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National framework established to monitor Scotland’s progress on children’s social care

Year: 2024 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Foster care, Kinship care, Legislation, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, Secure care, Throughcare and aftercare, Brothers and sisters | Author: The Promise Scotland

Aimed at building an understanding of how Scotland is doing in its progress towards keeping The Promise of the Independent Care Review, the F…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 23 No 2

Year: 2024 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

Welcome to the autumn 2024 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care (SJRCC). We introduce this issue by saying a big ‘thank yo…

The Reflection and Action Learning Forum Project Update

Year: 2024 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Laura Steckley, Sarah Deeley and Gemma Watson

The Reflection and Learning Forum (RALF) is a model for supporting the development of reflection at depth. The aim of RALF is to provide a pr…

When data tells us the what but not the why

Year: 2023 | Topic: Adoption, Corporate parenting, Foster care, Kinship care, Looked after at home, Neglect, Permanence, Residential care | Author: Micky Anderson

CELCIS’s Data Lead, Micky Anderson, takes a look at the latest social work statistics in Scotland for clues about what is happening in the su…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 23 No 1

Year: 2024 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

Welcome to the spring 2024 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care (SJRCC). It is a very full issue, with the usual mix of lo…

“It’s about…believing our own words”: Bringing together the voices of care experienced people

Year: 2023 | Topic: Adoption, Corporate parenting, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Local authority, Looked after at home, Residential care, Stigma, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people, Brothers and sisters | Author: Rebekah Pierre

Rebekah Pierre is a care experienced writer, author, social worker, and editor of a new anthology, ‘Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System A…

A response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government’s consultation on ‘Scottish Social Services Council – proposed register changes'

Year: 2023 | Topic: Local authority, Residential care | Author: Kate MacKinnon

CELCIS has responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on 'Scottish Social Services Council – proposed register changes'. We welcome …

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 22 No 2

Year: 2023 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

Welcome to the autumn 2023 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care. This issue is packed with three long-form, and peer-revie…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 22 No 1

Year: 2023 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

The latest issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care features topical issues, research and practice. Also read the latest Kilbr…

The Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Care Journeys in Scotland: An Analysis of the Administrative Data on 'Looked After' Children

Year: 2023 | Topic: Kinship care, Looked after at home, Residential care, COVID | Author: Joanna Soraghan, Gillian Raab, Patricio Troncoso, Morag Treanor & Robert Porter

Supporting change in residential child care through the use of practice profiles and Active Implementation

Year: 2023 | Topic: Active implementation, Residential care | Author: Aberlour Sycamore, CELCIS

In 2017 Aberlour Sycamore alongside CELCIS considered how consistent, high-quality residential child-care practice could be supported and imp…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 21 No 2

Year: 2022 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

This issue’s leading article was specially commissioned to celebrate the SJRCC’s 20th year from James Anglin, Emeritus Professor of Child and…

A response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on a Children’s Care & Justice Bill

Year: 2022 | Topic: Children's hearings system, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Kate Mackinnon, Paul Sullivan and Lizzie Thomson

CELCIS’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a Children’s Care & Justice Bill. Here, we respond to proposals on changes to …

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 21 No1

Year: 2022 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

Welcome to the spring 2022 issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care (SJRCC). This year marks the Journal’s 20th anniversary. T…

The Scottish Government’s Promise implementation plan 2022

Year: 2022 | Topic: Legislation | Author: The Scottish Government

The Scottish Government has produced an implementation plan setting out what it will do to Keep The Promise by 2030. This plan complements Th…

Money Matters Access to Child Trust Funds and Financial Support

Year: 2022 | Topic: Adoption, Corporate parenting, Kinship care, Looked after at home, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: CELCIS

This briefing explains how to access Child Trust Funds, and any support that children or young people might need to access or manage their fu…

A response from CELCIS to the Scottish Government’s policy position paper: Cross-border placements of children and young people into residential care in Scotland

Year: 2022 | Topic: Children's hearings system, Legislation, Residential care | Author: Lizzie Thomson

In our response to the Scottish Government's recent policy position paper, we provide feedback on proposals concerning the recognition of Dep…

Developing practice for care records in Scotland

Year: 2022 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Foster care, Kinship care, Local authority, Permanence, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people, Brothers and sisters | Author: CELCIS

This briefing is for all practitioners involved in writing, managing and/or supporting access to care records.

