Residential Care Charter of Rights Working Group minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Claire Grant, Scottish Government 
• Stacey Lindsay, Scottish Government 
• Paul Gorman, Scottish Government
• Richard Wilkins, Scottish Government
• Lisa Lochran, Scottish Government 
• Caroline McMenemy, Scottish Government 
• Rachel Hailstones, Scottish Government 
• Jayne Miller, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• Selwyn McCausland, Barnardo's 
• Andrea Morrison, Our Promise Scotland
• Kari-Ann Johnstone, East Lothian Council
• Caroline Richardson, Who Cares? Scotland
• Gillian Hoffin, East Ayrshire Advocacy Service 
• Peter Summers, Pebbles Care 
• John Mackie, East Lothian Council
• Martin McAdam, South Ayrshire Council
• Heather MacMaster, Angus Independent Advocacy
• Katy Nisbet, Clan Childlaw 
• Gavin Calder, Harmeny Education Trust 
• Sarah Deeley, Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS)
• Kevin Lee, Greenleaf House

Items and actions

1. Welcome and Introductions

• Welcome from Chair

• Brief introductions (name, role, organisation)

2. Recap of Previous Work

• Overview of aims and remit

• Summary of discussions and outputs from 2025

• Where work paused and why

The Chair welcomed all attendees and provided an overview of the purpose of the working group and the charter. This included a summary of the three meetings held in 2025, which primarily focused on the format and content of the charter, its intended use by children and young people, and a review of comparable documents developed in other sectors.

3. Reconfirming Purpose and Scope

• Restate vision for the rights-based charter

• Proposed scope and intended audience

• Prompt:

  • Does this still feel right?

  • Is anything unclear or needs refining at this stage?

The Chair reiterated the vision and scope of the charter and invited feedback from the group. Members highlighted the need to consider inclusion of specific groups, including young people transitioning from residential care into continuing care and those in secure care, with further engagement required across relevant teams to avoid duplication and explore collaborative approaches.

Discussion also emphasised the importance of ensuring the document is inclusive of all children in residential settings, including those in cross-border placements, with consideration of how children’s rights frameworks such as the UNCRC apply in these contexts.

Concerns were raised about avoiding siloed working and ensuring alignment. Members suggested undertaking impact assessments (e.g. Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment) to better understand who should be included, the existing evidence base, and to ensure a more informed approach before finalising the charter.

There was also recognition of the need to clearly communicate children’s rights in an accessible and transferable way, drawing on existing materials and working collaboratively with other parties.

Action: Claire to follow up with relevant colleagues, including secure care and continuing care leads, and explore these issues further.

4. Next Steps: Co-Development Approach

• Outline proposed approach (e.g., drafting process, CYP engagement, testing)

• Suggested roles and contribution from members

• Discussion prompts:

  • What feels most important to prioritise first?

  • How can we best involve children and young people meaningfully?

  • Where can group members add most value?

The group discussed approaches to engaging children and young people, emphasising the importance of gathering their views through advocacy and existing relationships. It was agreed that further clarity on the charter’s content and approach is needed before meaningful engagement takes place.

Members highlighted the value of working with established groups, such as advocacy networks and champions boards of young people, to support engagement and contribute to impact assessments. There was also a strong recommendation to pause and undertake scoping and mapping work to review existing resources and avoid duplication in an already crowded landscape.

The need for collaboration with key organisations, including Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS), was noted, alongside potential links to related workstreams such as Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group (SPRAG).

Next steps: Progress impact assessments and a mapping exercise, with support from relevant partners, and strengthen coordination with key organisations.

 5. AOB and Close

• Any other business

• Confirm immediate actions and next meeting