Scottish Government pledge review of care system

Date: 17th October 2016
Category: Care Experienced children

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a consultation on more choice for free childcare hours and a review of the care system for looked-after children.

After hearing from young people at organisations such as Who Cares? Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon told the SNP party conference on Saturday 15th October that she is to undertake a 'root and branch' review of Scotland's children in the care system. She also pledged more choice to parents over pre-school childcare.

The First Minister listed a number of statistics relating to children in care: only six per cent will go to university, nearly half will suffer mental health issues and make up nearly half of the prison population.

The SNP leader said she had had accepted the Who Cares? Scotland challenge to listen to 1,000 care leavers over the next two years. Their feedback will shape the independent review, which Sturgeon highlighted was something no other country had done before, and which will look into "legislation, culture, practices and ethos" in Scotland's care system.