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.
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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.
Michelle McCue blogs about the 2015 SIRCC conference and its focus on how residential child care is changing.
Vicki Welch blogs on the good and bad of integrating services.
Attend, encourage and enjoy to learn - a blog by Graham Connelly
Jennifer Davidson blogs about her mission to change the world for the better.
Leaving care too early. Kenny McGhee blogs on the problems facing care leavers in Scotland.
In this blog Liz Brabender discusses how CELCIS tackles drift and delay in permanency.
A blog by Linda O'Neill discussing what children had to say in the recent Rees Centre report
Ainsley Hainey blogs about the success of the Massive Open Online Course on Caring for Vulnerable Children.
Lizzie Morton blogs on how Corporate Parents are taking ownership of their new duties.
Kenny McGhee reflects on the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant, six months after the launch.
Kenny McGhee talks about his research into implementing Staying Put for care leavers.
Linda O'Neill tells the story behind the recent education statistics.
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.
Why permanence matters for looked after children, and why we must share our passion to improve.
Jennifer Davidson blogs about what 2016 has meant for the children’s sector and what the year ahead will bring.
We are now moving towards a professionalism that is defined by passion and commitment expressed through the transparent and responsible use of relationships.
Norma Brown of Falkirk Council describes their Moneywise project and the difference it's making to the lives of care leavers in the area.
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.
What does relational based practice look like in reality, for a busy statutory team?
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.
Charlie Gracie tells of a new creative writing comp for looked after children
Course moderator Sarah Hume-Anthony gives a snapshot of the interactions on the CELCIS MOOC.
Dr Graham Connelly discusses the use of acronyms when talking about looked after children and children in care.
Active Implementation - what it is, what it is not, and how it could help bring about lasting change to children's services.
How the Student Support Review Group is trying to ensure care experienced students have a fair standard of living.
Introducing issue 12 of REACH, which explores stigma, language, perception and the representation of care and care experience.
Amanda Lawler explains why CELCIS really cares about training and learning.
Stephanie is a Modern Apprentice at CELCIS, and here she talks about landing her first ‘real’ job at only 16.
The importance for children in residential care to develop the ability to navigate friendships with each other.
The difficult issue of self-harm in residential care, exploring the experiences of young people and the support workers need to help.
Gordon Main talks about how commitment in the care system is not enough.
Jillian Ingram ponders how getting a train from A to B might just offer clues to how to meet children’s needs.
Gordon Main continues the conversation on commitment, discussing the emotional investment of foster carers.
Claire Burns introduces the evidence into practice theme of the new issue of our REACH publication.
This blog post explores the findings of a recent briefing from CELCIS about going to university from 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.
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.
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.
This article was first published by TES on the support teachers can offer unaccompanied and separated children.
Guest Joe Rankin of the Nevis Group discusses the need to stamp out stigma for those with care experience.
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.
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
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.
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.
First published by Citizens Theatre, 30 January 2020.
How the Care Experienced Bursary is making a difference in the lives of care experienced young people.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Claire Burns, Director (Acting), CELCIS – Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection discusses how COVID-19 has exacerbated inequalities in society.
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.
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
In this blog post for Kinship Care Week 2026, Melanie Bridges, Improving Care Experiences Consultant at CELCIS, reflects on the…
CELCIS has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee to share our concerns regarding…
This is CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government's consultation on a working draft Vision for Kinship Care in Scotland. The…
In this blog post for Care Day 2026, Craig McCreadie, Participation Practice Lead at CELCIS, reflects on his passion for…
In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, reflects on his visit to a Family Centre in…
This report presents the findings of a pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint…
This Action Plan sets out the actions, milestones and timeframes for activity to implement Rights Respect and Recovery –…
This document sets out the partnership arrangements needed to reduce the use
of and harms from alcohol and drugs. It aims to…
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.
Scotland’s National Vision for Kinship Care, outlining the support kinship families can expect, has been published today (12 March) by the Scottish Government.
In this blog post for Kinship Care Week 2026, Melanie Bridges, Improving Care Experiences Consultant at CELCIS, reflects on the devoted care of kinship families and the need to ensure these families have the right support at the right times to meet their needs.
