The Care Review

First Minister Announcement

In October 2016, the First Minister made a commitment to figure out how Scotland could love its most vulnerable children and give them the childhood they deserve. She commissioned the Independent Care Review and, between February 2017 when Fiona Duncan was appointed as Chair, and February 2020, the Care Review worked to figure out how to keep that Promise.

The Care Review listened

The Care Review listened very carefully to those with experience of living and working in and around the ‘care system’ to properly understand what needs to change.

The Care Review heard over 5,500 experiences. Over half were children, young people and adults who had lived in care. The rest were families and the paid and unpaid workforce.

It was their stories that guided the Care Review and their experiences have shaped everything the Care Review concluded.

As well as listening carefully to what matters to children, the Care Review considered the research on the ‘care system’ and commissioned its own research to fill knowledge gaps. It reviewed all of the laws and rules, collected data, and made connections across the ‘roots and branches’ of the ‘care system’.

Orientation

The Care Review started with Orientation where a plan was developed to create a well-organised, thoughtful Care Review that children, young people and adults with care experience would want to be part of and that offered lots of choices and opportunities for them to be involved.

The work focused on finding and understanding the numbers and facts known about care experienced infants, children and young people and all the words, rules and regulations that affect them.

Organisations and charities who worked with children, young adults and families were asked by the Care Review to get involved to support the work.

Discovery

The focus of the Discovery stage was to identify a vision for Scotland’s future and map out the ‘roots and branches’ of the ‘care system’ based on how it feels to live and work in it. A Discovery Group was appointed to oversee this and their thoughtful and diligent work produced twelve intentions.  These were peer reviewed by the care community and every single one was refined and improved.

The intentions guided the work of the rest of the Care Review, the Journey.

Journey

It was clear that children could not wait for change. So from May 2018 the Stop:Go team worked closely with the people in charge of the ‘care system’ to help them change the things that were having the biggest impact on children’s lives.

Between May 2018 and December 2019 a Journey Group steered ten work groups made up of over 150 expert volunteers to look carefully into what matters most to children and had the biggest impact on their lives. In all of these groups over half of the experts knew the ‘care system’ through their personal experience.

Destination

The work of the whole Care Review culminated in the publication of 7 outputs on the 5th February 2020, the main volume of which was The Promise.

In the Scottish Parliament on the 5th February, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister and all of Scotland’s political parties pledged to #keepthepromise to Scotland’s children.

The Care Review team

The Care Review was chaired by Fiona Duncan and was supported by the Secretariat team. There is currently a transition team in place working on the bridge from the Care Review to implementation.

Fiona Duncan, Chair

fiona duncan

Fiona brought significant professional experience and expertise, passion and determination to make change happen for children and young people, and personal experience and insight of the ‘care system’ to the review.

Fiona is the CEO of the Corra Foundation – a philanthropic grant-giving organisation for people and communities experiencing disadvantage – and has over 20 years’ experience working in the voluntary sector right here in Scotland as well overseas.

As CEO of the Corra Foundation, Fiona has driven a new strategy for the organisation that includes supporting communities to drive lasting change in systems, practice and culture. She has contributed to the Foundation’s flagship Partnership Drugs Initiative, particularly in relation to its growing focus on the rights and voices of children and young people affected by substance misuse.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Fiona spent seven years at THINK Consulting Solutions, a leading international consultancy dedicated to not for profits where she had responsibility for strategic planning assignments, working mainly overseas.

From late 1999 until 2006, Fiona was at Capability Scotland, latterly as Director of External Affairs. Before Capability, Fiona was Head of Development at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and prior to that spent six years with WaterAid establishing their office for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Fiona is a regular speaker at conferences and contributor to sector journals. In 2016 she was a judge of NESTA’s New Radicals for The Observer.

The Discovery Group was made of 12 people, and half of the Group had experience of the ‘care system.’

Information correct at the time of the Discovery stage of the Care Review.

Lex Baillie, nominated by Police Scotland

lex photo

Chief Inspector Baillie leads Police Scotland’s national teams for children and young people, mental health, and missing persons.

