The independent sector
For children and young people who are looked after, it is our job to ensure that we are creating as many opportunities as it is possible to create; and that we put in place safety nets at every stage of their journey, which can help safeguard each child or young person when they come across barriers to success. It is our job to create a safe environment for Scotland’s children and young people and to assist them as they navigate their potentially trickier journey through life.
'In this day and age there is no excuse for young people not to have access to information to the support that they need to go into further education or employment. Support for young people who may have been in the system for a long time and not have the necessary skills required when moving into their own home…teach them skills that they may otherwise have gained from their parent.'
Anonymous
The role of independent sector providers in the corporate family
Most parents do not bring up children on their own – they rely to a greater or lesser extent on extended family members to support them. In a corporate family, those extended family members include independent sector providers.
All providers must be able to demonstrate that they can deliver the good parenting and support that corporate parents expect for their children and young people. They must respect and work in partnership as part of the extended corporate family. This should be clarified before deciding on a placement for a child.
Establishing and maintaining positive relationships
For some children, emergency placements will be inevitable at some times. These should be kept to a minimum. Ongoing relationships between purchasers and potential providers should make sure that most of the necessary protocols and arrangements are already in place rather than starting afresh with each placement. Establishing and maintaining positive relationships is equally important between organisations as it is between individuals.
Contact between the placing authority and the provider should be frequent and purposeful, particularly when the child is placed a long way from home. Both the placing authority and the host have a responsibility to meet the child or young person’s need for contact and to work out between them how best to arrange it, with regular reviews.
Communication is equally important in community placements and with families. It is important that the carer fully understands the reasons for the additional support or intervention and is committed to the desired outcomes; they need to be aware of the support they should be providing to make sure that the young person fully engages with the work, and any information-sharing protocols which are being used.
Planning to meet children's and young people's needs
Planning for children and young people must take account of their short and longer term needs. We need to plan and prepare for the end of a placement from the beginning. The transition from care back to the birth family or into independence is crucial, and can be particularly problematic for those placed outwith their home authority. Providers should engage in planning for a smooth transition, making sure supports are in place to enable the young person to return successfully to their community or to establish themselves independently.
You will want to:
- demonstrate how you can add value to the corporate family; how your service delivers better outcomes for looked after children and young people, or care leavers.
- demonstrate that what you offer is worth the investment, in terms of outcomes for children and young people and preventing the need for higher tariff intervention or services later.
Downloadable resources
Read the fulll version of this section of the Corporate Parenting Guidance on the Scottish Government website.
Personal stories
Liz Rae
Who cares? Scotland ensures children and young people can speak for themselves or are represented when they are in the looked after system.