In February 2026, we welcome Professor Rose Griffiths, Professor of Education at the University of Leicester, to explore why some children and young people with care experience may find mathematics challenging, and how this can have a significant impact on their educational outcomes and life chances. Professor Griffiths presented case study research exploring the numeracy experiences of primary-aged children with care experience. The session highlighted the factors affecting learning, the role of adults in providing effective support, and the importance of assessment, high-quality teaching and trusted relationships in rebuilding confidence and engagement with mathematics.
Across the world, children and young people are exposed to AI-powered tools every day. Some of this is by choice, some by design. How might this be affecting the health and wellbeing of young people? Could using chatbots help or hinder how our children develop and navigate the world we live in? What does their interaction with these technologies and tools tell us about what they need, and can these be used safely?
With AI increasingly present in the daily lives of children and young people, as part of our webinar series focusing in on AI and children’s social care, we’re turning to consider what it is that those with a professional and personal interest in their care and protection need to understand about the impact and influence that the use of AI might be having in young lives.
On 23 April, we’re bringing together new practice and research insight to put a specific spotlight on these questions.
CELCIS has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee to share our concerns regarding the amount and range of amendments agreed to at Stage 2 of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
This Bill seeks to make changes to the legislation concerning the care of children in Scotland and the provision and planning of children’s services.
At Stage 2, the Bill was revised in accordance with a number of amendments to its drafting that were considered by the Committee. As at the end of February 2026, the Bill is at the end of Stage 2. The Bill will be further considered and voted upon by all MSPs at Stage 3.
The Scottish Government has announced (25 February) the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into group based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in Scotland. The announcement was made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, alongside confirmation that Professor Alexis Jay CBE has agreed to chair the inquiry.
The inquiry will focus on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland now and in the recent past. It will draw on survivors’ experiences; the findings of the independent National Review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland, led jointly by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate; and work being carried out by Police Scotland to review previous cases of group-related child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland.
The new inquiry will be distinct from the Scottish Child AbuRese Inquiry (SCAI), chaired by Lady Smith. The Scottish Government has said it will ensure the new inquiry does not duplicate the work of the SCAI.
The detailed terms of reference for the new inquiry will be developed with input from Professor Jay.
In addition to the public inquiry, the Scottish Government has announced its intention to establish a Scottish Truth Project. The project will operate alongside, but separately from, the statutory inquiry, offering a supportive way for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation to share their experiences safely, shape future improvements and access appropriate support.
John O’Brien, who led the Truth Project which formed part of the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, will lead the Scottish Truth Project.
This is CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government's consultation on a working draft Vision for Kinship Care in Scotland. The consultation was intended to form the basis for wider engagement, with the vision to be revised following analysis of consultation responses.
In this blog post for Care Day 2026, Craig McCreadie, Participation Practice Lead at CELCIS, reflects on his passion for supporting people with care experience and creating spaces for people to take part and have important conversations.
For this webinar, What are the impacts of using AI transcription tools in social care? We explored the experience of using AI tools in note-taking, transcribing meetings, summarising actions for practice, and the wider impacts this has on care.
We heard about the frontline application of these tools in social care practice and insight from some new research into the considerations being made by social workers and local authorities in the UK about how and when to use these.
For this webinar we explored the experience what is known about how AI is already being used in decision-making in responding to the care and protection needs of children.
We heard about examples from across the world of where systems using AI have been built, the safeguards considered and put in place, how these have been working, and what we can learn from these international case studies.
The Scottish Government has announced (5 February) that £9.5 million will be allocated in 2026-27 to projects across Scotland aimed at supporting the education and wellbeing of care experienced children and young people.
In our 'Sharing the learning from whole family support work' webinar, we explore how services across Scotland are using data and learning to improve support and outcomes for children, young people and their families. Grounded in the Scottish Government’s Routemap and National Principles of Holistic Whole Family Support, the session focuses on understanding needs, access, whole-system working and workforce culture. Bringing together learning from collaborative partnerships in East Lothian and Glasgow, the webinar shares how data has been used to understand local systems, work with communities, build learning systems, and inform practical action to better support children and families.
To begin this new Emerging Insight Series of free, online webinars, we set the scene and considered what AI might mean for children’s social care in particular, by
- exploring some of the fundamental questions and potential opportunities and challenges of how AI is being used in practice,
and, in responding to the care and protection needs of children and young people, and supporting their families,
- looking at what is beginning to be understood about the influences and impacts of AI in children’s and young people’s lives.
