabinet Secretary, Angela Constance of Susan O’Brien QC as Chair.The Historical Child Abuse Inquiry started its work on 1 October 2015.
Statement following the announcement by Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance.
Work has begun to develop a Scottish Care Leavers Covenant with buy in from a wide range of partners across Scotland.
This executive summary draws out relevant points from across the whole study.
Our evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s inquiry into social isolation.
Michelle McCue blogs about the 2015 SIRCC conference and its focus on how residential child care is changing.
CELCIS bloggers and guest authors write about topical issues relating to children, young people and their families and those who work to support them.
Read articles on inclusion of looked after children in education Childen’s Hearings, residential child care and professional education.
Our evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee on the general principles of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Christine Gordon and Karen Wallace talk to Fiona Lettice about their first hand experience of fostering, adoption and trauma.
Children's Social Work Statistics Scotland, 2013-14 has been published on the Scottish Government website.
Our response to the Public Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse in Scotland Consultation
Response to Scottish Fire and Rescue’s consultation on its draft Youth Engagement Strategy.
Evaluation findings of a new programme providing therapeutic play for adoptive families.
Guidance from the UK Departments of Education and Health on promoting the health and wellbeing of looked after children in England.
Who Cares? Scotland directly consulted with 87 young people to establish their experiences of living in care, their hopes for life after care and the types of support they would need to achieve this.
In this episode, partners in the 'Homelessness: pathways and prevention' project discuss effective interventions for keeping people out of homelessness.
The recruitment, assessment, support and supervision of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender foster carers.
This review explores the growing emphasis being placed on the relationships of children and young people in care.
A mentoring project based in Glasgow schools for looked after young people. Mentoring helps young people achieve more in education.
Guide to how colleges support care-experienced students - every college in Scotland is listed.
Realistic recommendations to guide government support for care leavers.
Supporting Schools to raise attainment and close the inequity gap.
Report suggesting more young people are sleeping rough than official figures suggest.
Evaluation on the impact of the PaCT team who work with stakeholders across Scotland on permanence improvements.
First annual report from Putting the baby IN the bathwater - a coalition of 80 organisations and individuals committed to making Scotland the best place to grow up.
An interim evaluation of the Permanence and Care Excellence programme.
Despite all the safeguards, children and young people in care continue to suffer abuse and neglect.
Strategic and operational discussion with an opportunity to shape the future of child protection in Scotland.
Professor Frank Cottrell-Boyce: Open the box of delights - presentation from CELCIS conference 2014.
Presentation of literature review findings on issues to providing permanence for disabled children and young people.
How the UK can better tackle child abuse, neglect and exploitation with 10 UK recommendations.
Part 9 (Corporate Parenting) This is the third in a series of briefings from CELCIS that explain specific parts of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (2014 Act).
Part 12 (Services in relation to children at risk of becoming looked after)
Materials from seminars created to increase knowledge of key changes in the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.
CELCIS response to Scottish Government consultation: Review of National Care Standards.
IRISS FM episode features Dr Jonathan Sher: How do we close the gap between what we know and what we do?
Case studies illustrating how prevention and response strategies can reduce the prevalence and impact of violence against children.
Provides a robust picture of youth justice in Scotland’s past, present and future.
This issue of focuses on improving education outcomes for looked after children and highlights work going on across Scotland.
This report presents the main themes from the research in a format specifically for young people.
The research examined Reporter decisions on the referrals of 200 children made in April 2013.
Edinburgh City Council's experience of using an ‘Improvement Methodology’ to improve educational outcomes for looked after children.
Our most recent Impact Report - reporting from 2013-14 and Annual Reports from previous years.
Briefing describing an action research programme, exploring how the barriers to looked after children’s learning can be overcome.
This report examines the role (NGO) Terre des hommes has played in the development of a State Child Protection System (CPS) in Albania. It identifies ‘practice principles’ that are key to building a child protection system from scratch.
Summarises the evidence in this challenging area of work to support practitioners to reflect on their practice in this context. Written by Judy Furnivall (CELCIS) and Edwina Grant (Scottish Attachment in Action).
