CELCIS Blog
Our blog is a hub for perspectives and analysis of issues that matter to the lives of children, young people and their families. You will hear from our staff and guest bloggers on many topical issues where they will be reflecting and sharing their policy, practice and research insights..
Got a burning issue you would like to blog about? Then we would love to hear from you. Contact our communications team.
Read on and join in the chat...
The views expressed in the posts on this blog are those of the author/s and may not represent the views or opinions of CELCIS or our funders.
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.
Why permanence matters for looked after children, and why we must share our passion to improve.
Vicki Welch blogs on the good and bad of integrating services.
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.
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.
Ainsley Hainey blogs about the success of the Massive Open Online Course on Caring for Vulnerable Children.
How the power of storytelling is helping children in long-term foster care in North Ayrshire
Find out about upcoming events and webinars from CELCIS
Read articles on inclusion of looked after children in education Childen’s Hearings, residential child care and professional education.
Michelle McCue blogs about the 2015 SIRCC conference and its focus on how residential child care is changing.
Published September 2022: 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.
What is 'looked after'? You'll find all the info you need plus the latest statistics too.
Welcome to the Protecting Children area of the CELCIS website.
How we contribute to throughcare and aftercare policy to provide better outcomes for care leavers in Scotland.
Advice if you are worried about a child or young person.
Jennifer Davidson blogs about what 2016 has meant for the children’s sector and what the year ahead will bring.
A blog by Linda O'Neill discussing what children had to say in the recent Rees Centre report
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.
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.
In January 2026, the Scottish Government announced[SF1.1] an independent review of the Scottish legislative framework for children’s care.
The review will run from February 2026 to February 2027 and is taking place an at important moment.
First published by Citizens Theatre, 30 January 2020.
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.
In this blog Liz Brabender discusses how CELCIS tackles drift and delay in permanency.
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.
Amanda Lawler explains why CELCIS really cares about training and learning.
How the Care Experienced Bursary is making a difference in the lives of care experienced young people.
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.
Leaving care too early. Kenny McGhee blogs on the problems facing care leavers in Scotland.
Course moderator Sarah Hume-Anthony gives a snapshot of the interactions on the CELCIS MOOC.
This page has been developed to provide staff working with children and young people with information about how to identify, understand and respond appropriately to sexual behaviours in young people.
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
Claire Burns, Director (Acting), CELCIS – Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, marks the first anniversary of The Promise.
Jennifer Davidson blogs about her mission to change the world for the better.
Dr Graham Connelly discusses the use of acronyms when talking about looked after children and children in care.
Find out about CELCIS. Who we are and what we do to improve the lives of looked after children in Scotland.
The importance for children in residential care to develop the ability to navigate friendships with each other.
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.
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.
Claire Burns, Director (Acting), CELCIS – Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection discusses how COVID-19 has exacerbated inequalities in society.
Introducing issue 12 of REACH, which explores stigma, language, perception and the representation of care and care experience.
Attend, encourage and enjoy to learn - a blog by Graham Connelly
Active Implementation - what it is, what it is not, and how it could help bring about lasting change to children's services.
In this session we explored the key findings from CELCIS's mapping of the support available in Scotland during pregnancy and a baby's first few months, and the key recommendations from Nesta's Getting it right for every baby research. Bringing together practitioners, managers, local authority children’s planning partnerships, children's services workforce, and strategic leaders from across Scotland, the session considered the national and local changes needed to ensure families receive consistent, timely, joined-up support from pregnancy through the early years.
Alongside characters and values, what other factors make a great manager? What parts do professional identity, learning and development, and experience play?
Stephanie is a Modern Apprentice at CELCIS, and here she talks about landing her first ‘real’ job at only 16.
This article was first published by TES on the support teachers can offer unaccompanied and separated children.
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.
Gordon Main talks about how commitment in the care system is not enough.
Lizzie Morton blogs on how Corporate Parents are taking ownership of their new duties.
How the Student Support Review Group is trying to ensure care experienced students have a fair standard of living.