CELCIS’s response to the National Care Service Consultation

Year: 2021 | Topic: Active implementation, Adoption, Child protection, Child sexual exploitation (CSE), Child trafficking, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Disability, Domestic abuse, Education, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Neglect, Parental alcohol and/or drug use, Parental mental health, Permanence, Residential care, Secure care, Stigma, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people, COVID | Author: CELCIS

Proposals for a National Care Service in Scotland were published for consultation by the Scottish Government in August 2021. CELCIS’s respons…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 20 No 2

Year: 2021 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

This issue of The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care has been published to coincide with the Scottish Institute of Residential Child …

Walking in Fred’s shoes

Year: | Topic: Active implementation, Foster care, Kinship care, Local authority, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Alison Cowper

Alison Cowper, Service Manager with the Independent Care and Review Team (Children and Families) at Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partn…

Final reports and recommendations published by Scotland’s National Confidential Forum

Year: 2021 | Topic: Historical abuse, Neglect, Residential care | Author: National Confidential Forum

The National Confidential Forum, which was established under the the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014, has published its final repor…

Response to the Competitions and Market Authority Study of Children’s Social Care Provision

Year: 2021 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Paul Sullivan

Here we provide information to support of the UK wide Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) study on children’s social care provision. We h…

CELCIS's commitment to keeping The Promise

Year: 2021 | Topic: Active implementation, Adoption, Child protection, Child sexual exploitation (CSE), Child trafficking, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Disability, Domestic abuse, Education, Emotional abuse, Fabricated or Induced Illness in children, Female Genital Mutilation, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Historical abuse, International, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Neglect, Online safety, Parental alcohol and/or drug use, Parental mental health, Permanence, Physical abuse, Residential care, Secure care, Sexual abuse, Stigma, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: CELCIS

Learn more about CELCIS’s response and our offer to work in collaboration with The Promise and those working to support children, young peopl…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 20 No1

Year: 2021 | Topic: Residential care | Author:

This issue of The Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care includes perspectives on the role of informal networks in young people transitio…

Function, quality and outcomes of residential care – Rapid Evidence Review

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Robert Porter, Miriana Giraldi and Fiona Mitchell, CELCIS, commissioned by SOS Children’s Villages International

In seeking to provide an overview of the existing research on residential care, this rapid evidence review addresses the following research q…

Continuing Care and the Welfare Assessment: Practice Note

Year: 2020 | Topic: Children's hearings system, Foster care, Legislation, Local authority, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Kenny McGhee (CELCIS), Julia Donnelly (Clan Childlaw), Alison Jamieson (Care Inspectorate)

This Practice Note clarifies the legislative requirements when undertaking a Welfare Assessment to support planning for a looked after young …

SIRCC 2020 Online | A conversation: All good things must come to an end

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC | Author: CELCIS

Joanne McMeeking and John Ryan discuss the main themes to come from SIRCC 2020 Online.

SIRCC 2020 Online | The Extraordinary Ordinary

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC, Voices of young people | Author: CELCIS

We asked the residential community what the extraordinary ordinary has meant to them in recent months. Find out what they said.