This CPD accredited session with SCALE and SCIE provided an opportunity to think through some of the ethical and practice considerations involved including what does this mean for relationship-based practice, how the human inputs into AI affect the outputs, and how AI could complement practice.
In this webinar, we explore what the use of AI means for ethically grounded, relationship-based social care practice. We’ll consider how AI can sit alongside critical thinking, and examine the implications, challenges and opportunities for social work practice and supervision.
In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, reflects on his visit to a Family Centre in Sweden, on what he believes are key ingredients for successful holistic family support, and how he hopes co-located family support services will be introduced into more local communities.
The Scottish Government has announced (13 January) an independent review of children’s care legislation in Scotland, which will be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland and CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation on the future of Scotland’s secure accommodation and secure care transport standards (8 January).
Plans designed to reverse the decline in foster carer households in England have been announced (30 December) by the UK Government following figures, published by regulator Ofsted, that showed a 10% decline from 2021 to 2025.
A consultation on potential reform to various aspects of family law has been announced by the Scottish Government (29 December), including whether legislation should be introduced to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18.
A new package of measures to improve support for care experienced children and young people, including free access to paid-for healthcare services, has been announced (23 December) by the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
A working draft of a vision for kinship care in Scotland has been published (22 December) by the Scottish Government and is now open for public consultation.
The Promise Scotland has (19 December) published updates to ‘Plan 24-30 route maps’ which outline how Scotland intends to keep The Promise of the Independent Care Review by 2030.
This report presents the findings of a pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, to develop a more effective and rights-based approach to identifying and recording disability in children.
A pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, has developed a new and more effective way of identifying and recording disability in children across Scotland.
Scotland’s National Vision for Kinship Care, outlining the support kinship families can expect, has been published today (12 March) by the Scottish Government.
In this blog post for Kinship Care Week 2026, Melanie Bridges, Improving Care Experiences Consultant at CELCIS, reflects on the devoted care of kinship families and the need to ensure these families have the right support at the right times to meet their needs.
In February 2026, we welcome Professor Rose Griffiths, Professor of Education at the University of Leicester, to explore why some children and young people with care experience may find mathematics challenging, and how this can have a significant impact on their educational outcomes and life chances. Professor Griffiths presented case study research exploring the numeracy experiences of primary-aged children with care experience. The session highlighted the factors affecting learning, the role of adults in providing effective support, and the importance of assessment, high-quality teaching and trusted relationships in rebuilding confidence and engagement with mathematics.
Across the world, children and young people are exposed to AI-powered tools every day. Some of this is by choice, some by design. How might this be affecting the health and wellbeing of young people? Could using chatbots help or hinder how our children develop and navigate the world we live in? What does their interaction with these technologies and tools tell us about what they need, and can these be used safely?
With AI increasingly present in the daily lives of children and young people, as part of our webinar series focusing in on AI and children’s social care, we’re turning to consider what it is that those with a professional and personal interest in their care and protection need to understand about the impact and influence that the use of AI might be having in young lives.
On 23 April, we’re bringing together new practice and research insight to put a specific spotlight on these questions.
CELCIS has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee to share our concerns regarding the amount and range of amendments agreed to at Stage 2 of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
This Bill seeks to make changes to the legislation concerning the care of children in Scotland and the provision and planning of children’s services.
At Stage 2, the Bill was revised in accordance with a number of amendments to its drafting that were considered by the Committee. As at the end of February 2026, the Bill is at the end of Stage 2. The Bill will be further considered and voted upon by all MSPs at Stage 3.
The Scottish Government has announced (25 February) the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into group based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in Scotland. The announcement was made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, alongside confirmation that Professor Alexis Jay CBE has agreed to chair the inquiry.
The inquiry will focus on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland now and in the recent past. It will draw on survivors’ experiences; the findings of the independent National Review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland, led jointly by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate; and work being carried out by Police Scotland to review previous cases of group-related child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland.
The new inquiry will be distinct from the Scottish Child AbuRese Inquiry (SCAI), chaired by Lady Smith. The Scottish Government has said it will ensure the new inquiry does not duplicate the work of the SCAI.
