Aberlour's Response to the Children (Care, Care Experience and Service Planning) Bill

At Aberlour we understand the importance of Scotland Keeping the Promise by 2030. We provide safe, loving and supportive services across Scotland for children and young people who often face complex challenges. These include residential children’s houses, mother and child recovery houses and many other services with a focus on supporting children and young people to remain with their families where it is safe to do so. Applying a rights-based approach, we are committed to meeting the needs of those with care-experience and supporting them to fully access their rights.

Our response will refer to key challenges and specific issues affecting care experienced young people unable to live with their families, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and young people with disabilities and complex needs. We comment on the proposals contained within the Bill but also reflect on the wider systemic changes required if we are to Keep the Promise by 2030. Like many others, we share concern about the lack of progress and pace in implementing change and therefore support the passing of the Bill in this parliamentary term to build momentum and deliver on The Promise we have made to Scotland’s children, young people and families.

However, there are challenges within this Bill, and on its own it will not be enough to deliver the change required. There is much wider work needed to strengthen supports for families, declutter the care landscape and truly put the voices of care-experienced people at the heart of any new system. Our organisational ambition to eradicate child poverty and give all children an equal chance, and the best possible start in life is at the heart of everything we do. This is all part of our defining mission: “to be brave for our children and young people.” To that end, we urge the Scottish Government to do the same.

Our response focuses on aspects of the Bill that relate to services where we have direct experience. Throughout our consultation response, we have reflected what children, young people and families at Aberlour have told us as part of our commitment to upholding their right to have their voices heard. The issues we raise are not new, and reflect feedback shared across previous consultation responses, evidence sessions with the Scottish Parliament and directly in dialogue with colleagues in the Scottish Government, MSPs, policy makers and wider decision makers across Scotland’s Children’s Service Leadership.

We urge Scottish Government to commit to undertaking the necessary actions to ensure we fulfil our commitment to Keep the Promise to all Scotland’s children, young people and families.

Read our response to the Children (Care, Care Experience and Service Planning) Bill.