Fiona Duncan and Fraser McKinlay to give evidence on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Service Planning) (Scotland) Bill

On Wednesday September 10, our Chief Executive Fraser McKinlay and Fiona Duncan, the Independent Strategic Advisor to the promise, will be sharing our views on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Service Planning) (Scotland) Bill.

This follows on from our submission to the Committee’s call for evidence last month. 

In that, we called for:  

• MSPs to support the principles of the Bill at this stage.

• The Scottish Government and all political parties to commit to progressing further legislation relating to the promise in the next Parliamentary term. 

At this evidence session, Fraser and Fiona will speak about why both these asks are important, as well as going into more detail on some of the key elements of our response to the committee, which highlighted that: 

• Changes to legislation around the ‘care system’ in Scotland must be rooted in – and aligned with – the conclusions of the Independent Care Review.

• This legislation must avoid incentivising the system in a way that negatively impacts children, families and care experienced adults, who will feel its impacts most acutely.

• It is critical that a collaborative approach is taken now that the Bill process is underway— to ensure the voices of children, families, care experienced adults and members of the workforce are heard and their views are taken into account, so that strong and effective legislation can be developed. 

• The provisions in the Bill must be fully resourced, so that children, families and care experienced adults feel the benefits of the changes. There must be a clear understanding of how the changes will be aligned with other significant aspects of the promise where change is also underway, such as the implementation of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024.

• There are amendments we think should be made— around early help and support, Family Group Decision Making and the ‘right to return’ to care, and ensuring that the inquisitorial approach outlined by the Hearings System Working Group is set out in primary legislation.

The sessions will also include evidence from Sheriff David Mackie, Claire Burns (CELCIS), Clan Childlaw, Kate Thompson (Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland) and Maria Galli (Law Society of Scotland). 

You can watch both evidence sessions here on Wednesday 10 September.