Dr Ann Wales explains the relationship between SSKS (Social Services Knowledge Scotland) and the Knowledge Network.
Watch a short video about our MSc course.
Research describing the findings of a recent study. Covers managers’ views of preparedness, preparation for practice and ongoing support.
This toolkit sets out skills and qualities that practitioners need if they are to help young people to manage risk in their lives.
Evaluation findings from a throughcare and aftercare learning exchange between three local authorities.
An online Journal for all those interested in the way children gow up and how they are nurtured.
Report is based on a synthesis of eight assessments of the implementation of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children in Benin, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In this issue you’ll find peer-reviewed articles on the role of positivism and performance indicators in ‘official imaginings’ of childhood and wellbeing, and on the therapeutic potential of bedtime reading, and shorter articles on the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, drama work in Kibble and reflections on the redevelopment of a children’s home.
Booklet for young people giving information about their rights while they are being looked after away from home.
First in a series of briefings explaining specific parts of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.(Part 10 'Aftercare' and Part 11: 'Continuing Care')
How can we close the attainment gap between pupils from high and low-income families in Scotland?
Workshop exploring young people’s views of home supervision and their educational experience.
This issue focuses on throughcare and aftercare and the great work going on across Scotland.
Gateway to wealth of information and learning materials to support practitioners in day-to-day work and in learning.
If you feel a child or young person needs extra help to get the most from their learning and are unsure what to do, Enquire can help you.
With the recent passage of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill through the Scottish Parliament, throughcare and aftercare services are prominently positioned.
Our evaluation of a foster care project in Albania.
Our response to the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee call for evidence into an Inquiry into Health Inequalities.
Summarising the debates and developments over Stage 2 of the Bill.
Covers the areas of the Bill most relevant to looked after children and young people, and care leavers.
Guide to the support available from universities and colleges in Scotland to care-experienced students.
Summarising the debates and developments over Stage 1 of the Bill.
Includes the survey analysis, the final report and the Scottish Government's response to the findings.
Residential child care in Scotland and England: how we can make improvements in what we do, wherever we work.
This report gives us urgent insight and raises critical questions about the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable group.
Focuses on all things permanence and shows the great work going on to secure permanence for children.
Proposal for a mentoring programme aimed at looked after children and young people in Scotland.
Designed to help people wanting to set up, run or participate in a peer support group.
Briefing from BAAF looking at the adoption of disabled children.
The permanence-based activities taking place across Scotland. Find ideas for your practice.
'Staying put' gives young people leaving care an actuality that resembles more closely what their non-looked after peers experience.
Giving care leavers good housing and support options is essential for their transition to independent living.
This issue has a mixture of articles including a paper on Life-Space Intervention by Kiaras Gharabaghi and Carol Stuart, and a case for young people remaining in care until their 26th birthday made by Duncan Dunlop, CEO of Who Cares? Scotland.
We had a great range of speakers and topics at our 2013 conference. Explore the sessions you missed.
Concurrency planning places the needs, rights and interests of the child at the centre.
To gather views of people who lived in foster care as children has been launched by CELCIS in partnership with the In Care Survivor Service Scotland (ICSSS).
Our responses to national consultations on issues that matter to looked after children (2013).
A special issue on social pedagogy, guest-edited by Janine Bolger of Robert Gordon University.
Presentations from CELCIS at the CYC-Net Connecting at the Crossroads Conference held in Canada in June 2013.
An event aimed at exploring the views of people who were in residential care as children on justice and remedies for historic abuse is to be hosted by CELCIS.
Details the vision of the Permanence Team Programme, clearly stating the services and supports we offer.
Summarises the data we have on numbers of looked after children who attain higher education.
The Permanence and Care team (PaCT) provide a short definition of permanence.
Explored belonging with looked after young people across Scotland using creative methodologies.
Captures care leavers views and experiences on what they hope the future holds for them.
Captures care leavers views and experiences on what they are proud of achieving.
Young care leavers share their journey through the care system and the issues that have arisen along the way.
Young people talk about their experience of the Throughcare and Aftercare Service and express what would improve the services.
