Public service reform strategy: impact assessments

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

1.10 Disclaimer

This document is a point in time assessment of the likely effects of the above-named proposal on the rights and wellbeing of children and young people. This impact assessment should be read in conjunction with other impact assessments prepared for this proposal.

Scottish Government acknowledge the importance of monitoring and evaluating the impact of strategic decisions and legislation on children’s rights and wellbeing. Any information gathered during implementation of the legislation or strategic decision to which the impact assessment relates, will be used to inform future determinations of impact. Any new strategic decision or new legislation (including amending legislation) would be subject to a new CRWIA in line with the legislative requirements.

1.11 Brief Summary

Type of proposal :

• Decision of a strategic nature relating to the rights and wellbeing of children

Name the proposal, and describe its overall aims and intended purpose.

The vision for the Public Service Reform (PSR) Strategy is:

A Scotland where everyone has access to services that are efficient, good quality and effective.

For most people, this will mean you can access the everyday services you need, with the confidence that public money is spent wisely and with clarity on how well services are performing.

For people who need more support, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, public services will come to you. These services will be person-centred, accessible and you will not be required or expected to navigate different organisations or complex systems.

For communities, this will mean shaping local places, with public services organisations sharing power and resources with you to deliver what is needed for individual communities.

For public service staff, you will be empowered to provide tailored support, and be trusted to work with people to deliver beyond organisational boundaries to best support the person or family in front of you.

For public service leaders, this will mean you lead as part of a collective, shaping a system that puts people, communities and places at its heart to meet their needs and maximise public value and ensure fiscal sustainability. Beyond leading your own organisation and sector, you will work collaboratively, forging partnerships that drive lasting change, address root causes and provide support early to avoid long-term, complex and expensive interventions later, rising above individual, organisational and sectoral interests.

We will achieve this through a focus on three pillars: prevention, joined up services, and efficient services.

The strategy identifies the following indicators of the need for reform:

• Despite increased investment, people’s satisfaction with public services is declining^[42]
• Services can be confusing, help can be hard to access, and basic provision can feel stretched
• There is unnecessary and unhelpful duplication in the system, including multiple providers of similar services and service users repeatedly having to provide the same information to different public sector bodies.

Colleagues across public services have told us:

• Those working on the front line can feel constrained in their ability to act to support people
• As organisations, we have the capability but not always the will to act differently and remove duplication and complexity
• Despite the importance of prevention, we have not moved the dial sufficiently to prevent damaging experiences and reduce the risk of future need that leads to expensive demand for public services

The strategy focusses on tackling system-wide issues that must be addressed, and barriers that must be removed, to enable our vision to be achieved. This means creating a system that is collaborative and integrated by default.

We will deliver a system that improves lives, reduces inequality and is fiscally sustainable. That means the public services system will:

• Be efficient and effective with the right-size delivery landscape
• Better join up services and focus on helping people
• Prioritise prevention
• Empower people and communities to shape the services that matter to them
• Be fiscally sustainable

The strategy sets the overarching vision for PSR and sets out 18 workstreams that will contribute to removing barriers and enabling progress on reform. The workstreams are at different stages of development, with some requiring scoping and initiation while others are already underway. While the below assessment offers a broad overview of the overall strategy’s impact, more detailed analysis will be undertaken when specific workstreams are developed that require a CRWIA

Start date of proposal’s development: January 2025

Start date of CRWIA process: June 2025

1.12 With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 (Annex 1), which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

By taking a preventative, joined-up, cross-government approach aimed at improving outcomes for everyone in Scotland, it is expected that the strategy would align and support the implementation of several key Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These include:

Article 2: Non-Discrimination – The strategy is intentionally structured to address entrenched inequalities by enhancing the integration and coordination of services, with a sustained focus on preventative approaches. It directs resources and interventions to areas of highest need, while explicitly recognising that certain groups of children—particularly those in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities—face persistent and systemic barriers. In doing so, it reaffirms the commitment to upholding children's rights equitably and without discrimination.

Article 12: Right to be Heard – The strategy acknowledges the critical role of communities in shaping the design and delivery of local services, including the meaningful participation of children and young people. By embedding community engagement at the core of place-based improvements, it ensures that local perspectives are actively incorporated into decision-making processes, thereby strengthening accountability and responsiveness to community needs.

Article 24: Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health and Article 27: Right to an Adequate Standard of Living –The strategy acknowledges the need to address structural barriers that limit access to resources and economic conditions that allow a high standard of health and living by targeting action to those most in need – for example children in poverty.

1.13 Please provide a summary of the evidence gathered which will be used to inform your decision-making and the content of the proposal

Evidence from:

• existing research/reports/policy expertise

One of the clearest indicators of inequality for children and young people in Scotland is child poverty.

