UNCRC Strategic Implementation board minutes: May 2023 - Summary

Attendees and apologies

Members of the board

• Andrew Watson (Chair), Director for Children and Families
• Dragan Nastic, UNICEF UK
• Gina Wilson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYCPS)
• Juliet Harris, Together Scotland
• Nicola Anderson (LIT), replacing Noel Rehfisch, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• CI Steve McKinnon of Police Scotland, deputising ACC Gary Ritchie
• Ben Farrugia, Social Work Scotland
• Helen Fogarty, Social Security Scotland
• Ashleigh Pitcairn on behalf of Kay McCorquodale, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Eleanor Kerr, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Laura Caven, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Laura Pasternak, Coalition of Care and Support Providers (CCPS)
• Michael Cameron, Scottish Housing Regulator
• Craig Morris, Care Inspectorate

Scottish Government officials

• Ian Donaldson, Deputy Director: Children’s Rights Protection and Justice
• Dean Snape, UNCRC Project Manager
• Andrew Preston, UNCRC Programme Assistant
• Carola Eyber, Children’s Rights Reporting and Monitoring Lead
• Gita Sharkey, Joint Unit Head, Children’s Rights Unit
• Liz Levy, Joint Unit Head, Children’s Rights Unit
• Lyndsey Saki, Embedding Children’s Rights in Public Services Programme Lead
• Paul Gorman, Empowered Children and Young People Lead
• Shona Spence, UNCRC Bill Lead
• Lesleyann Russell, Embedding Children’s Rights in Public Services, Children’s Rights Unit
• Anna Munro, SGLD

Apologies

• Chloe Riddell, The Promise
• ACC Gary Ritchie, Police Scotland
• Norma Ruettiman, Care and Learning Alliance
• Margaret Gibb, Parenting Across Scotland
• Margo Williamson, SOLACE
• Kay McCorquodale, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Richmond Davies, Public Health Scotland

Guests

• Kavita Chetty

Items and actions

What is the Strategic Implementation Board?

The Strategic Implementation Board (or SIB, for short) is a group of people that meet every month.
They support the Government to make the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) part of Scots law.
They put in place support for organisations, children and young people, and their families to help ensure that children’s rights are made real. They discuss if the work is on track and help to resolve any problems in trying to make this happen.
There are people on the SIB from Police, Education, Health, Social Work, children’s rights organisations, and the Scottish Government.

What was discussed at this meeting?

Progress for the Bill

The SIB were given an update on the Bill by the Children’s Rights Unit in the Scottish Government. They committed to incorporate the UNCRC as far as is possible within devolved powers, including consideration of the Supreme Court judgment.

The Reconsideration Stage was discussed as a way to address the issues raised by the Supreme Court.

The main issue is to clarify which parts and duties of public authorities (police, health, education) will be covered by the Bill. Some of these fall under UK Government powers, while others are within the powers of the Scottish Government.

Coverage of UK Acts carries higher risk of another Supreme Court referral. The Scottish Government presented options for the Bill.

The safest option is for coverage to apply only when public authorities are delivering duties under powers of the Scottish Parliament. This option would reduce coverage in some areas but carries less risk and is simpler to implement.

Even under this safest option, there would still be a significant impact on how children understand and access their rights in Scotland.

Support for the Launch of the Bill

The SIB were given an update on current and future UNCRC resources.

The guidance for taking a Children’s Rights Based Approach will be updated to make it as clear as possible.

An Introduction to Children’s Rights online learning course is being developed for the Scottish Government. This will help all duty bearers gain a good level of knowledge about Children’s Rights.

A working group is being developed to support organisations responsible for inspecting and regulating public authorities.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the SIB will be held on Tuesday 25 July 2023 from 15:30 to 17:00