CI Baillie joined Strathclyde Police in 1994 and began his career policing the communities of Lanarkshire, undertaking a number of diverse operational and leadership roles. By the time of the creation of Police Scotland in 2013, CI Baillie had been promoted to Inspector, with responsibility for leading several teams of response and community officers in South Lanarkshire.

In 2015, CI Baillie was promoted to Chief Inspector and has since been leading Police Scotland’s national teams for children and young people, mental health, and missing persons. CI Baillie brings his significant operational experience to the development of national policies, processes and partnerships for these areas with a strong focus on the prevention of harm. Through his portfolio, CI Baillie leads on identifying and connecting related work streams in his business areas to develop effective intra-organisational partnerships and relationships.

CI Baillie is currently overseeing the implementation of the National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland and the provisions of the Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (as well as relevant parts of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016), leading landmark improvements across policing in Scotland.

Kevin Browne, care experienced member, nominated by Who Cares? Scotland

photo kevinKevin is a University of Strathclyde graduate who has dedicated his professional career to ensuring care experienced people are understood in our society and achieve equality. He has 15 years of personal care experience, which includes being looked after at home, respite care, foster care & residential care.

In a professional capacity, Kevin is Director for care experienced membership with Who Cares? Scotland. He has overseen the delivery of innovative programmes which place care experienced people at the forefront of corporate parenting approaches. Kevin has been successful in engaging with hearts and minds, against the complex backdrop of legislation, policy and regulation. Kevin previously worked for the office of Scotland’s Commissioner for Children & Young People on a number of national children’s rights based projects; he also has substantial practice experience as an independent advocate and independent Safeguarder, which was through Ministerial Appointment.

Dr Linda de Caestecker, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

linda photoLinda is Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.  She has been in post for 10 years, having returned to post in August 2016 after a year’s leave working for the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics promoting women’s reproductive health in low-resource settings.

Linda’s clinical background is in obstetrics and gynaecology and she had a previous post seconded to the (then) Scottish Executive as Head of the Women and Children’s Unit. Her special interests are in maternal and child health and she is an honorary professor at the University of Glasgow. Linda has served on a number of national groups including the Child and Young People’s Health Support Group and was a member of the Commission on Female Offenders.

Helen Happer, nominated by Care Inspectorate

helen photoHelen qualified as a social worker from Aberdeen University in 1984 and has spent her career working for better outcomes for children and families, in central and local government and in the third sector.

She has been developing and leading programmes of inspection and support for improvement for more than 10 years and is currently Chief Inspector (strategic scrutiny) in the Care Inspectorate, Scotland’s independent body for regulation and inspection of social care services. Her responsibilities include scrutiny and assurance of social work services and multi-agency partnership working across services for children and young people, adults and older people and justice.

Dorothy Hawthorn, Renfrewshire Council, nominated by Social Work Scotland (SWS)

dorothy photoDorothy was appointed as Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice in Renfrewshire in December 2007. She is responsible for children and families and criminal justice social work services.

She trained as a social worker in Glasgow, qualifying in 1984. Dorothy went to Renfrewshire in 1988 and has worked across the authority in a variety of posts and teams. During this time she has also undertaken periods of secondment including Justice in Scottish Government and as the Chief Officer of North Strathclyde Community Justice Authority Community Justice Authority when it was first established.

Carrie Lindsay, nominated by ADES

carrie photoHaving left school at 16 Carrie returned to study and became a teacher in 1987 in Fife where she learned the importance of effective pedagogy and valuing the views of children and young people. Carrie was Headteacher in Fife before moving into a QIO post in Angus Council. On return to Fife in 2003 Carrie developed her role in Children’s Services working with schools and community planning partners to get the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Now as Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services, Carrie continues to look for better connections across Children’s Services to support children, young people and their families.

Stuart Lindsay, care experienced member, nominated by Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)

stuart photo

Stuart spent his early years in foster care in Inverness before moving to an Aberlour Trust children’s home in Keith, Moray aged 3. He then spent 10 largely positive years in residential care, before being fostered by the house parents at age 13, when the children’s home was due for closure.

