Scotland's Redress Scheme: combined annual report 2025

4.18 Rossie Young People’s Trust

Introduction

Rossie signed up to Scotland’s Redress Scheme in December 2021 as part of the national endeavour to address the harms of historical child abuse. The Scheme provides financial and non-financial redress. We have made a total contribution of £155,000 to date. The official letter of apology issued by the Chair remains on our website. We have not been asked for a direct apology, assistance on tracing families or other forms of support by former residents. However, we have hosted visits, and were pleased to do so, from former residents and their families as requested by them, and as part of the redress process.

We are a trauma-informed organisation and deliver all services in line with Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC), The Promise, UNCRC, Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland, and our legislative and regulatory requirements. This evidences our commitment to providing the highest standards of care/protection, education, health and psychological support to all young people who live with us. This Report provides information about the non-financial arrangements we have developed, and continue to develop, to prevent any forms of abuse occurring.

Culture

Our culture is informed by our values of Respect, Integrity, Delivery, Accountability, and Collaboration. Our Board has endorsed these, and all staff are introduced to our values at induction stage. Young people are also aware of our values, and how these relate to expectations of positive behaviours by them, and what they can expect of all staff. Our services are therapeutic and delivered by multidisciplinary teams. The CEO and all members of the senior team have high visibility across the organisation, and operate an ‘open door’ policy for staff and young people. We have a well published Whistleblowing Policy.

Governance

Our Board of Governors (volunteers) provides strong governance – at least 8 formal Board meetings are held per annum. Governors set our strategic direction and are sighted on all strategic developments, financial and operational aspects of our charitable business. They receive regular reports on operational performance, and proposals for projects, and have ample opportunities for scrutiny/challenge/support and approval. Our Governors carry out unannounced visits, and take the opportunity to meet with young people and staff. One Governor is designated to carry out an unannounced visit each month.

Staff Recruitment

Robust staff recruitment processes, clear job descriptions, and person specifications and pre-employment checks are in place. Our young people are involved in the selection process of all staff.

Staff receive a comprehensive indiction, mentoring programme, supervision and annual appraisal. Our culture empowers staff to make suggestions to improve the organisation. Our long service financial award scheme recognises/values staff for their commitment to Rossie and work with our young people. These processes ensure we recruit and retain the best talent. Clear career pathways are in place for staff. We have an on-site accredited SQA Centre delivering core operational qualifications to ensure best practice. All front-line staff must register with the SSSC and abide by their Code of Conduct – annual re-registration is required to enable social care practice. We have very strong links with universities at local, regional national and international levels. We engage in relevant research projects and provide student placements across a range of disciplines. All of these actions ensure our knowledge is current, delivering services which are evidenced based and to the highest standard.

Safeguarding

Rossie is an active member of the Angus Child Protection Committee, which is the local strategic planning partnership responsible for developing and implementing child protection policy and strategy across and between agencies. The committee is responsible for:

• The co-ordination of training for professional and other staff
• The development of policies, procedures and protocols
• Ensuring the effectiveness and quality of local child protection services through continuous improvement
• The provision of public information about child protection.

We have a comprehensive safeguarding policy, which has been approved/signed off by the Committee. All staff attend safeguarding training and receive ongoing refresher training. There is an annual review of joint protocols. The DCEO has lead responsibility for this work.

UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Rossie is committed to delivering all services in line with the UNCRC. Article 12 states that every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. Our young people are extensively involved in the day-to-day decision-making across the organisation. We have a contract with Who Cares? Scotland, to ensure young people receive independent advocacy and are enabled to participate in a wide range of activities and developments.

Rossie was the first secure and residential care centre in Scotland to purchase an airport scanner to get rid of the need to physically search young people on admission. In January 2024 we installed a new state of the art technical system across the organisation, which monitors, records and retains all staff whereabouts at all times. We use CCTV to ensure the safety and protection of all young people and staff and have added an additional 50 cameras across the campus.

