Can you help shape services for looked after children and young people?

Date: 15th January 2015
Category: Care Experienced children

The Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum has launched a survey to gather views on the provisions in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 which relate to looked after children, care leavers and the professionals who support them.

As a result of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, there are big legislative changes taking place in Scotland this year that will directly impact looked after children and young people, care leavers and the professionals who support them. Against this background, the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum (STAF) has begun a consultation with organisations across all sectors, to better understand the issues and concerns they have about this new act, for themselves and their service users.

If you provide any service to children or young people, even if you have not identified them as being in care or having left it, please complete STAF's short online survey, which will take no more than 4 or 5 minutes to complete.

• The survey can be accessed here

The results of this research will inform and influence STAF's work with service providers throughout Scotland to improve the lives of young people with experience of living in care today. Everyone who completes the survey will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw and win a year's free membership with STAF and a £25.00 Amazon gift voucher.

If you have any questions about this research, please contact STAF's Communications Manager Julian Dawydiak on 0141 357 4124, or email julian@scottishthroughcare.org.uk. Further information about STAF's work can be found at www.scottishthroughcare.org.uk

Established in 1998, STAF has a strong record of actively engaging with frontline workers and managers throughout the country, representing their views in its work influencing senior policy makers in the public sector and national government. STAF's aim is to improve the services looked after children and young people receive and to address the inequality of outcomes for them in education, health and employment.

The Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children In Scotland (CELCIS) has produced information briefings explaining specific parts of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 which relate to the rights of looked after children, care leavers and carers, and the new duties, powers and expectations placed on public bodies.

• Find out more and access the CELCIS briefings here.