SIRCC 2020 Online | Write right about me

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC, Voices of young people | Author: CELCIS

A recording of the Webinar in which Who Cares? Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and CELCIS learned together about current recording practice i…

Case study/examples of practice Resource Icon

SIRCC 2020 Online | Being the lighthouse

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC | Author: Louise Wallwein

Five short clips From Louise Wallwein's keynote at SIRCC 2019 have been extracted to support reflection individually and/or discussion by the…

SIRCC 2020 Online | Reflections on COVID-19

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC | Author: CELCIS

We've pulled together examples from across the CELCIS website of the extraordinary ordinary in residential child care during the public healt…

SIRCC 2020 Online | A summary of week one

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC | Author: CELCIS

A video summary of comments and thinking during week one of SIRCC 2020 Online

COVID-19 – An opportunity to connect with time

Year: 2020 | Topic: Health and Wellbeing, Residential care | Author: Elaine Hamilton

Elaine Hamilton, Service Manager at Nether Johnstone House describes how lockdown due to the current emergency health crisis has changed the …

Experiences of virtual Children’s Hearings: A rapid consultation – Report for Young People

Year: 2020 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Emotional abuse, Foster care, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, Secure care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Robert Porter, Fiona Mitchell, Fern Gillon, Emma Young, Nina Vaswani

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020, altered several procedural requirements for Children’s Hearings in …

Experiences of virtual Children’s Hearings: A rapid consultation – Report for Parents and carers

Year: 2020 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Emotional abuse, Foster care, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, Secure care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Robert Porter, Fiona Mitchell, Fern Gillon, Emma Young, Nina Vaswani

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020, altered several procedural requirements for Children’s Hearings in …

Experiences of virtual Children’s Hearings: A rapid consultation report

Year: 2020 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Emotional abuse, Foster care, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, Secure care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Robert Porter, Fiona Mitchell, Fern Gillon, Emma Young, Nina Vaswani

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which came into force in April 2020, altered several procedural requirements for Children’s Hearings in …

Independent Care Review Evidence Framework

Year: 2020 | Topic: Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Residential care, Secure care, Voices of young people | Author: The Independent Care Review

The Independent Care Review (ICR)'s evidence framework, comprising of research and evidence collated and analysed throughout the review’s thr…

Response to the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee’s Inquiry into support for vulnerable children during the Coronavirus outbreak’

Year: 2020 | Topic: Education, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: Linda O'Neill

The Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee is seeking information around the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on vulnerable c…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 19 No 1

Year: 2020 | Topic: Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Graham Connelly

This issue includes a mix of peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and the Kilbrandon Lecture.

Independent Care Review reports

Year: 2020 | Topic: Active implementation, Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Education, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Neglect, Permanence, Residential care, Stigma, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: Independent Care Review

Scotland’s Independent Care Review published its findings and recommendations,

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 18 No 3

Year: 2019 | Topic: Child protection, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Graham Connelly

This issue includes a mix of peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and the Kilbrandon Lecture.

Turning conversation into action

Year: 2019 | Topic: Child protection, Health and Wellbeing, Residential care | Author: Joanne McMeeking

It is with our gratitude to each and every contributor to the series and the subsequent discussions that we draw this to a close here, but th…

2019 - a year of real opportunity in residential child care

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: John Ryan

John Ryan, Assistant Director, Aberlour, reflects on what this new conversation about the use of restraint means for those working in residen…

Professional training is essential to provide the best support for our young people

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Joe Gibb

We know there are many things that need to change in residential child care in Scotland, and as a service manager, our team has been looking …

There's no place for physical restraint in residential child care

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Alex Horne

There’s no place for physical restraint in residential child care in the 21st century – there, I’ve said it, put it out there! I advocate for…

‘Why didn’t you f*cking restrain me’: when physical restraint can meet a child’s need

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: John Radoux

John Radoux, a child and adolescent counsellor who grew up in care and works in children's homes discusses why we need to reevaluate attitude…

Can theory be an ally in efforts to reduce physical restraint?

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Erica Barr

Erica Barr is a House Leader with South Ayrshire Council. Here she discusses the need to link theory with practice to improve our understandi…

Unintended consequences: Restraint and criminalisation of looked after children

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Debbie Nolan

The criminisation of children in residential care. We need to be careful when changing practice as there can be unintended consequences.