Stuart’s care background eventually led to a career in social care, and he has gone on to work for Aberlour for 27 years; mostly within residential and short breaks services for children with learning disabilities. He is currently Aberlour’s Quality Improvement Officer, has a grown daughter Caitlin, and stays in Glasgow.

Dr Jim McCormick, Joseph Rowntree Foundation

jim photoJim McCormick is Associate Director for Scotland with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. He is a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee and an advisory board member of Business in the Community (BITC) Scotland.

Jim was appointed by the Social Security Minister in February 2017 as chair of the independent Disability and Carers Benefits expert advisory group. He has advised fairness/tackling poverty commissions in Renfrewshire, Fife and Perth & Kinross. He was previously Director of independent think-tank the Scottish Council Foundation (SCF). Interests include music, languages and Greenock Morton FC.

Joanna McCreadie, Chief Executive of Seamab, nominated by CCPS

joanna photo

Joanna McCreadie represents the Coalition of Care and Support Provides Scotland (CCPS), bringing to the review the experience and insight of members. As the Chief Executive of Seamab, a children’s charity providing care and education, Joanna has responsibility for leadership and management of all aspects of the charity’s work.

Joanna qualified as a social worker and has worked for local authorities, the third sector and inspection agencies. Experienced in a range of different social care and education settings, she has specialised in work with children who have experienced trauma and children who are looked after. Joanna is a Clore Social Leadership Fellow, and is committed to developing services that meet the needs of children and support them to heal, grow and learn.

Rosie Moore, care experienced member, nominated by CCPS

rosie photo

Rosie is originally from Manchester but has lived in Glasgow since 2014.

She is a care experienced individual who spent the first part of her childhood in kinship care with her grandparents, and the second part in numerous foster homes.

She is pursuing her passion for improving the lives of children and young people as a Social Work Honours student at the University of Strathclyde, with plans to go on and study a Masters in Social Policy and Research in 2019.

She is an experienced youth worker for both Aberlour and the Sound Lab charity, and volunteers at the Life Changes Trust as part of the care experienced advisory group.

Alastair Redpath, care experienced member, nominated by the Independent Voluntary Providers Forum

alastair photo

Alastair is an Edinburgh-born Hawick author who currently lives in Glasgow with his partner Jaime-Lynn and son Alexander.

He has extensive first-hand experience of Scotland’s care services, having been fostered from an early age through local authority and later Barnardo’s placements.

Educated in Fife and Glasgow, Alastair formed a successful retail career before settling into his new roles as a social media consultant, journalist, and fostering panel member with Barnardo’s and FCA Scotland. In his spare time he is Honorary Secretary of Hawick Archaeological Society, and runs an ever-expanding social media empire in Hawick and Glasgow.

Thomas Timlin, care experienced member, nominated by Scottish Funding Council

thomas photoThomas Timlin is a Children and Families Social Worker. He is a Social Work graduate from the University of the West of Scotland and was awarded the University of Scotland Amundsen Trophy in 2014.

Prior to graduating Thomas was an active campaigner for Children in care and care leavers; he also worked as an Advocacy Worker with a children’s charity, advocating on behalf of looked after children and care leavers. Upon leaving University in May of 2014, Thomas began a new role as a Policy Officer at Who Cares? Scotland. He also spent a period being a Panel Advisor for a Fostering provider. Thomas is a campaigner for care leavers; utilising his care experience to create positive change within Scotland’s care system.

Information correct at the time of the Journey stage of the Care Review.

Adam Bennet – Co-chair of Health and Wellbeing

Adam recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the Fostering Network’s Young Champions Group.

Adam was in foster care for seven years lasting through his later high school and university life. In his spare time he loves writing music and learning new things.

 

 

 

Alan Baird – Co-chair of Stop:Go

Alan qualified as a social worker in 1980 and subsequently held a number of practitioner and management posts in Glasgow, Angus, and Dundee. He was appointed Director of Social Work with Dundee City Council in 2001 and served as President of the Association of Directors of Social Work in 2008/9. Alan was appointed Chief Social Work Adviser to Scottish Government in 2013 and remained in post until April of that year.

