Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill: islands community impact assessment

Conclusion

16. The Scottish Government is aware of the challenges faced in rural and island communities in relation to social work and care, particularly around resourcing, recruitment, retention and workload. While the provisions in this Bill will have an impact on the workforce, it is not expected to be substantially different to the current landscape. The pressures on the workforce in relation to the care system are well known in respect of impact across Scotland.

17. The Scottish Government’s assessment has not identified any potential barriers or wider impacts of the policy on island communities which is significantly different from its effect on other communities, beyond the already known about workforce and resourcing concerns. This includes the mainland and other island communities.

18. Engagement with stakeholders did not highlight impacts that would be considered to have a significantly different effect on island communities as compared to other communities. Similarly, there will be no additional financial impact for island communities in isolation resulting from the provisions in the Bill.

19. The scope of this Bill is considered to have two purposes:

• A broad purpose relating to the children’s care system/people with current or previous experience of that system
• A narrower purpose about children’s services planning

20. Accordingly, we conclude that the provisions in this Bill are not likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). Scottish Government’s conclusion is that a full Islands Communities Impact Assessment is not required. Scottish Government will, of course, carry out further engagement with stakeholders from across Scotland, including island communities, to ensure that any further impact is both proportionate and mitigated where needed.