Yesterday the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament - we welcome the package of measures it sets out to support care experienced people. In particular, we are delighted to see the provision to create a national register of foster carers, something for which we have long campaigned.
We were pleased recently to support the Scottish Government’s extensive engagement on the development of this Bill through holding nationwide forums with foster carers and care experienced children and young people to inform the proposals.
The Bill contains some much-needed change to the care system. We welcome the inclusion of measures to create a right to advocacy services for care-experienced children, young people and adults. This is a vital recognition of the fact that care experience can have a lifelong impact and the need for support does not end when an individual turns 18.
The provisions to create a register of foster carers, subject to a successful pilot, are hugely welcome. We believe this will elevate the status and recognition of foster carers, as well as improve safeguarding for children, matching, and sufficiency planning.
The measures to give young people who left the care system before their 16th birthday the right to apply for aftercare will be beneficial, but we are disappointed that the Scottish Government has not taken this opportunity to extend provision for Continuing Care for those young people wishing to stay with their former foster carers until they are 25.
Also missing is any commitment to enshrine in legislation an annual inflationary uplift to allowances and fees for foster carers, and to meet our recommended allowance rates, as well as the creation of a national fee framework for foster carers. We await the findings of the Review of the Scottish Recommended Allowance which we hope will set out the Government’s approach to this in more detail.
Sarah Thomas, CEO of The Fostering Network said:
“We are pleased the Scottish Government is delivering on its commitment to keep The Promise to care experienced people through the introduction of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) Bill. In particular, the introduction of a register for foster carers, for which we have long campaigned, will bring huge benefits to foster carers and children, increasing status and stability. We call on Governments in all nations to follow the lead of Scotland and introduce registers in their jurisdictions. We look forward to working with Scottish Government as the Bill progresses through parliament.”
Anne Currie, Assistant Director for Scotland said:
“This is a good day for foster carers and the children they look after in Scotland. We are delighted the Scottish Government has led the way in legislating for change which will make a real difference to many.”
Read our response to the Future of Foster Care Consultation and letter to the Children’s Minister.
