Public sector strategic workforce position: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Conclusion

7. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children’s rights?

Applicable answer(s): (insert answer(s))

At this stage, both positive and negative impacts are anticipated relating to UNCRC Articles 18, 24, 26, 27 and 28

The Public Service Reform Programme will create efficiencies and improve productivity through better joined up services where people can access the support they need more easily. For those workforces that are expected to grow this is anticipated to lead to a positive outcome for children’s rights and wellbeing.

Identified negative impacts include working parents of children under the age of 18 may be affected by workforce reductions, affecting the economic wellbeing of their children; and children who use public services that are directly aimed at young people may be impacted if workforce reductions affect service delivery.

Further work will be carried out to develop a Workforce Management Policy and control framework. This will outline a number of mitigations, setting out guiding principles, parameters, and metrics, and establishing the governance and controls needed to implement workforce management across public bodies.

The over-riding approach will be on prioritising front line services, where possible, which should provide some protection for the services that children and young people access. Where negative impacts on service delivery may occur, mitigations have been identified including current support for low-income families to tackle child poverty and the financial support delivered through Social Security Scotland. These are detailed more fully in section 9

8. If you have identified a positive impact on children’s rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights in Scotland.

Overall, developing a strategic framework for managing public finances, and as part of that developing a workforce strategic position, will have positive impacts for children’s rights and wellbeing. It helps provide a common understanding of the direction for the medium to longer term, and so provides stability and time to plan ahead, to work through the likely issues, and to consult with those affected. This is much more likely to lead to better outcomes than a short term reactive approach.

The Public Service Reform Programme aims to drive greater efficiency and productivity by delivering more integrated services, addressing gaps in provision and focusing on prevention. Achieving efficiency in the delivery of public services is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of these services, which children (among other groups) rely on. This should make it easier for children and families to get the help they need, indicating an anticipated positive impact on UNCRC Articles 18, 24, 26 and 28.

9. If a negative impact has been identified please describe it below. Is there a risk this could potentially amount to an incompatibility?

A number of potential negative impacts on the rights of children and young people have been identified relating to UNCRC Articles 18, 24, and 27.

Working parents of children under the age of 18 may be affected by workforce reductions, potentially affecting the economic wellbeing of their children during any period of unemployment.

Children who use public services that are directly aimed at young people may be impacted if workforce reductions affect service delivery.

Mitigation Record

What options have been considered to modify the proposal in order to mitigate a negative impact or potential incompatibility?

The strategic workforce position includes a commitment to prioritise front line services. To support this, we are developing an integrated Workforce Management Policy, which will be published alongside the Public Sector Pay Policy to help public bodies and financial portfolios carry out more detailed assessments on how workforce changes may affect their specific areas.

We anticipate that any public sector workers whose employment is at risk will have access to redeployment opportunities and advice as well as access to voluntary severance schemes. This mitigation also applies to public sector workers who are parents.

There are a number of mitigations already in place across other areas of Scottish Government. The continued focus on tackling child poverty includes several actions which could have a mitigating effect, including the Scottish Child Payment to help low income families with children under 16. The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods are also part of the support available.

10. Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

Working parents of children under the age of 18 may be affected by workforce reductions, potentially affecting the economic wellbeing of their children during any period of unemployment (UNCRC Article 27) (as incorporated)

Action Taken/ To Be Taken

A detailed Workforce Management Policy and control framework will be developed. We will develop best practice principles to guide public bodies in effectively using voluntary severance schemes to reshape their workforce. We will also work with public bodies to pursue initiatives to improve and expand redeployment opportunities across the Scottish public sector

Date action to be taken or was taken

We anticipate that the Workforce Management Policy will be published alongside the Public Sector Pay Policy. Last year this happened as part of the December 2025-26 Draft Budget. Work is ongoing with public bodies on development of this strategic position.

Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

Children who use public services that are directly aimed at young people may be impacted if workforce reductions affect service delivery.

Action Taken/ To Be Taken

We will work closely with public bodies to ensure that they carry out their full statutory duties with respect to the Impact Assessments that they have to undertake as a result of any workforce policy decisions. And that includes evaluating the effect on children who may use public services.

Date action to be taken or was taken

We anticipate that the Workforce Management Policy will be published alongside the Public Sector Pay Policy. Last year this happened as part of the December 2025-26 Draft Budget.

11. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators (Annex 2), will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, pages 20-22).

Safe: Not Applicable

Healthy: No

Achieving: No

Nurtured: No

Active: No

Respected: Not Applicable

Responsible: Not Applicable

Included: No

12. How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights?

A copy of this CRWIA will be published on the Scottish Government website (Gov.scot). Separate CRWIAs will be undertaken by individual public bodies as they develop their workforce plans.