Care Inspectorate begin revised Joint Inspection model

The national regulator for care services in Scotland will this month (April, 2018) commence a revised model for the way the wellbeing of children and young people is monitored and reported.

Working with scrutiny partners, the Care Inspectorate’s new Joint Inspection model will take into account the lived experience of some of the country’s most vulnerable people when analysing current practices and potential areas of improvement.

The change comes as part of the Scottish Government’s Child Protection Improvement Programme, which in 2017 tasked the regulator with listening more closely to the voices of care experienced children and young people.

In 2017, the Care Inspectorate undertook a number of measures in preparation for their new model.

These included:

• Speaking with care experienced children and young people, many of whom also have been involved in the child protection system
• Establishing an advisory group representing a broad range of key stakeholders with responsibility for protecting children and improving the lives of looked after children and care leavers
• Reviewing existing inspection findings

Based on findings from this earlier work, the Care Inspectorate say new inspections will place added importance on relationships and continuity of care, how staff can be supported, and will also identify the barriers that prevent improved performance.

As well as collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including young inspection volunteers, the Care Inspectorate will also work with CELCIS to deliver a data improvement programme. The development of a shared data set will aim to help assess risk and understand where inspections can have most value.