Scottish government reveals care review implementation plan
Joe Lepper
Thursday, March 31, 2022
A £500m early intervention fund for families and an annual grant for care leavers are among measures promised by the Scottish government in its delayed response to an independent review into improving children's social care.
The pledged Whole Family Wellbeing Fund aims to offer early support to families to avert crisis, backed by £500m investment, with £50m earmarked for 2022/23.
Mental health issues, poverty, alcohol and drug use, as well as poor educational attainment are among challenges the fund will look to address.
The pledge has been made in the Scottish government’s Keeping the Promise implementation plan, its Covid-delayed response to the Independent Care Review’s 2020 report The Promise that called for a “radical overhaul” of Scotland’s care system.
The government’s response says that the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund “is strategic investment to transform the delivery of family support and this change will contribute to tackling child poverty and significantly reduce the number of children and young people who are living away from their families”.
Meanwhile, £10m a year is to be invested in a Care Experience Grant. This offers a £200 annual grant to 16- to 25-year-olds with care experience to give them “some additional financial security”.
It also aims to “reduce some of the financial barriers that young people face in transitions to adulthood and more independent living”.
In addition, the Scottish government has promised to end the placement of 16- and 17-year-olds in young offenders institutions “without delay”.
Instead “care-based alternatives to custody” will be funded. A consultation on legislation to shift “the approach from one of punishment to one of love and support” will be introduced this spring, states the implementation plan.
Other promises include a nationally set allowance for foster and kinship carers and looking into setting up a “national lifelong advocacy service for care experienced people and their families”.
“More than 5,500 people - half of them children and young people with experience of care - told the Independent Care Review that change is needed,” said Scottish government's children and young people minister Clare Haughey.
“These ambitious actions will help families to thrive so they can safely stay together. They will also support carers and families engaged with the care system, as well as care leavers and care experienced people in education and employment.”
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this week, Meghan Gallacher, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, said she was concerned by delays in enacting the recommendations made two years ago by the independent carer review.
She said ministers “must be honest about the lack of progress that it has made in implementing the Promise”.
“Covid-19 has undoubtedly played a role in that, but it cannot and should not be used as an excuse for the stalling of this hugely important policy,” she added.
The Scottish government aims to deliver its implementation plan pledges by 2030 and its progress will be monitored by The Promise Scotland Oversight Board.
Fiona Duncan, who chairs the board, said she welcomed the review, adding “we will take time to carefully consider the contents, what progress has been made to date, as well as planned actions and associated timeframes”.
