Notifications from the Care Inspectorate regarding looked after children deaths: FOI release

Information requested

For the years of 2014-2021 inclusive, how many times local authorities have notified the Scottish Government of the death of:

• A looked after child.
• A care leaver.

Response

Regulation 6 of The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (legislation.gov.uk) states that Scottish Ministers should be informed of the death of a young person who is looked after. In addition, the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 inserted a statutory duty in the Children (Scotland) 1995 Act requiring local authorities to notify Scottish Ministers and the Care Inspectorate of the death of a care leaver in receipt of a Continuing Care or Aftercare service.

Procedures in place mean that Local Authorities notify the Care Inspectorate who in turn provide information to Scottish Ministers.

Figures we have received from the Care Inspectorate state that between the years of 2014-2021 inclusive -

Type of Notification	2014 Jan- Dec	2015 Jan- Dec	2016 Jan- Dec	2017 Jan- Dec	2018 Jan- Dec	2019 Jan- Dec	2020 Jan- Dec	2021 Jan- Sept	Grand Total
Deaths of looked after children	8	3	5	8	9	6	7	4	50
Deaths in continuing care	0	0	0	0	1	3	2	2	8
Deaths in throughcare and aftercare	0	1	6	7	4	12	15	8	53
TOTAL	8	4	11	15	14	21	24	14	111

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