Inquiry into Decision making on whether children should be taken into care

Date: 2nd July 2012
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

The Scottish Parliament's Education and Culture Committee are to examine the decisions made about when or if a child should be removed from the family home.

During the committee's recent inquiry into the educational attainment of looked after children, it became clear that many of these children, particularly those looked after at home, are being left behind in the education system. Following on from this inquiry, the committee will examine in detail whether the decisions currently made on care are delivering the best possible future for some of Scotland's most vulnerable children.

Key questions that will be asked during the inquiry include:

• Whether there is consistency in decision-making processes across the country;
• Whether there are any particular parental risk factors, for example drug or alcohol misuse, that would create a presumption that a child should be removed;
• The extent to which decisions on whether to remove children are influenced by resource constraints and other barriers;
• Whether the speed of decision making in cases is appropriate

The closing date for submissions is 28 August 2012. Responses should be sent to ec.committee@scottish.parliament.uk

For full details see Inquiry into Decision making on whether children should be taken into care which is available from the Scottish Parliament website here.