The detailed terms of reference for the new inquiry will be developed with input from Professor Jay.
In addition to the public inquiry, the Scottish Government has announced its intention to establish a Scottish Truth Project. The project will operate alongside, but separately from, the statutory inquiry, offering a supportive way for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation to share their experiences safely, shape future improvements and access appropriate support.
John O’Brien, who led the Truth Project which formed part of the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, will lead the Scottish Truth Project.
This is CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government's consultation on a working draft Vision for Kinship Care in Scotland. The consultation was intended to form the basis for wider engagement, with the vision to be revised following analysis of consultation responses.
In this blog post for Care Day 2026, Craig McCreadie, Participation Practice Lead at CELCIS, reflects on his passion for supporting people with care experience and creating spaces for people to take part and have important conversations.
For this webinar, What are the impacts of using AI transcription tools in social care? We explored the experience of using AI tools in note-taking, transcribing meetings, summarising actions for practice, and the wider impacts this has on care.
We heard about the frontline application of these tools in social care practice and insight from some new research into the considerations being made by social workers and local authorities in the UK about how and when to use these.
For this webinar we explored the experience what is known about how AI is already being used in decision-making in responding to the care and protection needs of children.
We heard about examples from across the world of where systems using AI have been built, the safeguards considered and put in place, how these have been working, and what we can learn from these international case studies.
The Scottish Government has announced (5 February) that £9.5 million will be allocated in 2026-27 to projects across Scotland aimed at supporting the education and wellbeing of care experienced children and young people.
In our 'Sharing the learning from whole family support work' webinar, we explore how services across Scotland are using data and learning to improve support and outcomes for children, young people and their families. Grounded in the Scottish Government’s Routemap and National Principles of Holistic Whole Family Support, the session focuses on understanding needs, access, whole-system working and workforce culture. Bringing together learning from collaborative partnerships in East Lothian and Glasgow, the webinar shares how data has been used to understand local systems, work with communities, build learning systems, and inform practical action to better support children and families.
To begin this new Emerging Insight Series of free, online webinars, we set the scene and considered what AI might mean for children’s social care in particular, by
- exploring some of the fundamental questions and potential opportunities and challenges of how AI is being used in practice,
and, in responding to the care and protection needs of children and young people, and supporting their families,
- looking at what is beginning to be understood about the influences and impacts of AI in children’s and young people’s lives.
This CPD accredited session with SCALE and SCIE provided an opportunity to think through some of the ethical and practice considerations involved including what does this mean for relationship-based practice, how the human inputs into AI affect the outputs, and how AI could complement practice.
In this webinar, we explore what the use of AI means for ethically grounded, relationship-based social care practice. We’ll consider how AI can sit alongside critical thinking, and examine the implications, challenges and opportunities for social work practice and supervision.
In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, reflects on his visit to a Family Centre in Sweden, on what he believes are key ingredients for successful holistic family support, and how he hopes co-located family support services will be introduced into more local communities.
The Scottish Government has announced (13 January) an independent review of children’s care legislation in Scotland, which will be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland and CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation on the future of Scotland’s secure accommodation and secure care transport standards (8 January).
Plans designed to reverse the decline in foster carer households in England have been announced (30 December) by the UK Government following figures, published by regulator Ofsted, that showed a 10% decline from 2021 to 2025.
A consultation on potential reform to various aspects of family law has been announced by the Scottish Government (29 December), including whether legislation should be introduced to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18.
A new package of measures to improve support for care experienced children and young people, including free access to paid-for healthcare services, has been announced (23 December) by the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
A working draft of a vision for kinship care in Scotland has been published (22 December) by the Scottish Government and is now open for public consultation.
The Promise Scotland has (19 December) published updates to ‘Plan 24-30 route maps’ which outline how Scotland intends to keep The Promise of the Independent Care Review by 2030.
This report presents the findings of a pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, to develop a more effective and rights-based approach to identifying and recording disability in children.
A pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, has developed a new and more effective way of identifying and recording disability in children across Scotland.
Scotland’s National Vision for Kinship Care, outlining the support kinship families can expect, has been published today (12 March) by the Scottish Government.
In this blog post for Kinship Care Week 2026, Melanie Bridges, Improving Care Experiences Consultant at CELCIS, reflects on the devoted care of kinship families and the need to ensure these families have the right support at the right times to meet their needs.
