Care Experienced
The terms “Care Experienced’’ or ‘’people with experience of care” refer to anyone who has lived or is currently living in care, in settings such as residential care, foster care, kinship care (both formally and informally), are adopted, or living at home with a supervision order.
Our care system in Scotland seeks to provide the stable, loving, and supportive environment that every child needs to thrive. It offers a strong foundation with responsive support available, for as long as required, and as a Corporate Parent, Police Scotland plays a key role in supporting this framework.
Corporate Parent
A Corporate Parent is any organisation either public, private, or voluntary who has specific duties and responsibilities towards children and adults with experience of care.
Police Scotland is one of many organisations and individuals who are named as Corporate Parents within the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, which provides protections and support for people with experience of care. We recognise the importance of not only our legal duty, but our moral obligation to uphold the rights and protect the wellbeing of children and adults.
Under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, as Corporate Parents we must:
- Be aware of matters which might adversely affect the wellbeing of people with experience of care.
- Assess the needs of people with experience of care for the services and support we provide.
- Promote the interests of people with experience of care.
- Provide people with experience of care with opportunities to participate in activities designed to promote their wellbeing.
- Take action to help people with experience of care to access the opportunities we are providing and make use of services and access support available.
- Take any other action we consider appropriate to improve the way we work with people with experience of care.
- Collaborate with other Corporate Parents.
Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-27
The Policing Together, Children and Young People Team, are delighted to present our new Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027.
We would like to thank everyone involved in this process, which includes our members of the Corporate Parenting Plan Advisory Group and Police Scotland’s Care Experienced Colleagues Group. A special thanks to Zander Newman and Hope Taylor, our two Youth Engagement Officers who were recruited to design, deliver, and evaluate an engagement and participation programme which involved a survey and a series of focus groups.
Many people helped create this plan, but the most important input came from children and adults with experience of care. Their views and advice have helped our team understand more about our Care Experienced Community and we will continue to engage them on Corporate Parenting matters in future.
Through consultation we have made the decision to create two separate Corporate Parenting Plans. We have a Summary Plan which has been written in a clear and concise style that's easier to understand, as well as a Full Plan which goes into more detail, outlining Police Scotland’s goals, and how we will achieve them.
Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027 Summary
Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027 Summary Accessible Version
Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027
Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027 Accessible Version
Scottish Youth Parliament Engagement Report (Accessible version coming soon)
Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-2024
Alongside our new Corporate Parenting Plan is our report of the previous Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-2024. During this three-year period, significant progress has been made to improve the lives of people with experience of care and their experience of Policing. This progress report seeks to capture the work currently being undertaken, the learning gained from our work thus far and to highlight areas of good practice.
Examples of our progress and learning to deliver the priorities set out within our Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-2024 are captured within the report in the form of case study examples.
Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-24 3 Year Report
Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-24 3 Year Report Accessible Version