Alan graduated with an MBA from Dundee University in 1999. He has been a Trustee of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) since 2013 and has recently been appointed Honorary Professor in Social Work at Dundee University.

 

Alastair Redpath – Co-chair of Stigma

Alastair is an Edinburgh-born Hawick author who currently lives in North Ayrshire with his partner Jaime-Lynn and son Alexander. He has extensive first-hand experience of Scotland’s care services and associated stigma, having been fostered from an early age through local authority and later Barnardo’s placements.

Educated in Fife, he formed a successful retail career before settling into his new roles as a social media consultant, journalist, and fostering panel member for three national agencies.

In his spare time he is Honorary Secretary of Hawick Archaeological Society, and runs an ever-expanding social media empire in Hawick, Fife, and Glasgow.

Beth-Anne Logan – Co-chair of Best Place in the World

Beth-Anne is a founding member of North Lanarkshire’s Champions Board TNT – Today not Tomorrow. She is a non-executive director of Children’s Hearings Scotland and is the youngest person ever appointed to a non-departmental public body. Beth-Anne is a board member for the secure care strategic review and chair of the STARR Board work strand.

Beth-Anne says that being asked to be a co-chair is categorically the most exciting and terrifying opportunity she has had to date. Beth-Anne’s hope for the Care Review is that we create and embed practice and culture where failing our young people is never an option.

 

Bruce Adamson – Co-chair of Rights

Bruce Adamson is the Children and Young People’s Commissioner in Scotland. The Commissioner’s job is to help children and young people understand their rights and to make sure those rights are respected. His goal is to make sure all children and young people in Scotland are as safe and happy as possible. Before becoming the Commissioner in May 2017, Bruce worked as a lawyer. In this role, he built up over 20 years of experience working on children’s rights issues. Bruce has also been a member of the Children’s Panel for 13 years, was a United Nations Representative for the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, and has been Chair of the Scottish Child Law Centre.

 

Denisha Killoh – Co-chair of Stigma

Journey groupDenisha is currently in her third year studying politics and social policy at the University of Strathclyde. Through her course she started to gain a passion for combating the structural issues that hinder the most vulnerable groups in society. This led to her reflecting on her own personal background, analysing where she too had faced discrimination, particularly whilst in care. Denisha then became a spokesperson for Who Cares? Scotland where she used her platform to talk about her own experience, advocate for change, and lobby politicians. Denisha believes her role within the Care Review will allow her to continue to work to ensure care experienced people can live their lives to their fullest potential without facing stigma.

 

Ewan Aitken – Co-chair of Edges of Care

Ewan is CEO of Cyrenians, a homelessness charity which supports people excluded from family, home, work or community. A former Convener of Education and Leader of Edinburgh City Council and CoSLA spokesperson on Education, Ewan has over 30 years’ experience in the Public and third sectors.

He founded the National Prison Visitor Centre Steering group, the Ripple Project, the Youth Bus Trust and two Credit Unions. He is a member of Midlothian Integrated Joint Board and a Council member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, chairing its Inspiring Communities Network.

Ewan is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, board member of the Ripple Project, a member of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city deal regional enterprise council, and former Chair of BBC Children in Need Scotland Grants Committee. He’s an advisor to Circle Scotland and was a member of the CoSLA Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy. He was awarded the 2018 SCVO Charity Awards Leading Light Award.

 

Gerry McLaughlin – Co-chair of Health and Wellbeing

Gerry McLaughlin is CEO of NHS Health Scotland, the country’s national board working to reduce health inequalities and improve population health.  He joined the NHS in 2010, from the British Red Cross where he was UK Director for ten years, prior to which he was Assistant Director at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland. Gerry qualified as a social worker in 1979 and spent the next 18 years in a number of front line, managerial and policy roles including work on residential child care, becoming Glasgow’s Principal Child Protection Officer in 1996. Having also been a non-executive on the Board of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde from 2004-2010 and Chair of East Dunbartonshire Community Health Partnership. Gerry currently chairs the Board of Trustees of Dr Nana, a charity supporting healthcare delivery in rural Ghana.