In February 2026, we welcome Professor Rose Griffiths, Professor of Education at the University of Leicester, to explore why some children and young people with care experience may find mathematics challenging, and how this can have a significant impact on their educational outcomes and life chances. Professor Griffiths presented case study research exploring the numeracy experiences of primary-aged children with care experience. The session highlighted the factors affecting learning, the role of adults in providing effective support, and the importance of assessment, high-quality teaching and trusted relationships in rebuilding confidence and engagement with mathematics.
Across the world, children and young people are exposed to AI-powered tools every day. Some of this is by choice, some by design. How might this be affecting the health and wellbeing of young people? Could using chatbots help or hinder how our children develop and navigate the world we live in? What does their interaction with these technologies and tools tell us about what they need, and can these be used safely?
With AI increasingly present in the daily lives of children and young people, as part of our webinar series focusing in on AI and children’s social care, we’re turning to consider what it is that those with a professional and personal interest in their care and protection need to understand about the impact and influence that the use of AI might be having in young lives.
On 23 April, we’re bringing together new practice and research insight to put a specific spotlight on these questions.
CELCIS has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee to share our concerns regarding the amount and range of amendments agreed to at Stage 2 of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
This Bill seeks to make changes to the legislation concerning the care of children in Scotland and the provision and planning of children’s services.
At Stage 2, the Bill was revised in accordance with a number of amendments to its drafting that were considered by the Committee. As at the end of February 2026, the Bill is at the end of Stage 2. The Bill will be further considered and voted upon by all MSPs at Stage 3.
The Scottish Government has announced (25 February) the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into group based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in Scotland. The announcement was made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, alongside confirmation that Professor Alexis Jay CBE has agreed to chair the inquiry.
The inquiry will focus on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland now and in the recent past. It will draw on survivors’ experiences; the findings of the independent National Review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland, led jointly by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate; and work being carried out by Police Scotland to review previous cases of group-related child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland.
The new inquiry will be distinct from the Scottish Child AbuRese Inquiry (SCAI), chaired by Lady Smith. The Scottish Government has said it will ensure the new inquiry does not duplicate the work of the SCAI.
The detailed terms of reference for the new inquiry will be developed with input from Professor Jay.
In addition to the public inquiry, the Scottish Government has announced its intention to establish a Scottish Truth Project. The project will operate alongside, but separately from, the statutory inquiry, offering a supportive way for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation to share their experiences safely, shape future improvements and access appropriate support.
John O’Brien, who led the Truth Project which formed part of the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, will lead the Scottish Truth Project.
This is CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government's consultation on a working draft Vision for Kinship Care in Scotland. The consultation was intended to form the basis for wider engagement, with the vision to be revised following analysis of consultation responses.
In this blog post for Care Day 2026, Craig McCreadie, Participation Practice Lead at CELCIS, reflects on his passion for supporting people with care experience and creating spaces for people to take part and have important conversations.
For this webinar, What are the impacts of using AI transcription tools in social care? We explored the experience of using AI tools in note-taking, transcribing meetings, summarising actions for practice, and the wider impacts this has on care.
We heard about the frontline application of these tools in social care practice and insight from some new research into the considerations being made by social workers and local authorities in the UK about how and when to use these.
For this webinar we explored the experience what is known about how AI is already being used in decision-making in responding to the care and protection needs of children.
We heard about examples from across the world of where systems using AI have been built, the safeguards considered and put in place, how these have been working, and what we can learn from these international case studies.
The Scottish Government has announced (5 February) that £9.5 million will be allocated in 2026-27 to projects across Scotland aimed at supporting the education and wellbeing of care experienced children and young people.
In our 'Sharing the learning from whole family support work' webinar, we explore how services across Scotland are using data and learning to improve support and outcomes for children, young people and their families. Grounded in the Scottish Government’s Routemap and National Principles of Holistic Whole Family Support, the session focuses on understanding needs, access, whole-system working and workforce culture. Bringing together learning from collaborative partnerships in East Lothian and Glasgow, the webinar shares how data has been used to understand local systems, work with communities, build learning systems, and inform practical action to better support children and families.
