SCCYP Releases

The latest news from and about SCCYP, including press releases.

Children’s Commissioner heads to the UN to scrutinise Scotland’s performance on children’s rights

10th Jun 2008

Kathleen Marshall, the Children’s Commissioner for Scotland visits Geneva this week to deliver a hard-hitting report (published in UK on 09.06.08) to the UN on the state of children’s rights across the UK.


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Looked After Children Being “Pushed Out” of Care and onto Street

26th Mar 2008

Vulnerable children are leaving care when they are too young, ending up homeless and potentially vulnerable to drug/alcohol problems and unemployment, according to a new report by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Sweet 16? exposes the gap between policy and practice with regard to children and young people leaving care. (1) The Commissioner today (26 March) warned that, with the highest number of children in care since 1982, more and more young people will struggle to cope with the harsh realities of full independence. (2)

Eight times as many young people leave care at 16 as leave at 18, despite law and policy strongly advising that they should be encouraged to stay in care until they are 18. Many go on to live in bed and breakfasts and hostels for the homeless. (3) The report highlights the case of a young person who was in a B&B with a convicted murderer as a fellow guest (p10, p63).

Sometimes those with more complex needs are encouraged to leave early (p9) and both young people and workers report a strong culture that assumes 16 is the age that people should leave care.

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, said, “Though policies do offer looked after young people care until they are 18, in practice they are often pushed out of the system at 16. Last year, for instance, around 1330 children left care but over half of those were 16.

“In many cases, children and young people in care are seen as a troublesome burden rather than a vulnerable person to be nurtured, cared for and listened to. At just 16 years old - the very time that they need help to cope, adjust, and find their place in the world - many are all but completely abandoned with little, if any, aftercare. Turning 16 should be an exciting prospect – not one that brings the harsh realities of adult life without support, guidance and care.”

Heather Gray, Director of Who Cares? Scotland, the charity that provides advocacy and support for children and young people who are accommodated and looked, said, “Children and young people are telling us of their need for support beyond the age of 16. This has to be planned and co-coordinated with an emphasis on building their skills and confidence. Listening to their concerns is vital if we are to address, with urgency, the problems that most definitely exist.”

Tam Baillie, Assistant Director of Policy and Influencing at Barnardo’s Scotland, said ‘’Nowadays, most young people stay at home well into their twenties, yet most looked after young people leave care aged 16 or 17. We need to ask ourselves why our most vulnerable young people are expected to be fully independent at such a young age, often in very difficult circumstances, as the report highlights. It simply is not good enough - we need more progressive practices that significantly increase the average age of leaving care.’’

ENDS

For copies of the report or to arrange an interview with Kathleen Marshall please contact Esther Black at Pagoda PR: 0131 556 0770/07766 493 163/esther.black@pagodapr.com

For cases studies see p 37 and p44.

The full report, and a version for young people, will be available from Wednesday morning at www.sccyp.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The report is based on a review of information provided by all 32 Scottish local authorities, interviews and focus groups with workers and young people in 13 local authority areas, as well as desk based research.

Key recommendations include (see section 12):

- Firm steps must be taken to change the culture that expects young people to leave care at 16. Policy and practice should emphasise that young people are entitled to proper care and support up until the age of 18. (no. 3)

- Young people leaving care should not have to be made “homeless” in order to be regarded as a priority for housing allocation. (no. 13)

- The Scottish Government should ban the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for young people leaving care. Neither should young people be placed in hostels for the homeless. (nos. 14 and 15)

- Local authorities should develop more semi-independent living units (no. 7)

- The Scottish Government should review the eligibility threshold for aftercare so that a young person may qualify for care even if s/he leave ceases to be looked after before reaching school leaving age (no. 18)

2. In 2007, there were over 14,000 looked after children, an increase of 26% since 1999 and the highest number since 1982 (p22, table 3).

3. In 2007, of those leaving care who are eligible for aftercare services, 18 aged 15-16, 25 aged 17 and 44 aged 18, were homeless (p24, table 6). These figures exclude those who leave care before reaching the minimum school leaving age, who disappear from statistics and whose fate is unknown.

4. The Commissioner is independent of both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. Her remit is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people, with particular emphasis on the rights set out in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She also monitors the law, policy and practice for effectiveness in relation to the rights of children and young people and promotes best practice by service providers working with children.