Stigma, language, perception, and representation: "Being 'in Care' is an experience not a definition"
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.
The search is on to find the image that will be used for the CELCIS Christmas Card this year!
Blog
Year: 2015
Topic: Foster care, Looked after at home, Residential care
Author: staff and guest bloggers
Topic: Foster care, Looked after at home, Residential care
Author: staff and guest bloggers
For over a decade, across the UK, the Bright Spots Programme has been supporting local authorities to listen to what their…
As newly published research from the Bright Spots programme shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing…
As newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to…
As newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to…
Newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support…
The Bright Spots Programme Scottish pilot. The views of care leavers on their wellbeing.
Reports from the Bright Spots programme Scottish pilot. The views of children in care on their wellbeing.
In the National Year of Reading 2026, and as part of Care Experienced Week in Scotland and National Care Leavers' Month in the…
Book reviews
Who Cares? Scotland 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.
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 has the ability to change the disproportionately poor outcomes of this often forgotten group of young people. It provides new rights and opportunities, ensuring the voices of care experienced children and young people are heard in any discussions or planning which affects their lives.
The views presented here are intended to help corporate parents and others involved in the implementation of the Act to get it right for every care experienced child and young person across Scotland.
For over a decade, across the UK, the Bright Spots Programme has been supporting local authorities to listen to what their children in care and young care leavers say matters to their wellbeing. As new research on the findings in Scotland is published, Dr. Claire Baker, working alongside Coram Voice, explains why and how listening is vital to making real, meaningful change
Newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them. Alexandra Bergin, Service Manager, Children & Families and Justice Social Work, at Stirling Council reflects on the experiences of taking part for everyone involved there.
As newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Scott Watson, Quality Improvement Manager, at Scottish Borders Council explains how taking part in the Bright Spots programme has shaped four new elements of the council’s approach
As newly published research from the Bright Spots programme shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Carmen Benton, Participation and Engagement Officer (care experienced young people), Aberdeen City Council, explains what a feedback loop looks like and means in action.
Published today (10 November) by CELCIS and Coram Voice, the Your Life, Your Care and Your Life Beyond Care reports bring together data and the views of 1,316 children in care between the ages of 4 and 17 and young care leavers aged 16 to 26 across the six local authority areas that piloted the Bright Spots programme for the first time in Scotland. The programme uses surveys developed with children in care and care leavers to hear directly how they feel about their lives and wellbeing.
More than two-thirds of parents with care experience have faced discrimination while raising their own children, according to new research published today (5 November) by the University of Sheffield.
The Bright Spots Programme Scottish pilot. The views of care leavers on their wellbeing.
Reports from the Bright Spots programme Scottish pilot. The views of children in care on their wellbeing.
The search is on to find the image that will be used for the CELCIS Christmas Card this year!
In the National Year of Reading 2026, and as part of Care Experienced Week in Scotland and National Care Leavers' Month in the UK, Georgia Barrow, from the Reading Heroes team at The Reader, reflects on what empowerment looks like through the lens of Shared Reading. Georgia explores how stories, relationships and the experience of feeling heard can help care experienced children build confidence, connection and a sense of possibility.
This is response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government consultation on proposed updates to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
In this blog post for Care Experienced Week, Adam Bennett, Founder and CEO of ProjectChange, shares the thinking behind his recently published opinion piece ‘Please Pass the Smoked Salmon’ which challenges assumptions about care experienced young people and argues for greater trust, autonomy and dignity in how support is provided.
With the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 now in place, CELCIS consultant with lived experience Gordon Drennan argues that listening to lived experience and resourcing the changes intended will be essential to implementing the new legislation
to come
In this session we explored the key findings from CELCIS's mapping of the support available in Scotland during pregnancy and a baby's first few months, and the key recommendations from Nesta's Getting it right for every baby research. Bringing together practitioners, managers, local authority children’s planning partnerships, children's services workforce, and strategic leaders from across Scotland, the session considered the national and local changes needed to ensure families receive consistent, timely, joined-up support from pregnancy through the early years.