Watch the highlights of an event for young people have experienced being in care and see the variety of services available/
This issue includes a commemoration of John Triseliotis, and get an international perspective on residential child care from authors based in Australia, Germany, Norway and Scotland.
This issue features an article on speech, language and communication needs of children in residential care, as well as other topics as diverse as autism, acoustic ecology, using educational drama, and care leavers’ engagement with services.
These findings relate to the key barriers to achieving successful outcomes in permanence for looked after children.
We have gathered internationally related journal articles on residential child care to share with you.
Young people in care should be encouraged, enabled and supported to remain in quality care settings until they are ready to leave.
Framework for planning and delivering opportunities for care leavers to ensure a positive post-16 transition.
Moving Forward provides practical guidance on alternative care provision for children.
What are young people’s experiences of the services they receive.
Details the responsibilities to respect confidentiality and how to raise issues of concern.
Focusing on the health of our looked after children and young people.
Young people describe the situations they were dropped into and how they felt about how they were treated.
A child's progress through the care system to permanence.
This guide is intended for the use of LSCB Review Panels and reviewers. It sets out the process of the review, detailing roles and tasks at each stage and giving examples of methods and approaches for engaging practitioners and managers in reflection and learning.
Summary of key findings from research into Home Supervision Requirements (HSRs) in Scotland.
How far attachment theory underpins training and practice within Scotland’s children’s sector.
This report addresses the evaluation of the Holding the Space Training as rolled out to Action for Children’s children’s homes across Scotland.
Our report on designing and implementing an in-service development programme for social welfare professionals.
Report from Who Cares? Scotland on the International Summit of Youth in Care 2012.
Based on the first six months since CELCIS was formed and the six months of transition before.
Our first issue we look at how to improve the educational achievements of young people who are looked after.
A report from two young people to feed their views to the International Summit of Youth in Care in Baltimore on 26 to 29 June 2012.
The benefits of a peer research approach.
Information on the number of children who had been in care in Scotland between 1930 and 2005.
The survey aimed to identify stakeholders’ involvement in CELCIS areas of work, gaps in delivery and how well these areas meet the needs of children and young people
A study of residential managers’ views on the preparedness of residential workers to support children and young people who have experienced the trauma of domestic abuse.
The results of bringing together care leavers, Corporate Parents, social work, health and education to explore what a co-productive approach could look like in the social work sector.
Approaches to help staff use a therapeutic perspective in their day-to-day social work with children and young people.
This research briefing paper supports the inquiry by the Education and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament into the educational attainment of looked after children.
Evaluation of an Orkney Islands Training Programme
The Scottish Parliament produced a briefing paper on Kinship Care
Helen chats about how a child's view of the world is formed and what can be done to improve it.
A short dramatisation of domestic violence in the home and its effects on a family.
CELCIS, alongside a wide range of partners, young people, and communities involved in participation, are developing an exciting new project called the ‘Participating in Participation Network’.
Our priority areas and the activities and services of our organisation for 2012.
This paper is based on a review of Scottish research since 2001 on services for looked after children. It focuses on studies and results relevant to the priorities of the LACSIG care planning hub.
Our film introducing CELCIS and what our aims and ambitions are.
As SIRCC we published 'SIRCCULAR' with news and stories from Scotland's residential child care sector.
As SIRCC we published 'SIRCCULAR' with news and stories from Scotland's residential child care sector.
Challenges and rewards of supervision, teamwork and leadership in improving outcomes for looked after children.
This Insight examines attachment-informed practice with looked after children and young people.
Answers the 'So what does this mean in practice?' question for each topic reviewed.
A summary of research and policy reports written between 2005 and 2011 about the values, knowledge, and skills required for an effective children’s workforce.
Written over a six-year period to provide ideas about residential practice based on current research.
A scoping study on a centre for excellence for looked after children and young people, by Susan Elsley.
Commissioned by Scottish Government to gain an in-depth perspective of participants in the Time to Be Heard Pilot Forum.
A summary of research related to the education and attainment of looked after children and young people.