Esther Black
Senior Consultant
Pagoda Public Relations
4 Eyre Place
Edinburgh
EH3 5EP

Tel: +44 (0) 131 556 0770
Mobile: +44 (0)7766 493 163
Fax: +44 (0) 131 558 9463
www.pagodapr.com



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Handle With Care: Commissioner warns children with disabilities are “voiceless” in decisions

28th Feb 2008

Fear of legal action, confusion over rules and a failure to include children and parents in decision making is excluding children with disabilities from everyday activities and is causing them stress and loss of dignity, according to new research out today (Thursday 28 February). (1)

The report Handle With Care by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People examines policy and practice in the moving and handling of children with physical disabilities. (2) It is based on a survey of all 32 local authorities, interviews and focus groups with children and young people, parents and practitioners, and a review of relevant law.

It concludes that there are vast differences across Scotland in moving and handling practice, staff training and the extent to which children and parents are involved in decisions about their care. Essentially, children with physical disabilities can be victims of a “postcode lottery” which has serious implications for their quality of life.

Handle With Care also highlights the dilemma staff face in choosing between following a policy (which may mean moving a child in a way that causes the child pain or distress), or risking disciplinary action by moving a child in the way he/she prefers. Staff are also concerned about a lack of resources and the fact that moving and handling is often given a low priority by service providers.

Service providers are often unclear about policies and rules and may concentrate solely on limiting all risks due to a fear of litigation. Parents and carers feel that the health and safety of staff is prioritised at the expense of the rights and needs of children. The children themselves often feel they are treated like any other “load” and are sometimes handled without being consulted on what method they prefer and what is comfortable. Children end up being excluded from activities such as school trips and facilities such as swimming pools. Ultimately, their quality of life and development can suffer as a result.

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children & Young People, said, “The moving and handling of children with disabilities has a real impact on their happiness, comfort and safety, but staff are understandably confused over what they can and cannot do and have to constantly juggle conflicting priorities.

“National standards are desperately needed so that, though the detail of policy may vary from council to council, there are clear guidelines that ensure the safety and well-being of staff and children. The quality of life of children with disabilities, and respect for their rights and needs, should not be a postcode lottery. Currently, there are some excellent examples of local authorities doing good work, but too much is by chance rather than design.”

Twenty-one year old Karen Sutherland took part in the focus groups. Karen, who has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user, said, “People often handle and move you like you are cargo, not a living and breathing person who knows their body and knows what does and doesn’t work. Often, it is not the fault of staff – they are caught between wanting to do the best for the child, and having very restrictive or impractical rules that they must follow. I know children with disabilities who have been hurt or injured because, for example, staff are instructed to use a hoist even when the child indicates that it is uncomfortable or painful.”

A DVD has been produced featuring young people and their carers talking about their experiences. One girl explains that she does not like being lifted by the hoist but she is concerned about the safety of her carer if she is lifted manually. Another young person recalls being placed in an “Evac” chair (an emergency stairway evacuation chair) during a fire drill and left at the top of a stairwell until the fire brigade arrived. Other young people say that hoists make them feel “like cargo” and that using them is undignified, “painful” and “uncomfortable”. One teenage girl says: “The rules are made out of papers and reports and theories, not out of the way life works.”

ENDS

For advance copies of the report or to arrange an interview with Kathleen Marshall and a parent please contact Esther Black at Pagoda PR: 0131 556 0770/07766 493 163/esther.black@pagodapr.com
The full report, and a version for young people, will be available from Thursday at www.sccyp.org.uk The DVD is available from the SCCYP office on 0131 558 3733.

Notes to Editors

1. The report will be launched today (Thursday 28 February) at the Scottish Parliament at 2.30pm where the Commissioner will be joined by children and young people with disabilities, parents and practitioners.
2. The term ‘moving and handling’ refers to any activity involving supporting, lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving a child or young person. Such activities may be carried out by hand or using bodily force, or in conjunction with handling equipment (such as a hoist). Examples of moving and handling activities include transferring a child from a wheelchair to bed, or hoisting a child into the bath. Children and young people may receive moving and handling assistance from a range of people including learning assistants, social care workers or nurses.
3. The Commissioner is independent of both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. Her remit is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people, with particular emphasis on the rights set out in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She also monitors the law, policy and practice for effectiveness in relation to the rights of children and young people and promotes best practice by service providers working with children.



Esther Black
Senior Consultant
Pagoda Public Relations
4 Eyre Place
Edinburgh
EH3 5EP

Tel: +44 (0) 131 556 0770
Mobile: +44 (0)7766 493 163
Fax: +44 (0) 131 558 9463
www.pagodapr.com



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