Secure care: transport standards for children

Foreword

These standards represent a significant step forward in ensuring that secure transport for children in Scotland is delivered in a way that is safe, rights-based, and trauma-informed. They have been developed in line with previous work spanning a number of years to develop a National Transport Specification. A specification was developed to aid local authorities in commissioning services and was led with dedication and expertise by the late Dr. Ruby Whitelaw, whose vision and commitment laid the groundwork for this progress. We are proud to acknowledge Ruby’s invaluable contribution and the legacy of her work.

The journey from specification to standards has been collaborative and inclusive. A small core group of multi-agency professionals took this work forward, shaping the standards to be practical, measurable, and aligned with Scotland’s commitment to The Promise, GIRFEC, and the rights contained in international conventions such as the UNCRC and ECHR. However, these standards are not just the product of professional dialogue, they reflect the voices of children and young people with lived experience, whose insights challenged us to think differently and act boldly. Their feedback, alongside contributions from secure care centres, local government and wider partners, informed previous work, and in turn, these standards.

Importantly, these standards are now required under Part 16A of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (as inserted by section 25 of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024), and they must be followed and reported on, ensuring accountability across practice. They set clear requirements for providers, local authorities and Ministers, bridging the gap between policy and lived experience, and ensuring that every child’s journey is planned and delivered with dignity, compassion, and respect. We extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to this work - professionals across agencies, secure care centres, and most importantly, the children and young people who shared their experiences. These standards are a testament to what can be achieved when we listen, collaborate, and act with a shared purpose: to make sure that every child is transported safely and humanely, with their rights at the heart of every decision.