The First Minister commissioned a Care Review in 2016 to find out how Scotland could love and care for its most vulnerable children and give them the childhood they deserve.
The work of the Care Review culminated in the publication of The Promise and all Scotland’s political parties pledged to #keepthepromise to Scotland’s children.
There are 5 main foundations to the Promise.
- Voice
Children must be listened to and meaningfully and appropriately involved in decision-making about their care, with all those involved properly listening and responding to what children want and need. There must be a compassionate, caring decision-making culture focussed on children and those they trust.
- Family
Where children are safe in their families and feel loved they must stay – and families must be given support together, to nurture that love and overcome the difficulties which get in the way.
- Care
Where living with their family is not possible, children must stay with their brothers and sisters where safe to do so, and belong to a loving home, staying there for as long as needed.
- People
The children must be actively supported to develop relationships with professionals and wider community, who in turn must be supported to listen and to be compassionate in their decision-making and care.
- Scaffolding
Children, families and the professionals must be supported by a system that is there when it is needed. The scaffolding of help, support and accountability must be ready and responsive when it is required.
The Promise
https://www.carereview.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Promise.pdf
Pinkie Promise (for younger readers)
https://www.carereview.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Pinky-Promise.pdf