Care Inspectorate: Developing promise assurance inspections

Since the promise was made, the Care Inspectorate have been thinking creatively about how scrutiny and inspection can help in keeping the promise.

To do this, they are working towards the Plan 24-30 outcome of:

Scrutiny is supportive, reflective and developmental. Inspection and regulation promote continuous improvement, upholds relational practice, and values care over compliance.”

The Care Inspectorate’s corporate plan 22-25 also reflected:

We will enable the voices of those experiencing care to be listened to and heard, and support them across all sectors.

Combined, these commitments inspired the Care Inspectorate to create a new approach to inspection, in a way that not only reflects the principles of the promise but actively brings them to life through effective scrutiny.

They knew they needed to hear from young people more often, in ways that felt meaningful and authentic, and which reflected their views, experience and journey.

This has led them to create the promise assurance inspections, which aim to develop the Care Inspectorate’s relationship with the young people in the services they inspect, creating more meaningful opportunities, more often, to hear about their experiences. By carrying out more proportionate, frequent inspections, they aim to become familiar faces young people recognise and feel comfortable talking to.

Launching the pilot: What the Care Inspectorate set out to do

Lauren Cameron, Team Manager in the Care Inspectorate’s children and young people regulatory team, explains:

Between September and November 2025, we piloted the new approach with four inspectors. We focused on better performing services graded 5(very good) or 6(excellent), with a focus on speaking with young people, a more proportionate approach to core assurances and no regrading. This then supported us to assess how services met the key promise foundations which uphold and promote children and young people’s rights and publicly report on them.

The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Inspectors told us:

‘The kids were so involved and they were asking for the ‘results’.

'I felt taking the need for grading away allowed for a more genuine focus on day-to-day life and outcomes for young people'.

Providers felt the difference too, from our survey responses collated in December 2025— 100% of respondents felt that the inspection focussed on the voice of the children and young people and their experiences of the service. They also told us:

'It felt non‑invasive with minimal disruption, but you still saw real life and how we respond.'

'The kids said they liked speaking to you— we’d welcome you anytime.'

'We also felt that the inspection was very relational.'

'This felt like it was more about understanding the culture of the service. Yes, paperwork was looked at, but seemed to be more focused on everybody's opportunity to have their voices heard.'

We also acknowledged the importance of seeking the views of young people on the inspection. This is an area which will we continue to develop, so this can be done in a meaningful way which is led by young people.

Extending the pilot: Developing the promise assurance inspection

Based on this encouraging feedback, the pilot was extended across the whole Children and Young People regulatory team from November 2025 until March 2026. The Care Inspectorate also began a small extended pilot which focused on services graded 4 (good) with low risks.

This approach also supports Section 26A of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 relating to continuing care and recognising young people are staying in their home for longer.

Lauren contributed to the design and testing, as well as co-ordinating the pilot groups of inspectors, to guide and further develop the promise assurance inspection. She said:

Our new inspection model allows us to follow their journey, celebrating their growth, achievements and reflections over time.

This will also further strengthen our partnership working with services in our shared goal of meeting the expectations of the promise. The inspection will clearly identify positive outcomes which are being achieved and report against voice, care and people, three of the key foundations of the promise.

Equally important is our role in supporting improvement. More frequent, proportionate scrutiny means we can identify potential improvements before they affect outcomes. With a more proportionate approach it will also give us more capacity to support improvement in services which need it the most.

Looking Ahead: Developing the promise assurance inspection model

The promise assurance inspection model has already shown its potential to create richer conversations, more authentic insights, and a more proportionate approach to scrutiny. Its relational approach is ensuring young people’s voice is at the heart of inspection, ensuring they are cared for in a loving, stable home with a compassionate and skilled staff team.

Lauren added:

We will continue to review, evaluate and reflect on this approach to strive to ensure that scrutiny and improvement, is focused on listening to the views of young people.

I am passionate about creating experiences which are relational and have the children’s voice at the heart of what we do.

As we approach the start of the next inspection year, I am hopeful and excited about the increased opportunity we will have to see more young people, and listen to what really matters to them.”

More information on promise assurance inspections can be found on The Care Inspectorate’s website.