To begin this new Emerging Insight Series of free, online webinars, we set the scene and considered what AI might mean for children’s social care in particular, by
- exploring some of the fundamental questions and potential opportunities and challenges of how AI is being used in practice,
and, in responding to the care and protection needs of children and young people, and supporting their families,
- looking at what is beginning to be understood about the influences and impacts of AI in children’s and young people’s lives.
This CPD accredited session with SCALE and SCIE provided an opportunity to think through some of the ethical and practice considerations involved including what does this mean for relationship-based practice, how the human inputs into AI affect the outputs, and how AI could complement practice.
In this webinar, we explore what the use of AI means for ethically grounded, relationship-based social care practice. We’ll consider how AI can sit alongside critical thinking, and examine the implications, challenges and opportunities for social work practice and supervision.
In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, reflects on his visit to a Family Centre in Sweden, on what he believes are key ingredients for successful holistic family support, and how he hopes co-located family support services will be introduced into more local communities.
The Scottish Government has announced (13 January) an independent review of children’s care legislation in Scotland, which will be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland and CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation on the future of Scotland’s secure accommodation and secure care transport standards (8 January).
Plans designed to reverse the decline in foster carer households in England have been announced (30 December) by the UK Government following figures, published by regulator Ofsted, that showed a 10% decline from 2021 to 2025.
A consultation on potential reform to various aspects of family law has been announced by the Scottish Government (29 December), including whether legislation should be introduced to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18.
A new package of measures to improve support for care experienced children and young people, including free access to paid-for healthcare services, has been announced (23 December) by the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
A working draft of a vision for kinship care in Scotland has been published (22 December) by the Scottish Government and is now open for public consultation.
The Promise Scotland has (19 December) published updates to ‘Plan 24-30 route maps’ which outline how Scotland intends to keep The Promise of the Independent Care Review by 2030.
This report presents the findings of a pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, to develop a more effective and rights-based approach to identifying and recording disability in children.
A pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, has developed a new and more effective way of identifying and recording disability in children across Scotland.
Scotland’s National Vision for Kinship Care, outlining the support kinship families can expect, has been published today (12 March) by the Scottish Government.
In this blog post for Kinship Care Week 2026, Melanie Bridges, Improving Care Experiences Consultant at CELCIS, reflects on the devoted care of kinship families and the need to ensure these families have the right support at the right times to meet their needs.
In February 2026, we welcome Professor Rose Griffiths, Professor of Education at the University of Leicester, to explore why some children and young people with care experience may find mathematics challenging, and how this can have a significant impact on their educational outcomes and life chances. Professor Griffiths presented case study research exploring the numeracy experiences of primary-aged children with care experience. The session highlighted the factors affecting learning, the role of adults in providing effective support, and the importance of assessment, high-quality teaching and trusted relationships in rebuilding confidence and engagement with mathematics.
Across the world, children and young people are exposed to AI-powered tools every day. Some of this is by choice, some by design. How might this be affecting the health and wellbeing of young people? Could using chatbots help or hinder how our children develop and navigate the world we live in? What does their interaction with these technologies and tools tell us about what they need, and can these be used safely?
With AI increasingly present in the daily lives of children and young people, as part of our webinar series focusing in on AI and children’s social care, we’re turning to consider what it is that those with a professional and personal interest in their care and protection need to understand about the impact and influence that the use of AI might be having in young lives.
On 23 April, we’re bringing together new practice and research insight to put a specific spotlight on these questions.
CELCIS has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee to share our concerns regarding the amount and range of amendments agreed to at Stage 2 of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
This Bill seeks to make changes to the legislation concerning the care of children in Scotland and the provision and planning of children’s services.
At Stage 2, the Bill was revised in accordance with a number of amendments to its drafting that were considered by the Committee. As at the end of February 2026, the Bill is at the end of Stage 2. The Bill will be further considered and voted upon by all MSPs at Stage 3.
The Scottish Government has announced (25 February) the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into group based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in Scotland. The announcement was made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, alongside confirmation that Professor Alexis Jay CBE has agreed to chair the inquiry.
The inquiry will focus on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland now and in the recent past. It will draw on survivors’ experiences; the findings of the independent National Review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland, led jointly by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate; and work being carried out by Police Scotland to review previous cases of group-related child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland.
