Residential Care Charter of Rights Working Group minutes: July 2025
- Published
- 13 August 2025
- Directorate
- Children and Families Directorate
- Topic
- Children and families
- Date of meeting
- 23 July 2025
- Date of next meeting
- 27 August 2025
- Location
- MS Teams
Minutes from the meeting of the group on 23 July 2025
Attendees and apologies
- Claire Grant, Scottish Government
- Stacey Lindsay, Scottish Government
- Rachael Wilson, Scottish Government
- Loraine Cran, Scottish Government
- Abby Knowles, Scottish Government
- Jane Donaldson, Who Cares? Scotland
- Rosemary Robertson, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
- Nick Preston, Partners in Advocacy
- Juliet Henderson, Police Scotland
- Lorna Renwick, NHS Highland
- Moira Greentree, Why Not Trust
- Kerry Kinnes, Pebbles Care
- Neil McKenzie, Police Scotland
- Ellis Pitt, Phoenix Abbey
- Peter Summers, Pebbles Care
- Katy Nisbet, Clan Childlaw
- Nikki Sprears, East Ayrshire Advocacy Services
- Laura Doherty, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
- Emma McGarry, Moore House
- John Mackie, East Lothian Council
Apologies:
- Fiona Howe, Scottish Government
- Adam Hughes, Horizons Residential Care
- Neill Clark, East Ayrshire Advocacy Services
- Tracie Mcewan, Education Scotland
- Steven McPherson, Education Scotland
- Frances Edwards, Family Rights Group
- Lesley Rodger, Greenleaf House
- Gavin Calder, Harmeny Education Trust
- Pauline Kuhl, Horizons Residential Care
- Jan Grieve, NHS Borders
- Carrie McCulloch, NHS Lanarkshire
- Andrew McClelland, North Ayrshire Council
- Andrea Morrison, Our Promise Scotland
- Eleni Mangina, Our Promise Scotland
- Jennifer Gage, Our Promise Scotland
- Angela Waddell, Partners in Advocacy
- Jayne Brinded, Partners in Advocacy
- Lesley Mollison, Rossie Young People's Trust
- Rhian Croke, Children's Legal Centre Wales
- Kay McKerrell, Who Cares? Scotland
- Jayne Miller, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
- Paula Raymond, East Ayrshire Council
Items and actions
-
Purpose of the Meeting
The meeting was held to facilitate introductions, clarify the purpose of the working group, review and agree the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) and discuss key issues.
-
Agenda Items and Discussion
Item 1: Welcome and introductions
The chair welcomed all attendees and invited each participant to introduce themselves by stating their name, organisation and interest in the working group.
Item 2: Review and agreement of Terms of Reference
The group reviewed the draft ToR, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting. It was confirmed that the ToR would be updated to reflect all attendees in the membership.
Action(s):
- Scottish Government (SG) to update ToR and share with group ahead of next meeting
Item 3: Charter - key issues and priorities
The group discussed some of the key issues that should be considered in developing the charter. Members highlighted existing resources available to children and young people in care and sought reassurance the charter wouldn't be duplicating those. The SG clarified that the charter will signpost existing resources/support, aiming to clearly set out the rights of children placed into residential care in Scotland and how to access support. We are unaware of a rights-based charter that currently exists for children placed into residential care in Scotland.
Action(s):
- members to share any relevant resources with SG
The group also questioned if there was any scope for the charter to be extended to cover other groups of looked after children e.g. children in foster care. SG advised that the charter would focus on residential care in the first instance.
Action(s):
- SG to consider expansion of charter beyond residential care
The group discussed the importance of gathering views from children in care and care leavers. SG advised they are exploring options for this through advocacy organisations.
The chair sought views on any other individuals or organisations that should be included in this group.
Action(s):
- SG to engage with Chief Social Work Officers (CSWO) in the development of the charter
- Who Cares? Scotland to provide an overview of current advocacy issues affecting young people in residential care settings and request other independent advocacy organisations to contribute to this data
Item 4: Next steps
Action(s):
- SG to circulate work plan
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Next Meeting
Date and Time: 27 August 2025 11:00 - 12:00
Location: MS Teams