Keeping The Promise in the Western Isles
What is The Promise?
The Independent Care Review was announced by the Scottish Government in 2016, with a task to review the Scottish Care System. For over three years, the Independent Care Review listened to more than 5,500 care experienced children, young people, their families and professionals working in the care system. It heard how many of them did not feel loved, were not kept safe and did not feel respected.
On 5th February 2020, the Independent Care Review published The Promise plan (1.0MB) (Opens in a new window or downloads a file). The Promise plan sets out what needs to change in the care system and how Scotland can commit to #KeepThePromise to make sure every care experienced child and young person is safe, loved and respected. The views and voice of care experienced children and young people are fundamental to these changes.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has committed to #KeepThePromise for all Care Experienced Young People in the Western Isles.
The Five Foundations of 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 focused 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 that Scotland cares for must be actively supported to develop relationships with people in the workforce and wider community, who in turn must be supported to listen and be compassionate in their decision-making and care.
Scaffolding
Children, families and the workforce 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
Information for Children and Young People
If you want to find out more about The Promise, where it came from and what it could mean to you, you can find out more by reading The Pinky Promise. (196.6kB) (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)
Some of the changes The Promise wants to see are:
- Making sure families are supported to stay together, and where children and young people do need to be cared for away from their families, brothers and sisters should be kept together
- Better access to intensive support for care experienced young people to ensure their educational and health needs are fully met
- Young people with care experience are better supported to transition into adulthood and this process will be based on the young person’s need
- Reframing the language we use when we speak with or communicate about children who are care experienced
- We need to always listen to the voices of children and young people and make sure that their views on their care and what they need are heard
Get in touch
We have employed a full-time Promise Lead and Trauma Champion to support the development and implementation of the Western Isles Promise Plan.
Promise Keeper
Eilidh Nicolson
Trauma-Informed Organisational Development Officer
Email: eilidhnicolson@cne-siar.gov.uk