Should our young people be experiencing physical restraint at any level?

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: David Grimm

David Grimm asks if physical restraint should be used at all in residential child care, using his own experience of care to discuss the abil…

Physical Restraint in Residential Child Care: A Watershed Moment?

Year: 2019 | Topic: Active implementation, Residential care | Author: Dr Laura Steckley

Laura Steckley explains how people are coming together to consider how to apply what we know about both experience and theory to address the …

We need to talk about physical restraint

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care | Author: Joanne McMeeking

Joanne McMeeking heads up the Improving Care Experiences team at CELCIS. Here she explains why we need to put physical restraint in residenti…

Children Without Parental Care and Alternative Care: Findings from Research

Year: 2019 | Topic: Foster care, International, Permanence, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: Dr Chrissie Gale

This short paper contributes evidence regarding the situation of children without parental care and provision of suitable alternative care in…

Response to Education and Skills Committee call for evidence on the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1

Year: 2019 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Foster care, Kinship care, Legislation, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Lizzie Morton

Our response provides evidence to support the Committee’s scrutiny of the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill, designed to strengthen and simplify the…

The Care Leaver Experience: Uganda

Year: 2019 | Topic: International, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: The Uganda Care Leavers Project

The Care Leaver Experience - A Report on Children and Young People’s Experiences in and after Leaving Residential Care in Uganda. A report b…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 18 No 2

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care, SIRCC, Voices of young people | Author: Graham Connelly

This issue comprises articles submitted in response to a call for submissions to celebrate the 20th anniversary conference of the Scottish In…

Supporting Families

Year: 2019 | Topic: Child protection, Foster care, Kinship care, Looked after at home, Residential care | Author: Dr Louise Hill, Nadine Fowler, Dr Robert Porter

A review of the implementation of Part 12: Children at risk of becoming looked after as set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) A…

Principles of Good Transitions - improving post-school transitions

Year: 2019 | Topic: Health and Wellbeing, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: Scottish Transitions Forum, ARC Scotland

Providing clear guidance to improve the quality of care and support for young people with additional support needs who are making the transit…

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 18 No 1

Year: 2019 | Topic: Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Graham Connelly

This issue includes a mix of peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and book reviews.

Secure Care in Scotland

Year: 2019 | Topic: Children's hearings system, Residential care, Secure care | Author: Secure Care Strategic Board

Report of the Secure Care Strategic Board to Scottish Ministers

Inform Briefing - Access to Care Records

Year: 2019 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Emotional abuse, Foster care, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, Secure care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Lizzie Morton

We have produced a briefing for corporate parents about the rights of care experienced people to access their records, the importancce of rec…

Review of findings from the inspection programme 2012-2017

Year: 2019 | Topic: Child protection, Residential care | Author: Care Inspectorate

The joint strategic inspection of services for children and young people.

Practice Note: Children and young people in residential care - engagement in music

Year: 2019 | Topic: Health and Wellbeing, Residential care | Author: CELCIS

This Practice Note aims to celebrate good practice already taking place throughout Scotland, and give residential child care managers and pra…

PACE Data Community Workshop - Milestones, measures and aims: How to incorporate the Data ‘ask’ into the system

Year: 2019 | Topic: Adoption, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Foster care, Kinship care, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care | Author: CELCIS

The PACE Community is engaged in driving forward improvement for looked after children, and recently hosted a PACE Data Community Event, Mil…

Matching Looked After Children and Young People: Admissions Guidance for Residential Services

Year: 2018 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Residential care | Author: Care Inspectorate

Guidance from the Care Inspectorate on best practice in admissions and matching of children and young people to make residential care a posi…

Caring about care means being ready to change

Year: 2018 | Topic: REACH, Residential care, Stigma | Author: John Ryan

John Ryan reflects on the fight to continue to do best by Scotland’s children.