In 2022 and 2024, the Bright Spots programme which uses surveys to help local authorities to directly hear from their children in care and care leavers was piloted in Scotland. Join us on the day the reports of this analysis are published by CELCIS and Coram Voice to learn what children in care and young care leavers said about their wellbeing.
Our second learning conversation focuses on workforce wellbeing and trauma-informed approaches in residential child care in Scotland and takes place online on Wednesday 28 October.
This research report from CELCIS aims to provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the support available to families in Scotland from pregnancy to age three.
Findings of new research published today (8 October) by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, for the Scottish Government, highlight the need for more consistency, coordination and better access to the range of support and services parents need during pregnancy and early infancy, and identify opportunities to improve planning and service delivery in Scotland during this critical period for children and their families.
New findings from the Challenging Justice Inequalities with Children in Conflict with the Law project have revealed the experiences of children under 18 in Scotland who encounter justice systems as a result of offending behaviour.
As a new installation on the care system in Scotland tours the nation, Nicola McCartney, lead artist on the National Theatre of Scotland’s Caring Scotland project, reflects on the importance of listening to and learning from people with care experience if The Promise of Scotland's Independent Care Review is to become a reality.
CELCIS has responded to the Education and Gaelic Committee's call for evidence on reforming the care system for looked after children in Scotland, which is part of the Committee’s for pre-budget scrutiny for 2027-2028.
What might the use of AI might mean in systems that are specifically required to respond to the needs and rights of children, young people and their families?
Children, young people and families who may need the support of children's social care navigate many legal, judicial and quasi-judicial systems that are in place to respond to these needs. Organisations working with these systems are currently considering what advances in artificial intelligence could mean for how things are done and whether AI could help improve support, services and proceedings for everyone involved in these.
In this webinar we explored AI with SCRA and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the challenges and risks involved, and what governance might be required in order for artificial intelligence to be used safely in the context of hearings and family law.
For over a decade, across the UK, the Bright Spots Programme has been supporting local authorities to listen to what their children in care and young care leavers say matters to their wellbeing. As new research on the findings in Scotland is published, Dr. Claire Baker, working alongside Coram Voice, explains why and how listening is vital to making real, meaningful change
Newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them. Alexandra Bergin, Service Manager, Children & Families and Justice Social Work, at Stirling Council reflects on the experiences of taking part for everyone involved there.
As newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Scott Watson, Quality Improvement Manager, at Scottish Borders Council explains how taking part in the Bright Spots programme has shaped four new elements of the council’s approach
As newly published research from the Bright Spots programme shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Carmen Benton, Participation and Engagement Officer (care experienced young people), Aberdeen City Council, explains what a feedback loop looks like and means in action.
Published today (10 November) by CELCIS and Coram Voice, the Your Life, Your Care and Your Life Beyond Care reports bring together data and the views of 1,316 children in care between the ages of 4 and 17 and young care leavers aged 16 to 26 across the six local authority areas that piloted the Bright Spots programme for the first time in Scotland. The programme uses surveys developed with children in care and care leavers to hear directly how they feel about their lives and wellbeing.
More than two-thirds of parents with care experience have faced discrimination while raising their own children, according to new research published today (5 November) by the University of Sheffield.
The Bright Spots Programme Scottish pilot. The views of care leavers on their wellbeing.
Reports from the Bright Spots programme Scottish pilot. The views of children in care on their wellbeing.
The search is on to find the image that will be used for the CELCIS Christmas Card this year!
In the National Year of Reading 2026, and as part of Care Experienced Week in Scotland and National Care Leavers' Month in the UK, Georgia Barrow, from the Reading Heroes team at The Reader, reflects on what empowerment looks like through the lens of Shared Reading. Georgia explores how stories, relationships and the experience of feeling heard can help care experienced children build confidence, connection and a sense of possibility.
This is response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government consultation on proposed updates to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
In this blog post for Care Experienced Week, Adam Bennett, Founder and CEO of ProjectChange, shares the thinking behind his recently published opinion piece ‘Please Pass the Smoked Salmon’ which challenges assumptions about care experienced young people and argues for greater trust, autonomy and dignity in how support is provided.