Jimmy Paul – Co-chair of Workforce

Jimmy is deeply committed to improving the lives of infants, children, young people and families; especially those who experience disadvantage.

He began his leadership journey on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme where he then spent four years working across health and social care services. He now works as a Consultant at CELCIS where he improves the experience of permanence for looked after children across Scotland.

Outside of work, Jimmy was accepted onto the prestigious Future Leaders Connect programme run by the British Council. He is the incoming Curator at the Global Shapers Community (Edinburgh Hub) with the World Economic Forum where he leads a wide range of voluntary work and he has also been inducted into the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland.

Being co-chair of the workforce group at the Independent Care Review is the greatest privilege Jimmy has ever had. As someone with experience of kinship, foster, and residential care, ensuring that infants, children and young people experience the best care in the world is particularly important to him, and he will do everything to make sure that people with lived experience drive the Review to making the change that is much needed.

 

John Carnochan – Co-chair of Best Place in the World

John was an active police officer for almost 39 years and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2007 for distinguished police service. In January 2005, together with a colleague, John established the Violence Reduction Unit which has a national remit to bring about sustainable reductions in violence. In June 2014 John “retired” and now works as an independent consultant and adviser on violence prevention, effective partnership working and leadership. John is on the boards of several groups (including the Children’s Parliament and the Poverty and Truth Commission). He has also worked recently with The Hunter Foundation assisting in developing a UK wide project in partnership with BBC Children in Need to improve the outcomes for children on the edge of care.

He is a passionate advocate of prevention, whole system thinking, early years and effective collaboration and the importance of human relationships and acknowledging the value of “being human.”

 

Joanna McCreadie – Co-chair of Love

Joanna is a qualified social worker and has worked for local authorities, national government and the third sector.

She has worked for inspection agencies and led community based projects and national child care and education services. Throughout her career Joanna has worked with children affected by significant trauma and loss.

She co-authored Extraordinary Lives and has contributed to a number of national reviews and reports. Her most recent role was as CEO of Seamab, a specialist provider of care and education for vulnerable and traumatised children. Joanna was a member of the Care Review’ s Discovery group before joining the Journey group, representing the Coalition of Care Providers Scotland.

She was appointed as one of the co-chairs for the Love work group and has jointly led the work on love with Rosie Moore.

Joanna is currently completing an MBA and working as an independent consultant.

 

Laura Beveridge – Co-chair of Stop:Go

Having both lived, worked and campaigned for change in the ‘care system’, Laura’s work at the Care Review is very close to her heart. Laura has over 13 years’ experience working in partnership with care experienced children and young people and firmly believes they should have more power and control over their own lives, and the care system of the future. Laura has always loved writing and has written a number of articles, including for a column at Holyrood magazine.

 

Lisa Macrae – Co-chair of Components of Care

Lisa Muirhead

Lisa works part time at the Independent Care Review and spends the rest of her time watching the little humans in her life grow. From a young age, Lisa has always enjoyed helping care and tend to children. To no surprise, Lisa went into childcare after leaving school. Child development fascinated Lisa, she loved her time in nurseries but wanted to do more.

To help those who may benefit from additional support, Lisa finished off her training in a children and family centre.

Lisa went on to study Social Services & Health Care, while working in East Lothian with people who have experience of the ‘care system.’ Lisa supported the establishment of the local Champions Board and the growth of this with a foundation of genuine relationships. Lisa studied further, learning and exploring Community Education before moving into supporting the network of Champions Boards across the Country at Life Changes Trust.

Nancy Loucks – Co-chair of Justice and Care

Originally from California, Nancy has been in the UK since 1989 and is Chief Executive of Families Outside, the only national Scottish charity working solely on behalf of families affected by imprisonment, since 2008. Prior to Families Outside she worked as an Independent Criminologist, receiving her MPhil and PhD from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge, and in 2012 was appointed as Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Law, Crime and Justice. Nancy was awarded an OBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List for services to Education and Human Rights.

