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Throughout the last five years, Scotland’s local authorities have been working to drive local change.

Some examples of this change are gathered below. They’ve been arranged by theme.

The Promise Scotland: Highlighting local change

The Promise Scotland runs regular learning events which highlight local change which is working to help keep the promise.

These events help the workforce see examples of what’s working well, and to think about how they might apply these in their local context.


What are some major signs of progress locally?

Glasgow City: Reduction in children coming into care

Reform of the care system for children and young people in Glasgow City has led to a substantial reduction in the number of children coming into care.

This has happened through shifting money towards early help and support , and towards prevention. By doing this, families have been supported to stay together and care for their children.

As of February 2024, the number of reported “looked after and accommodated children” in the city reduced from 1413 in January 2016 to 617— a reduction of 56%.

Stirling: Significant reduction in residential care

Stirling is continuing transformation of care with a sustained and significant reduction in the number of children and young people who live in residential care. Now, most stay at home or with their family.

As of January 2024, Stirling only had 4 external Care and Education placements. In 2016, they had around 35.

Dundee: Feedback app for care experienced young people

In Dundee Social Work teams introduced Mind of My Own (MOMO).

This digital app empowers care experienced children and young people to provide comments in their own time on the support they receive, including in advance of their own care planning meetings. In this way, their voice informs decisions.

Moray: Care experienced young people involved in decision making

In Moray, The Champions’ Board have been involved in co-producing services, and in decision making which takes place within them.

They’ve taken a lead role in commissioning the local authority’s residential children’s house, with their views contributing 25% to the marking.

Renfrewshire: Creating a Promise Keeper network

Renfrewshire has created a Promise Keeper network, which has grown to over 300 people including:

  • council colleagues
  • elected members
  • partner organisations
  • third-sector volunteers
  • local foster carers.

Promise Keepers act as local champions. They help to educate people about the promise, and to improve services for care experienced people.

By doing this, they help make sure the recommendations of the Independent Care Review remain at the forefront of service design and delivery.

Edinburgh: Creating a Corporate Parenting Hub

Edinburgh has opened a Corporate Parenting Hub, based on Leith Street in Edinburgh. This space acts as a community space for the care experienced community.

Aberdeen: Creating Hubs for early and preventative support

The Fit Like Hub is a multi-disciplinary service established in 2022. It’s both rights-based and family first— and aims to help make sure families can access early and preventative support. Fit Like Hubs have now supported over 1000 families.

Highland: New ways to support families and prevent crisis intervention

Highland has introduced Family Group Decision-Making and the Whole Family Well-being Programme to support families and prevent crisis intervention.

North Ayrshire: Considering the role of male caregivers

North Ayrshire has partnered with national charity Dads Rock to employ a Dads Support Worker.

This helps them to consider how they can better consider the role of dads and other male caregivers to:

  • develop positive attachments with their children in the early years
  • develop relationships with their children in the early years.

Inverclyde: Developing a key partnership with the third sector

Inverclyde have a key partnership developed in February 2023 with Children First’s Family Wellbeing Services, which has improved support access to early help to 34 families.

Perth and Kinross: Families Empowering Communities

Families Empowering Communities, a project which works within 5 areas of the local authority to engage with families who are struggling.

East Renfrewshire: A year with no exclusions of care experienced children or young people

In East Renfrewshire, no care experienced children and young people were excluded in 2022/23.

North Lanarkshire: Significant reductions in exclusions

In North Lanarkshire, ongoing work with schools to end school exclusions has resulted in significant reductions in exclusions over the past three sessions.

There’s been an 88% reduction in exclusions for care experienced learners.

Fife: More access to funding for early intervention and prevention

In Fife there is more access to funding opportunities to focus on early intervention and prevention. This has led to funding for:

  • Willow Project, a CAMHS service specifically for kinship care
  • 2 additional posts within the young people’s team to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
  • senior social work practitioners based in schools.