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 17 No 4

Year: 2018 | Topic: Disability, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Charlotte Wilson and Chris Walter

This special issue on perspectives and understandings of disability represents the great diversity of people with disabilities and their expe…

How Seamab sees it

Year: 2018 | Topic: Education, REACH, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Joanna McCreadie

The team at Seamab reflect on their experiences of working in social care and misconceptions about the care and support of children and young…

I couldn't bring myself to write the acronym 'LAC'

Year: 2018 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Graham Connelly

Continuing the theme of Graham's first blog post on language and labelling, giving examples of when this is unhelpful.

Labels are for clothes not people

Year: 2018 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Local authority, Looked after at home, REACH, Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: Claire Burns

Introducing issue 12 of REACH, which explores stigma, language, perception and the representation of care and care experience.

Just out having a good time?

Year: 2018 | Topic: Foster care, Local authority, Residential care | Author: Leanne McIver, Vicki Welch

Evaluation of the pilot National Partnership Agreement for Looked After Children who go missing from Residential and Foster Care in Scotland

Initial evaluation of the ‘Why Not?’ initiative developed by Care Visions

Year: 2018 | Topic: Residential care, Throughcare and aftercare | Author: Dr Vicki Welch, Kenny McGhee

This short document provides a summary of initial learning from data gathered for an evaluation of the Why Not? initiative. The study was com…

Creative Consortium: Children and young people in residential care engagement in music

Year: 2018 | Topic: Education, Health and Wellbeing, Residential care | Author: Charlie Gracie, Moyra Hawthorn and Michelle McCue

A research project which addressed how looked after children and young people accessed music opportunities, if at all, what barriers there we…

In and beyond the care setting: relationships between young people and care workers: A literature review

Year: 2018 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Health and Wellbeing, Legislation, Local authority, Residential care, SIRCC, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: Vicki Welch, Nadine Fowler, Ewan Ross, Richard Withington, Kenny McGhee

The report summarises important learning from academic and other literature about relationships between young people and those caring for the…

An air of calm

Year: 2018 | Topic: Education, Residential care | Author: Mark Brotherton

Mark Brotherton, Educational Psychologist, explains how strong relationships between carers and psychologists have been nurtured.

Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 17 No 3

Year: 2018 | Topic: Education, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Graham Connelly

In this issue, we present three peer reviewed articles, five commentaries, and a book review. These cover a wide range of topics and experien…

A care leaver's path to university

Year: 2018 | Topic: Education, Health and Wellbeing, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Derek

Many paths to higher education are not straightforward. A care experienced student talks about overcoming such challenges.

"Mummy’s Little Punchbag"

Year: 2018 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Foster care, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, Voices of young people | Author: Kenny Murray

Kenny Murray comments on the Children's Hearings Scotland 'Be A Force For Good' campaign.

If I wasn't emotionally involved, they wouldn't have thrived

Year: 2018 | Topic: Corporate parenting, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Looked after at home, Residential care | Author: Gordon Main

Gordon Main continues the conversation on commitment, discussing the emotional investment of foster carers.

Animal Magic - The benefits of being around and caring for animals across care settings.

Year: 2018 | Topic: Health and Wellbeing, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, SIRCC, Voices of young people | Author: Care Inspectorate

The benefits of being around and caring for animals across care settings.

Seeing and Shifting the Roots of Opinions - Mapping the Gaps between Expert and Public Understandings of Care Experience and the Care System in Scotland

Year: 2018 | Topic: Adoption, Child protection, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Education, Foster care, Kinship care, Local authority, Looked after at home, Permanence, Residential care, SIRCC, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people | Author: The Robertson Trust, Life Changes Trust, CELCIS

This report presents findings from a project sponsored by and conducted in close partnership with The Robertson Trust, Life Changes Trust and…

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