 

Rosie Moore – Co-chair of Love

Rosie is originally from England but has lived in Glasgow since 2014. She is a care experienced individual who spent the first part of her childhood in kinship care with her grandparents and the second part in numerous foster homes. Rosie is a qualified Social Worker, having graduated with a first class honours degree from the University of Strathclyde.

Rosie has been part of the Care Review from the beginning, undertaking a variety of roles, including Discovery Group member, Participation Coordinator and most recently Love work group co-chair.

 

Stuart Lindsay – Co-chair of Rights

Stuart spent his early years in foster care in Inverness before moving to an Aberlour Trust children’s home in Keith, Moray, aged three. He then spent 10 largely positive years in residential care, before being fostered by the house parents at age 13, when the children’s home was due for closure. Stuart’s care background eventually led to a career in social care, and he has gone onto work for Aberlour for 27 years; mostly within residential and short breaks services for children with learning disabilities. He is currently Aberlour’s Personalisation Development Manager and has a grown daughter Caitlin, and stays in Glasgow.

 

Sue Brookes – Co-chair of Workforce

Sue has been employed by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) as a Prison Governor for 31 years. She held the post of Governor in Charge in five establishments (both local and national), including Edinburgh, Polmont and Cornton Vale, working with all offender populations and sentence classifications. She has been involved in extensive partnership working to achieve change on a number of sites, in respect of national projects and as a Board member of third sector organisations.

She is currently on a cross sector secondment to Education Scotland for personal development purposes and to promote knowledge exchange between Education and Justice. Sue is passionate about the creation of a ‘Safer Scotland’ and has a lifelong commitment to prevention and to helping individuals realise their potential.

 

Sylvia Douglas – Co-chair of Edges of Care

With a background in mental health and social work, Sylvia is the founding director of MsMissMrs CIC, a social enterprise founded in 2014 and all in existence to serve women and girls who have travelled a difficult journey to become the leaders in their own lives. Having spent much of her young life living in children’s homes, leaving school with no education and becoming a mum at 15, she is focused on supporting change for others.

 

 

Vonnie Sandlan – Co-chair of Justice and Care

Vonnie Sandlan

After returning to higher education at the age of 30, Vonnie has spent the last seven years passionately advocating for an education system which works for all, with a specific focus on widening access.

After campaigning for – and securing – an overhaul of the student support process, Vonnie was elected as president of the National Union of Students in Scotland.

In this capacity, Vonnie secured the review of student support and influenced the review to recommend bursaries for care experienced learners, and was a Commissioner on Dame Ruth Silver’s Commission on Widening Access.

Growing up, Vonnie spent time in kinship care with her grandparents before entering the homeless system at the age of 16. With a low tolerance threshold for injustice, and a values set which is rooted in communities, Vonnie is a passionate advocate for equality and human rights.

Care Review Transition Team

Michelle Nairn, Head of Quality Assurance and Planning

Thomas Carlton, Practice Support Manager

Lynne Sinclair, Implementation Manager

Lynne Loudon, Administrative Support

Claire Stuart, Data and Evidence Lead

Jean Lowe, Data and Reporting Analyst

Fiona McFarlane, Policy Implementation Lead

Frequently asked questions

In October 2016, after meeting with and listening to children and young people in care, Scotland’s First Minister announced “an independent, root and branch review of the care system” to look at “the underpinning legislation, practices, culture and ethos”.

The Independent Care Review began its work in February 2017 and by November of the same year it was agreed that the Care Review would take up to three years to conclude.

The Care Review prioritised listening and heard over 5,500 experiences. Over half were children, young people and adults who had lived in care. The rest were families and the paid and unpaid workforce.

On Wednesday 5 February 2020, the Care Review published seven reports. The Promise laid out five foundations and over 80 calls to action.

On the same day, in The Scottish Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon pledged to #KeepThePromise a commitment that got the support of all political parties.

Each stage of the  Care Review was delivered on time and on budget, as agreed with the Scottish Government. The Care Review delivered its final outputs in the agreed time-frame, publishing The Promise on 5 February 2020.

