News In Focus
24 April 2009
Supporting children report is accepted in full
The Scottish Government and COSLA have accepted – in full – all the recommendations of the independent working group that was set up to examine secure care of children in Scotland.
Entitled "Securing our Future", the report, published in February, will be implemented as an integrated package.
The main recommendations were:
- Local authorities and their partners should develop and deploy an effective range of interventions to prevent young people moving towards secure care;
- Long term care planning to improve throughcare and aftercare for looked-after children;
- Use of secure care and alternatives to be carefully monitored over the next year to inform future decision-making;
- A targeted closure of 12 beds to bring the capacity of each of the independent secure care units down to 18 beds.
Exploration
Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said the report was the most comprehensive exploration of the role of secure care undertaken in recent years. "While there are still substantial challenges ahead for the secure estate, this is an important step forward. I welcome the group's report and strongly endorse the principles outlined in it."
He added: “Where it is possible to meet the needs of high-risk young people safely and cost-effectively in their communities, then these opportunities should be maximised. However, for the very small number of children whose needs can only be met in secure care, we have to provide a high quality and nurturing environment that addresses their needs.
“It is therefore important that we do not lose secure care capacity in an unplanned way. The recommendations by the group seek to ensure a sustainable future for the secure care estate, which reduces costs while increasing its effectiveness."