Our Response.pdf

CELCIS, Scotland's Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection, welcomes the Scottish Government's consultation on a National Care Service for Scotland. The consultation has stimulated critical reflections and debates on whether new or current arrangements for health and social care will support meeting policy aspirations for children. CELCIS's response is underpinned by research evidence, practice experience, and expertise, and prioritizes questions relevant to the rights, experiences, and circumstances of children and young people in need of support, protection, and care, and their families and carers.

Key issues noted by CELCIS include the need for a whole-family approach, understanding and supporting individual developmental needs, and addressing challenges such as a complex legislative landscape and fragmented approaches to care and protection. The consultation's focus, content, and process are also observed to have limitations, including a lack of appreciation for children's lives and policy frameworks, and terminology that is predicated on 'adult care'. CELCIS suggests that the consultation format may not engage all relevant voices and experiences, and may not build readiness for the proposed changes.