Introduction to Aberlour - A Scottish Charity for Scotland’s Children
Aberlour is the largest children’s charity working solely in Scotland with over 47 services providing a range of community and residential care and support for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families. In the last year we have worked intensively with over 1200 children and offered informal advice and support to a further 5000 children and young people through 47 services across Scotland. Our services currently offer:
• Intensive supports to severely disabled children and young people, many of whom have profound communication and behavioural difficulties
• Residential and outreach support to families affected by drugs and alcohol
• A range of community and family centre based services to promote and enhance positive parenting, play, early learning and social skills with vulnerable families and young children
• Residential care and community programmes for children and young people with social, educational, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Drop-in advice, information and counselling services for teenage children and young adults on issues affecting them
• An outreach service and refuge for children who are at risk of running away or who have runaway from home and need a safe place to stay.
As well as providing services; many in partnership with other agencies and organisations, Aberlour is committed to influencing Scottish policy and practice to create positive changes that benefit children, young people and families. Through membership of national and local working groups, coalitions and alliances we are able to do this and also ensure that our voice, and that of our service users, is heard.
Basis of this response
Whilst we are in agreement with the collective response submitted by Kirsten Gooday of the Community Care Providers Scotland (CCPS) we have listed below additional comments which we wish to put forward. These are based on Aberlour providing services some of the most vulnerable children and families in our communities. We employ in excess of 700 staff al with a variety of qualifications and backgrounds.
Question 2A
If this goes ahead then it would require every NHS member of staff on every level to be checked and this may be considered to be excessive. Childline raised the issue that they are not sure this is the answer since NHS staff have a duty of care in the first place and also it is in the home where 90% of abuse /issues occur.
Question 7a
Key principle should be to minimise automatic listings as much as possible and leave as much scope as possible for case by case (options 1A of 1A and 1B) The categories need to be looked at also, i.e. what is the spectrum with regard to cruelty to children? Some of the offences are very wide. There should be automatic consideration but not automatic listing.
Question 7b
As much as possible there should be parity for the whole of the UK on offences.
Question 10
25 seems a good option to be consistent with the rest of the UK. Although there needs to be support put in place.
Question 11
It should begin from date of offence, although there were a few concerns raised due to examples like an offence not coming to light for 20 years and they are then automatically elegible for review. It makes sense to make it from date of offence due to things like processing times etc.
Question 14
Not clear why information would be put on any data if is not to be used. Clarity required re this.
Question 16a
As long as monitored.
Question 17
Preference would be natural turnover due to the admin burden this would produce and potential effect on service provision. Government in Australia picked up the tab for retrospective checking,although here it looks as if they are aiming for full cost recovery. Need to be aware and prepared for the influx of retrospective checking and ensure people waiting to start a new job are given priority over retrospective checking. Noted that there will be pressure from external sources e.g. insurance and contractors to get retrospective checks.