With the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 now in place, CELCIS consultant with lived experience Gordon Drennan argues that listening to lived experience and resourcing the changes intended will be essential to implementing the new legislation
to come
In this session we explored the key findings from CELCIS's mapping of the support available in Scotland during pregnancy and a baby's first few months, and the key recommendations from Nesta's Getting it right for every baby research. Bringing together practitioners, managers, local authority children’s planning partnerships, children's services workforce, and strategic leaders from across Scotland, the session considered the national and local changes needed to ensure families receive consistent, timely, joined-up support from pregnancy through the early years.
In 2022 and 2024, the Bright Spots programme which uses surveys to help local authorities to directly hear from their children in care and care leavers was piloted in Scotland. Join us on the day the reports of this analysis are published by CELCIS and Coram Voice to learn what children in care and young care leavers said about their wellbeing.
Our second learning conversation focuses on workforce wellbeing and trauma-informed approaches in residential child care in Scotland and takes place online on Wednesday 28 October.
This research report from CELCIS aims to provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the support available to families in Scotland from pregnancy to age three.
Findings of new research published today (8 October) by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, for the Scottish Government, highlight the need for more consistency, coordination and better access to the range of support and services parents need during pregnancy and early infancy, and identify opportunities to improve planning and service delivery in Scotland during this critical period for children and their families.
New findings from the Challenging Justice Inequalities with Children in Conflict with the Law project have revealed the experiences of children under 18 in Scotland who encounter justice systems as a result of offending behaviour.
As a new installation on the care system in Scotland tours the nation, Nicola McCartney, lead artist on the National Theatre of Scotland’s Caring Scotland project, reflects on the importance of listening to and learning from people with care experience if The Promise of Scotland's Independent Care Review is to become a reality.
CELCIS has responded to the Education and Gaelic Committee's call for evidence on reforming the care system for looked after children in Scotland, which is part of the Committee’s for pre-budget scrutiny for 2027-2028.
What might the use of AI might mean in systems that are specifically required to respond to the needs and rights of children, young people and their families?
Children, young people and families who may need the support of children's social care navigate many legal, judicial and quasi-judicial systems that are in place to respond to these needs. Organisations working with these systems are currently considering what advances in artificial intelligence could mean for how things are done and whether AI could help improve support, services and proceedings for everyone involved in these.
In this webinar we explored AI with SCRA and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the challenges and risks involved, and what governance might be required in order for artificial intelligence to be used safely in the context of hearings and family law.
For over a decade, across the UK, the Bright Spots Programme has been supporting local authorities to listen to what their children in care and young care leavers say matters to their wellbeing. As new research on the findings in Scotland is published, Dr. Claire Baker, working alongside Coram Voice, explains why and how listening is vital to making real, meaningful change
Newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them. Alexandra Bergin, Service Manager, Children & Families and Justice Social Work, at Stirling Council reflects on the experiences of taking part for everyone involved there.
As newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Scott Watson, Quality Improvement Manager, at Scottish Borders Council explains how taking part in the Bright Spots programme has shaped four new elements of the council’s approach
As newly published research from the Bright Spots programme shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Carmen Benton, Participation and Engagement Officer (care experienced young people), Aberdeen City Council, explains what a feedback loop looks like and means in action.
Published today (10 November) by CELCIS and Coram Voice, the Your Life, Your Care and Your Life Beyond Care reports bring together data and the views of 1,316 children in care between the ages of 4 and 17 and young care leavers aged 16 to 26 across the six local authority areas that piloted the Bright Spots programme for the first time in Scotland. The programme uses surveys developed with children in care and care leavers to hear directly how they feel about their lives and wellbeing.
More than two-thirds of parents with care experience have faced discrimination while raising their own children, according to new research published today (5 November) by the University of Sheffield.
The Bright Spots Programme Scottish pilot. The views of care leavers on their wellbeing.
Reports from the Bright Spots programme Scottish pilot. The views of children in care on their wellbeing.