We have continued to invest in technology to ensure the safety and protection of young people and staff, by installing CCTV throughout the school classrooms, updating our entire fire detection system, and equipping staff with new communications equipment able to locate and track individual’s whereabouts should they require assistance. We are working in partnership with a private company to install sensors in bedroom areas to prevent young people self-harming (there are no cameras in the sensors). Our sector leading approach evidences commitment to deliver Article 37 and treat young people with dignity and respect and ensures the relationship with staff starts on a positive footing.

Article 25 states if a child has been placed away from home for the purpose of care or protection they have the right to a regular review of their treatment, the way they are cared for and their wider circumstances. Rossie supports young people to attend their Children’s Hearing and prepares accurate and current reports in a timely manner. Procedures related to making complaints are communicated to all young people and their families/carers at the time of admission: these procedures are published on our website. We are highly regulated by the Care Inspectorate and receive unannounced annual inspections. Our most recent published secure care inspection report graded the care of young people as “very good”, and leadership/management as “excellent”.

Also, in line with Article 37, Rossie facilitates family visits on our campus. We have made significant investments in digital technology, media walls, so young people, their families and other key people in their lives can maintain positive and regular contact. The CORRA Foundation awarded us a grant in December 2023 to further develop our family services and ensure siblings remain in contact and enjoy fun time together. Our new activity centre will open in September 2025.

Article 39 states children who have experienced neglect, abuse, exploitation must receive special support to help them recover their health, dignity, self-respect and social life. We have specialists who provide psychological assessments and interventions to aid recovery from trauma and support reintegration back into their family and community (as appropriate). As a multidisciplinary organisation, we ensure a holistic approach to the needs of all young people, delivering individualised interventions. We have excellent partnerships with NHS Tayside, CAMHS and a multitude of specialist organisations.

The Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland

Rossie has been actively involved in the design of the Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland. These have been co-produced with care-experienced children, young people and adults. They follow a child’s journey before, during and after their time in secure care. The Standards provide a framework to ensure rights are respected and positive outcomes achieved.

The Promise - Physical Restraint Reduction

Rossie is a member of two national working groups (Restraint Reduction Network, Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group) committed to the reduction of physical restraint. All relevant staff are trained and accredited in CALM physical restraint procedures. Annual accreditation is required for staff to safely and legally use physical restraint on young people.

We have 17 Instructors, fully trained in debrief methodology delivering robust support to staff and young people. This approach provides staff with the necessary skills and support to de-escalate violent or harmful behaviours, reducing the need for physical interventions or restraints. Our specialist debriefing supports staff and young people, post incident to re-establish positive relationships.

Our regulatory body, the Care Inspectorate requires us to report all incidents to them and carry out reviews as appropriate. As a learning organisation, we ensure we learn from all incidents and improve practice and/or send staff on refresher programmes. All Inspection reports are published and available on the Care Inspectorate website.

We prepare reports for our Board on incidents of physical restraints, and monitor, review and analyse trend data. Rossie is committed to using physical restraints only as a last resort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.

The Scottish Government is piloting a scheme whereby caseworkers approach organisations directly to request information showing that applicants were in relevant care settings to inform fixed rate payments. This means applicants do not have the burden of this task – we are actively engaged in and supporting this initiative since October 2024.

Historical Records/Former Residents

We have received requests from former residents to access historical records. We have responded speedily to all such requests and will continue to do so. There is additional work and costs associated with these requests, evidencing Rossie’s on-going commitment to both the principles of redress and the Redress Scheme.

We have offered former residents the opportunity to visit Rossie, to demonstrate the range of protective measures, systems and procedures we have in place to ensure the highest standards of care. Rossie warmly welcomed former residents and their families on site during 2024.

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

Rossie has been identified as a provider in Phase 8 of the Inquiry. We have already sent all relevant documentation to the Inquiry, again at additional costs to the organisation. We will fully comply with all requirements to give evidence at the start of 2025.

Conclusion

Rossie is the only secure care provider to have signed up to the Redress Scheme. This report provides information on the culture, governance, systems and procedures we have in place, which provide protections to all young people placed in our care.

As a Charity, Rossie is committed to providing the highest quality of services to the most vulnerable children across Scotland and the UK. We remain both committed and determined to achieve our Vision of being a Centre of Excellence that Changes Lives