Child poverty remains a significant issue in Scotland, with more than one in five children living in relative poverty after housing costs. While this rate is lower than the UK average of 31%, it still represents a substantial portion of the population. The Scottish Government monitors child poverty using data from the Family Resources Survey, aiming to meet ambitious targets set out in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.^[43]

This legislation outlines statutory goals to reduce child poverty by 2030, with interim targets set for 2023. Although these interim goals have not been fully achieved, progress has been made through various support measures. The government has focused on six priority family types that are at higher risk of poverty: lone parent families, families with a disabled adult or child, larger families with three or more children, minority ethnic families, families with a child under one year old, and mothers under the age of 25.^[44]

To address these challenges, Scotland has implemented several targeted policies. The Scottish Child Payment, which provides £25 per week per eligible child, is a cornerstone of these efforts. Additional supports include Best Start Grants, free school meals, and expanded access to early learning and childcare. These measures have helped slow the rise of child poverty in Scotland compared to other parts of the UK.^[45]

However, significant challenges remain. The ongoing cost of living crisis and UK-wide welfare policies, such as the two-child limit on benefits, continue to place pressure on low-income families.

• consultation/feedback from stakeholders

Consultation and feedback from stakeholders primarily took place through the PSR Summit in February 2025 and then through ongoing engagements since during the development of the strategy. This includes public bodies whose role relates directly to children and young people.

• consultation/feedback directly from children and young people

The development of the strategy involved a broad range of stakeholders, however no direct consultation with children and young people at this time. The strategy recognises that the approach of the Christie Commission is still valid, and therefore analyses key barriers to why we have not reformed our system. As the strategy is focussed on what needs to change within the system, engagement has focussed predominantly on organisations working within the system.

Going forward, it is expected that engagement with stakeholders and engagement directly with children and young people will become an integral part of policy development as more of the workstreams of the strategy progress.

1.14 Further to the evidence described at ‘3’ have you identified any 'gaps' in evidence which may prevent determination of impact? If yes, please provide an explanation of how they will be addressed

The workstreams included in the strategy are at different stages of development and therefore further impact may become clear. While the above assessment offers a broad overview of the strategy’s impact, more detailed analysis will be undertaken as specific workstreams are developed that require a CRWIA. At that stage, the potential effects on children and young people—as well as any gaps in evidence—will be further explored, both for individual workstreams/policies and the cumulative impact of the strategy.

Analysis of Evidence

The evidence demonstrates significant variation in the wellbeing of children and young people across the population, with those in deprived areas facing clear disadvantages from the earliest stages of life.

Tackling these inequalities requires a preventative, system-wide approach integrated across government and public services. The strategy supports this by encouraging early intervention on the root causes of demand for public services and by ensuring that children and young people are central to policy development.

The policy is expected to have a positive impact on reducing child poverty and inequalities highlighted by the evidence, in particular through the focus on prevention (pillar 1) and joined-up services (pillar 2) This will have a positive impact on Article 24: Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health and Article 27: Right to an Adequate Standard of Living. Through the focus on increasing person-centred services and including communities in shaping services in pillar 2, particularly through the Whole Family Support approach, the strategy will have positive impacts on Article 2: Non discrimination and Article 12: right to be heard. Overall the strategy seeks not only to improve outcomes but also to uphold the rights and wellbeing of every child.

1.15 What changes (if any) have been made to the proposal as a result of this assessment?

No modifications have been identified at this stage due to no negative impacts or potential incompatibility being identified.

Conclusion

1.16 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?

Positive - The approach taken by the PSR Strategy is aligned with the UNCRC. It supports children’s rights holistically by addressing the underlying drivers of demand for public services and inequalities through preventative, equity-led approach. As we move into implementation, Child’s Rights and Wellbeing impact assessments will be undertaken for individual workstreams where required.

1.17 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.

The strategy demonstrates significant potential to advance the realisation of children’s rights by fostering equity, enhancing access to essential services, and improving outcomes from the earliest stages of life. Notably, its emphasis on integrated service provision for those experiencing the greatest disadvantage—particularly through the Whole Family Support approach—reinforces the right of every child to the highest attainable standard of health and wellbeing, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. By prioritising preventative measures, the strategy contributes to the creation of more equitable conditions, enabling all children to reach their full potential.

Therefore, there is a potential for articles 2, 12, 24 and 27 to be positively impacted.

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

At this stage, no specific negative impacts on children’s rights and wellbeing have been identified.

Mitigation Record

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

Not applicable.

1.20 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?

Safe: Yes

Healthy: Yes

Achieving: Yes

Nurtured: Yes

Active: Yes

Respected: Yes

Responsible: Yes

Included: Yes

The strategy has the potential to positively contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland through overarching aim of providing efficient, effective and good quality public services to everyone in Scotland. In particular, the workstreams included in pillars 1 and 2 will have this impact through the focus on preventing disadvantage and poor outcomes, providing more joined up services through Whole Family Support, and creating greater involvement of communities in decision making.

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

As individual workstreams are further implemented and developed, clear and accessible communication will be provided to children and young people where appropriate to help them understand how these individual actions affect their rights and wellbeing. This CRWIA will be published on gov.scot so those wishing to access it can do so. In so far as possible the CRWIA has been written in accessible language so those reading it can understand its content.

Post Assessment Review and sign-off

Planning for the review of impact on children’s rights and wellbeing

To ensure the strategy remains responsive to the evolving needs of children and young people, the impact assessment process will be regularly reviewed throughout implementation and delivery.

Sign off

Policy Lead Signature & Date of Sign Off: Polly Windsor – 6 June 2025

Deputy Director Signature & Date of Sign Off: Simon Mair – 27 June 2025

Date CRWIA team first contacted: 10 June 2025