Over half of the entirety of the Care Review’s budget was spent on reaching and listening to experience of the ‘care system’ through its approach to participation and engagement. Since the outset in early 2017, the Care Review worked hard to make sure that everyone in Scotland was given options and opportunities to get involved.

This included the Care Review travelling all over Scotland, as well as covering travel expenses to make sure that people could attend Care Review events, providing food and covering childcare costs so that individuals could share in places and ways that were safe and supported.

Since the middle of 2018, almost a fifth of the budget was allocated to the Care Review’s Stop:Go programme, working with all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities to make positive change happen and prepare for the Care Review’s conclusions.

Approximately a tenth of the Care Review’s budget focused on understanding and mapping relevant policies.

The remaining fifth funded a comprehensive research programme to gather robust evidence.

Unfortunately due to Covid-19 a number of the final planned activities were impacted such as spending time with all the children and young people who shared their stories, as well as a delay in archiving, publishing the Evidence Framework and revising the website.

The Care Review was awarded £5,227,435 over the financial years 2017-18 through to 2019-20 including a 3 month extension into 2020-21.

2017-18 £1,239,330
2018-19 £1,768,908
2019-20/21 £2,239,197

Fiona Duncan, Chief Executive of the Corra Foundation, was the Chair of the Care Review. She has now been appointed to oversee the implementation of Care Review findings.

Fiona has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, both in Scotland and internationally.

Learn more about Fiona Duncan

Fiona spent approximately half her working time for the Care Review on a flexible basis.

There were robust governance arrangements in place to ensure Fiona’s independence in her roles as the Chair of the Care Review and as the Chief Executive of the Corra Foundation.

Who Cares? Scotland was commissioned to deliver the 1000 Voices project as part of the Care Review. The team from 1000 Voices worked with the Care Review, travelling across Scotland to listen to anyone with experience of the ‘care system’.

While the Scottish Government commissioned the Care Review, it was independent from the Government. That meant that the Care Review worked completely separately and  reported on its progress and shared findings regularly.

The Care Review published its reports on the 5th February. On the same day, in The Scottish Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon pledged to #KeepThePromise a commitment that got the support of all political parties.

Everything you shared with the Care Review will be treated confidentially and with respect.

No one person’s story was used in any of the Care Review publications. The composite stories were created from all that the Care Review heard and are no one person in particular.

The information you shared helped the Care Review better understand the ‘care system’ in Scotland and formed the basis of The Promise.

In line with your agreement, the Care Review has ensured that your information is stored securely.

Read the Care Review’s privacy policy

During the time of the Care Review, there were three national pieces of work that were looking at what is known as the care system in Scotland and engaging with people who have care experience.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is an independent statutory public inquiry chaired by the Rt Hon Lady Smith. The Inquiry was established to examine the abuse of children in care in Scotland or children whose care was arranged in Scotland, up until December 2014.

The Inquiry will look at what happened, why and where abuse took place, whether the organisations responsible for children in care failed in their duties, the effects of abuse on children and their families and what needs to be done to ensure that systems for children in care are safe now and in the future. The Inquiry is required to report to Scottish Ministers on all these matters, including whether any changes in policy, practice or legislation are required.

The National Confidential Forum is about listening, understanding and acknowledging the experiences of all people who have ever been in residential or institutional care in Scotland as children. People speak to the Forum about their experiences in care and often the legacy effect of that care experience on their adult lives. These experiences are recorded and anonymised before contributing to a permanent national record of Scotland’s care history. By reporting to Scottish Government, the NCF ensures that people’s experiences of care will contribute to policy and practice improvements now and in the future.

The Care Review knew that sharing stories and experiences and being involved in the work of change can be draining and bring up difficult feelings and memories. The Care Review was fully committed to making sure that everyone was given the support that they needed.

Many organisations involved in the Care Review already provided individual support to young people who have engaged through them, and the Care Review encouraged people to use any existing and familiar support networks.

The Care Review also worked with Health in Mind who provided a dedicated wellbeing service to anyone who took part and did not have existing support in place.

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