We are CELCIS

CELCIS is a leading improvement and innovation centre in Scotland.

We improve children’s lives by supporting people and organisations to drive long-lasting change in the services they need, and the practices used by people responsible for their care.

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The home for Protecting Children

The home for Protecting Children

Find out more about child protection policy and practice in Scotland.

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News

Scottish Government

Scottish Government publishes vision for adoption in Scotland

29 November 2024
The Scottish Government has published (26 November) a statement setting out its vision and priorities for supporting adoption in…
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Recent developments in adoption services give new insights for improving practice in Scotland

20 November 2024
New work by CELCIS has brought together examples and experiences of adoption services in Scotland, the UK, and internationally, …
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New report on recognising the risks and prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation published to support learning and prevention in Scotland

18 November 2024
A new report providing an overview of the prevalence of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation, and approaches to prev…
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New research highlights the need for increased support for Scotland’s kinship families

08 October 2024
For the first time, a body of data about Scotland’s children and young people with experience of care has been brought together …

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Resources

Towards modernising adoption in Scotland: A focused mapping review

This review of current adoption legislation, policy and practice considers what works well, what challenges and issues there are, and what factors should be considered in thinking about the future of adoption. It identif…

New research highlights the need for increased support for Scotland’s kinship families

A new report – Growing Up in Kinship Care – published by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection based at the University of Strathclyde, for SCADR, the Scottish Centre for Administrative Dat…

Non-compulsory care for children and young people in Scotland: Learning from experiences of Section 25

This final report brings together the findings of how Section 25 arrangements in Scotland are experienced from the perspectives of parents, practitioners - social workers, solicitors, children’s reporters and independent…

Children's Services Reform Research Concluding report

This concluding report, published in December 2023, brings together key themes and learning from across the study’s findings and determines that there are a range of elements which contribute to creating the optimal cond…

Blog

Whose experiences are we relying on to explain what the reality of adoption feels like for adoptees?

Whose experiences are we relying on to explain what the reality of adoption feels like for adoptees?

In this blog post, Dr Polly Cowan, a Practice Manager at Scottish Adoption and Fostering, explains how the organisation’s Young Ambassadors developed a new…

November 2024
Developing a new resource to help support adoptive families caring for brothers and sisters

Developing a new resource to help support adoptive families caring for brothers and sisters

In this blog post, Dr Christine Jones, an adoptive parent and researcher who worked to ensure the rights of care experienced brothers and sisters are protected…

November 2024
Taking action to improve the collection of statistics about disabled children in Scotland

Taking action to improve the collection of statistics about disabled children in Scotland

In this blog post, Dr Alex McTier, Evidence and Evaluation Specialist at CELCIS, explains what’s behind a new project to help better understand the needs of…

November 2024
Challenging the narrative: How a new media toolkit is helping tell the stories of care

Challenging the narrative: How a new media toolkit is helping tell the stories of care

Sophia Alexandra Hall is deputy digital editor at the Big Issue and the author of the Media Toolkit for Journalists and Care Experienced People, which shares…

October 2024
From isolation to belonging - from surviving to thriving, through connection and community

From isolation to belonging - from surviving to thriving, through connection and community

In this blog post for Care Experience Week 2024, Melody*, a consultant with lived experience at CELCIS offers her thoughts on this year’s theme of ‘Belonging…

October 2024
We must uphold Scotland’s children’s rights

We must uphold Scotland’s children’s rights

Sarah Jayne Morris, a Consultant with lived experience at CELCIS, offers her thoughts on the UNCRC being enshrined in law in Scotland and why, for her, this…

July 2024