The search is on to find the image that will be used for the CELCIS Christmas Card this year!
In the National Year of Reading 2026, and as part of Care Experienced Week in Scotland and National Care Leavers' Month in the UK, Georgia Barrow, from the Reading Heroes team at The Reader, reflects on what empowerment looks like through the lens of Shared Reading. Georgia explores how stories, relationships and the experience of feeling heard can help care experienced children build confidence, connection and a sense of possibility.
This is response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government consultation on proposed updates to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
In this blog post for Care Experienced Week, Adam Bennett, Founder and CEO of ProjectChange, shares the thinking behind his recently published opinion piece ‘Please Pass the Smoked Salmon’ which challenges assumptions about care experienced young people and argues for greater trust, autonomy and dignity in how support is provided.
With the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 now in place, CELCIS consultant with lived experience Gordon Drennan argues that listening to lived experience and resourcing the changes intended will be essential to implementing the new legislation
to come
In this session we explored the key findings from CELCIS's mapping of the support available in Scotland during pregnancy and a baby's first few months, and the key recommendations from Nesta's Getting it right for every baby research. Bringing together practitioners, managers, local authority children’s planning partnerships, children's services workforce, and strategic leaders from across Scotland, the session considered the national and local changes needed to ensure families receive consistent, timely, joined-up support from pregnancy through the early years.
In 2022 and 2024, the Bright Spots programme which uses surveys to help local authorities to directly hear from their children in care and care leavers was piloted in Scotland. Join us on the day the reports of this analysis are published by CELCIS and Coram Voice to learn what children in care and young care leavers said about their wellbeing.
Our second learning conversation focuses on workforce wellbeing and trauma-informed approaches in residential child care in Scotland and takes place online on Wednesday 28 October.
This research report from CELCIS aims to provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the support available to families in Scotland from pregnancy to age three.
Findings of new research published today (8 October) by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, for the Scottish Government, highlight the need for more consistency, coordination and better access to the range of support and services parents need during pregnancy and early infancy, and identify opportunities to improve planning and service delivery in Scotland during this critical period for children and their families.
New findings from the Challenging Justice Inequalities with Children in Conflict with the Law project have revealed the experiences of children under 18 in Scotland who encounter justice systems as a result of offending behaviour.
As a new installation on the care system in Scotland tours the nation, Nicola McCartney, lead artist on the National Theatre of Scotland’s Caring Scotland project, reflects on the importance of listening to and learning from people with care experience if The Promise of Scotland's Independent Care Review is to become a reality.
CELCIS has responded to the Education and Gaelic Committee's call for evidence on reforming the care system for looked after children in Scotland, which is part of the Committee’s for pre-budget scrutiny for 2027-2028.
What might the use of AI might mean in systems that are specifically required to respond to the needs and rights of children, young people and their families?
Children, young people and families who may need the support of children's social care navigate many legal, judicial and quasi-judicial systems that are in place to respond to these needs. Organisations working with these systems are currently considering what advances in artificial intelligence could mean for how things are done and whether AI could help improve support, services and proceedings for everyone involved in these.
In this webinar we explored AI with SCRA and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the challenges and risks involved, and what governance might be required in order for artificial intelligence to be used safely in the context of hearings and family law.
For over a decade, across the UK, the Bright Spots Programme has been supporting local authorities to listen to what their children in care and young care leavers say matters to their wellbeing. As new research on the findings in Scotland is published, Dr. Claire Baker, working alongside Coram Voice, explains why and how listening is vital to making real, meaningful change
Newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them. Alexandra Bergin, Service Manager, Children & Families and Justice Social Work, at Stirling Council reflects on the experiences of taking part for everyone involved there.
As newly published research shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Scott Watson, Quality Improvement Manager, at Scottish Borders Council explains how taking part in the Bright Spots programme has shaped four new elements of the council’s approach
As newly published research from the Bright Spots programme shows what matters to children in care and care leavers’ wellbeing in Scotland, and how best to support them, Carmen Benton, Participation and Engagement Officer (care experienced young people), Aberdeen City Council, explains what a feedback loop looks like and means in action.
