A Bill that can create change, but more is needed
Our response to the Education, Children and Young People Committee’s call for views on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Service Planning) (Scotland) Bill
In June, the Scottish Government introduced the Children (Care, Care Experience and Service Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill is currently at stage one of a three stage process to decide if it becomes an Act. At this stage, the Bill has been given to the Education, Children and Young People Committee who will consider the Bill and put out a report on it. To support this, they have put out a call for views from organisations, academies, people with care experience and those providing support.
We have responded to this call for views, and believe that this Bill will make some of the necessary and significant changes in the lives of children, families and care experienced adults.
Because of this, we are encouraging MSPs to support the principles of the Bill at Stage One.
However, we do not think this Bill can be the final step taken in changing the law around the "care system". Further laws will be required to be created before 2030 to keep the promise, in particular to ‘declutter’ the landscape and create a legislative environment which is more cohesive and easier to understand for children, families, and care experienced adults. A more enabling legislative environment will also benefit the paid and unpaid workforce.
So we are also asking the Scottish Government and all political parties to commit to progressing further legislation relating to the promise in the next Parliamentary term.