- Who Cares? Scotland says the conclusion of the Care Review “provides a platform for action.”
- Extends congratulations to Fiona Duncan, Review Chair, on her commitment.
- Says that urgent Scottish Government action is “a matter of life and death” for Care Experienced people.
The leading organisation for people who have grown up in care today welcomed the findings of a review into the care system. The Care Review will publish its findings on Wednesday 5th of February with members of the charity in attendance. The Review’s findings will be published across a series of reports [1] and the charity believes that they will provide a platform for change.
The Review was announced at SNP Conference in October 2016 with representatives of Who Cares? Scotland in the front row. [2] The First Minister said that the Review would look at the practices, culture and ethos of the care system, with the purpose of ensuring that all children who experience care are loved. She announced the review after hearing directly from representatives of Who Cares? Scotland about their experiences in care.
Who Cares? Scotland called for a root and branch review of the care system because of what it calls the “intolerable and stubborn” outcomes that those who experience the care system face. The organisation has existed for forty-one years and throughout that time, has argued that young people in care are unnecessarily separated from their brothers and sisters; aren’t respected in the formal processes that govern their lives and experience stigma as a result of their experience.
In 2018, the charity shared its new vision, calling for “A lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people”.
The organisation has over 2,500 members, all of whom have experience of care, and is recognised as the leading independent voice of Care Experienced people. Who Cares? Scotland was named UK Charity of the Year in 2018 and have welcomed Government Ministers from across the world seeking their own solutions.
Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland said:
“The first thing that we want to do is congratulate Fiona Duncan for her commitment and recognise the strength of every Care Experienced person who contributed their voice to the Review over the last three years. This was promised to be a Review like no other and that is why we believe its findings should provide a platform for the kind of change that Care Experienced people desperately need.
“Care Experienced people are capable, thoughtful and have enormous potential. What we have seen, unfortunately, are generations of people living with the consequences of a care system that focused on containing them then leaving them, rather than ensuring that they are loved and supported forever.
We have also seen Scotland struggle to connect with how it can support Care Experienced people. With that in mind, we will now take the necessary time to reflect on the findings that have been published today and consider in what ways the recommendations realise our ambitions for change.
“In January this year, the Care Inspectorate published figures on the early deaths of Care Experienced people [3]. They said that between 2012 and 2018, 36 people in the care of the state died unexpected or untimely death. We know from our own networks that this is an under-representation, with six young Care Experienced people in our network dying in December 2019 alone. The evidence shows that what the Scottish Government chooses to do next is literally a matter of life and death. We expect to see urgent action, in the next few weeks, that makes a tangible difference to young people’s lives. Any further delay would be unacceptable.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Care Review Announces publications – https://twitter.com/TheCareReview/status/1223302420392042496?s=20
[2] “Emotional Sturgeon announces Care Review” – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37661319
[3] Care Inspectorate Press Release – https://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/news/349-care-inspectorate-reports-on-deaths-of-looked-after-children
[4] For more information, please contact Jamie Kinlochan, Public Affairs Manager on 0141 226 4441 / 07900 930 584 or media@whocaresscotland.org