Published today (10 November) by CELCIS and Coram Voice, the Your Life, Your Care and Your Life Beyond Care reports bring together data and the views of 1,316 children in care between the ages of 4 and 17 and young care leavers aged 16 to 26 across the six local authority areas that piloted the Bright Spots programme for the first time in Scotland. The programme uses surveys developed with children in care and care leavers to hear directly how they feel about their lives and wellbeing.
More than two-thirds of parents with care experience have faced discrimination while raising their own children, according to new research published today (5 November) by the University of Sheffield.
The Bright Spots Programme Scottish pilot. The views of care leavers on their wellbeing.
Reports from the Bright Spots programme Scottish pilot. The views of children in care on their wellbeing.
The search is on to find the image that will be used for the CELCIS Christmas Card this year!
In the National Year of Reading 2026, and as part of Care Experienced Week in Scotland and National Care Leavers' Month in the UK, Georgia Barrow, from the Reading Heroes team at The Reader, reflects on what empowerment looks like through the lens of Shared Reading. Georgia explores how stories, relationships and the experience of feeling heard can help care experienced children build confidence, connection and a sense of possibility.
This is response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government consultation on proposed updates to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
In this blog post for Care Experienced Week, Adam Bennett, Founder and CEO of ProjectChange, shares the thinking behind his recently published opinion piece ‘Please Pass the Smoked Salmon’ which challenges assumptions about care experienced young people and argues for greater trust, autonomy and dignity in how support is provided.
With the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 now in place, CELCIS consultant with lived experience Gordon Drennan argues that listening to lived experience and resourcing the changes intended will be essential to implementing the new legislation
to come
In this session we explored the key findings from CELCIS's mapping of the support available in Scotland during pregnancy and a baby's first few months, and the key recommendations from Nesta's Getting it right for every baby research. Bringing together practitioners, managers, local authority children’s planning partnerships, children's services workforce, and strategic leaders from across Scotland, the session considered the national and local changes needed to ensure families receive consistent, timely, joined-up support from pregnancy through the early years.
In 2022 and 2024, the Bright Spots programme which uses surveys to help local authorities to directly hear from their children in care and care leavers was piloted in Scotland. Join us on the day the reports of this analysis are published by CELCIS and Coram Voice to learn what children in care and young care leavers said about their wellbeing.
Our second learning conversation focuses on workforce wellbeing and trauma-informed approaches in residential child care in Scotland and takes place online on Wednesday 28 October.
This research report from CELCIS aims to provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the support available to families in Scotland from pregnancy to age three.
Findings of new research published today (8 October) by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, for the Scottish Government, highlight the need for more consistency, coordination and better access to the range of support and services parents need during pregnancy and early infancy, and identify opportunities to improve planning and service delivery in Scotland during this critical period for children and their families.
New findings from the Challenging Justice Inequalities with Children in Conflict with the Law project have revealed the experiences of children under 18 in Scotland who encounter justice systems as a result of offending behaviour.
As a new installation on the care system in Scotland tours the nation, Nicola McCartney, lead artist on the National Theatre of Scotland’s Caring Scotland project, reflects on the importance of listening to and learning from people with care experience if The Promise of Scotland's Independent Care Review is to become a reality.
CELCIS has responded to the Education and Gaelic Committee's call for evidence on reforming the care system for looked after children in Scotland, which is part of the Committee’s for pre-budget scrutiny for 2027-2028.
What might the use of AI might mean in systems that are specifically required to respond to the needs and rights of children, young people and their families?
Children, young people and families who may need the support of children's social care navigate many legal, judicial and quasi-judicial systems that are in place to respond to these needs. Organisations working with these systems are currently considering what advances in artificial intelligence could mean for how things are done and whether AI could help improve support, services and proceedings for everyone involved in these.
In this webinar we explored AI with SCRA and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the challenges and risks involved, and what governance might be required in order for artificial intelligence to be used safely in the context of hearings and family law.