The new inquiry will be distinct from the Scottish Child AbuRese Inquiry (SCAI), chaired by Lady Smith. The Scottish Government has said it will ensure the new inquiry does not duplicate the work of the SCAI.
The detailed terms of reference for the new inquiry will be developed with input from Professor Jay.
In addition to the public inquiry, the Scottish Government has announced its intention to establish a Scottish Truth Project. The project will operate alongside, but separately from, the statutory inquiry, offering a supportive way for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation to share their experiences safely, shape future improvements and access appropriate support.
John O’Brien, who led the Truth Project which formed part of the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, will lead the Scottish Truth Project.
This is CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government's consultation on a working draft Vision for Kinship Care in Scotland. The consultation was intended to form the basis for wider engagement, with the vision to be revised following analysis of consultation responses.
In this blog post for Care Day 2026, Craig McCreadie, Participation Practice Lead at CELCIS, reflects on his passion for supporting people with care experience and creating spaces for people to take part and have important conversations.
For this webinar, What are the impacts of using AI transcription tools in social care? We explored the experience of using AI tools in note-taking, transcribing meetings, summarising actions for practice, and the wider impacts this has on care.
We heard about the frontline application of these tools in social care practice and insight from some new research into the considerations being made by social workers and local authorities in the UK about how and when to use these.
For this webinar we explored the experience what is known about how AI is already being used in decision-making in responding to the care and protection needs of children.
We heard about examples from across the world of where systems using AI have been built, the safeguards considered and put in place, how these have been working, and what we can learn from these international case studies.
The Scottish Government has announced (5 February) that £9.5 million will be allocated in 2026-27 to projects across Scotland aimed at supporting the education and wellbeing of care experienced children and young people.
In our 'Sharing the learning from whole family support work' webinar, we explore how services across Scotland are using data and learning to improve support and outcomes for children, young people and their families. Grounded in the Scottish Government’s Routemap and National Principles of Holistic Whole Family Support, the session focuses on understanding needs, access, whole-system working and workforce culture. Bringing together learning from collaborative partnerships in East Lothian and Glasgow, the webinar shares how data has been used to understand local systems, work with communities, build learning systems, and inform practical action to better support children and families.
To begin this new Emerging Insight Series of free, online webinars, we set the scene and considered what AI might mean for children’s social care in particular, by
- exploring some of the fundamental questions and potential opportunities and challenges of how AI is being used in practice,
and, in responding to the care and protection needs of children and young people, and supporting their families,
- looking at what is beginning to be understood about the influences and impacts of AI in children’s and young people’s lives.
This CPD accredited session with SCALE and SCIE provided an opportunity to think through some of the ethical and practice considerations involved including what does this mean for relationship-based practice, how the human inputs into AI affect the outputs, and how AI could complement practice.
In this webinar, we explore what the use of AI means for ethically grounded, relationship-based social care practice. We’ll consider how AI can sit alongside critical thinking, and examine the implications, challenges and opportunities for social work practice and supervision.
In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, reflects on his visit to a Family Centre in Sweden, on what he believes are key ingredients for successful holistic family support, and how he hopes co-located family support services will be introduced into more local communities.
The Scottish Government has announced (13 January) an independent review of children’s care legislation in Scotland, which will be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland and CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection.
The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation on the future of Scotland’s secure accommodation and secure care transport standards (8 January).
Plans designed to reverse the decline in foster carer households in England have been announced (30 December) by the UK Government following figures, published by regulator Ofsted, that showed a 10% decline from 2021 to 2025.
A consultation on potential reform to various aspects of family law has been announced by the Scottish Government (29 December), including whether legislation should be introduced to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18.
A new package of measures to improve support for care experienced children and young people, including free access to paid-for healthcare services, has been announced (23 December) by the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
A working draft of a vision for kinship care in Scotland has been published (22 December) by the Scottish Government and is now open for public consultation.
The Promise Scotland has (19 December) published updates to ‘Plan 24-30 route maps’ which outline how Scotland intends to keep The Promise of the Independent Care Review by 2030.
This report presents the findings of a pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, to develop a more effective and rights-based approach to identifying and recording disability in children.
A pioneering project led by CELCIS, in partnership with Scotland’s National Joint Investigative Interviewing Project Team, has developed a new and more effective way of identifying and recording disability in children across Scotland.