Exploring the similarities between Holding The Space (a therapeutic approach to care) and Social pedagogy (a holistic approach to child care).
Explores the similarities between a therapeutic approach and a holistic approach to child care.
A collection of articles dealing with historical or ethical dimensions of residential child care.
A photographic journey through care, as seen through the eyes of young people.
An introduction to the key issues and concepts within residential child care practice. Published to mark SIRCC’s 10th year anniversary.
This issue looks at the impact of providing a continuum of care in the throughcare and aftercare process, as well as some thoughts on the necessary criteria for practice in specialist residential services.
A collection of health and wellbeing articles covering mental health, the contributions of arts, information technology and music therapy.
An evaluation of the Sycamore Services social pedagogy training programme by Ian Milligan.
An audit to determine whether levels of qualified staff have risen and to identify qualification trends throughout the residential child care sector in Scotland.
National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI) - strategic review of residential child care services with recommendations for the Scottish Government (2009)
A diverse collection of articles from police involvement in residential child care in Scotland to LGBT questioning in New York City, USA.
A diverse collection of articles covering trauma and dissociation, power and the languages of young people in care.
A great range of diverse education related articles, including articles on improving literacy through storytelling and the Edinburgh Reading Champion project.
A consultant's final report on a pilot project focusing on Brucefield, a long-established local authority home for children and young people in Stirling.
An issue with diverse articles, including Howard Metzler’s research examining outcomes for children in secure care.
This report includes recommendations on managing the physical restraint of children and young people in care.
A great collection of articles, including an account of research which led to the seminal Playing it Safe? report by the Scottish Children's Commissioner.
Has the number of qualified staff risen and what are the qualification trends in the sector?
We all want children and young people to be safe, active and have fun outdoors so we must balance minimising risks with spoiling their enjoyment.
The findings from a survey of residential childcare workers who have completed the HNC in Social Care.
A diverse collection of six articles covering topics such as workers’ experience of the mental health needs of young people, an equality perspective and young people’s involvement in staff recruitment.
A study examining the attitudes to a range of design interventions in four residential care homes for children in South Lanarkshire.
This publication details what helped care experiences young people become and feel successful.
This manifesto, written by Susan Elsley, calls on the Scottish Executive and politicians to help us by providing the national and local leadership for children and young people who are looked after away from home.
A survey commissioned by SIRCC to look at local authority residential care units.
A collection of diverse articles on the voices of young people in care, media perceptions of residential child care and using psychodrama.
You'll find a diverse range of articles such as from care to university and encouraging social integration in Latvia
There are practical, emotional and intellectual dimensions to working in secure accommodation.
A guide for residential child care practitioners and managers about physically restraining children and young people. This guidance was originally published in 2005, and was updated in 2014.
An assortment of articles ranging from job satisfaction in residential child care to looking after sexually abused young people.
Has the number of qualified staff risen and what are the qualification trends in the sector?
This collection of seven articles explores the theme of wellbeing and making provision for complex needs.
A diverse collection of articles including a guest editorial by Jennifer Davidson, newly appointed Director of the Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care
This collection of seven articles includes three articles based on the development of the ‘Learning with Care’ training materials.
This diverse collection of eight articles on residential child care includes an account of the first 25 years of Who Cares? Scotland.
This joint response was developed in collaboration with partners including Barnardo’s Scotland, Befriending Networks, Children In Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, Staf, Who Cares? Scotland and YouthLink Scotland. Together, we consider how loneliness and social isolation impact on children and young people with care experience, and what can be done to address these issues.
A response to the Education and Skills Committee inquiry into the attainment and achievement of school aged children experiencing poverty.
Written by Judy Furnivall from CELCIS it examines the research and literature about self harm and suicide.
Explores the information sharing duties set out in the legislation and considers implications on the rights of children and young people.
Jenny Malloy from Hackney Child Consultancy - 'You said you cared' at SIRCC 2013.
Making Connections - Film highlights of what interested and engaged the delegates at our SIRCC Conference.
Dr Larry Brendtro from Reclaiming Youth talks about deep brain research
E-learning resource for professionals working with people who may become pregnant, expectant parents and new parents.