The Scottish Government

The Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate is headed by Sarah Smith.

Our Purpose

To work across government and with delivery partners to support systems and behavioural change to improve outcomes for children and young people. To develop the capacity and leadership needed to improve outcomes for users of social care.

Objectives

• To provide high quality support for Ministers and the processes of government, including supporting delivery of all of the Strategic Priorities and National Outcomes and corporate and collaborative working across government; and
• To work across Government and with delivery partners to prioritise action which supports early years and early intervention principles and promotes the rights of and takes into account the views of children and young people.
• To work with delivery agencies to ensure their capability, including capacity and leadership, to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people and users of social care.
• To work across Government and with delivery partners to secure implementation of the national and local outcomes and specific commitments for children and young people within the Concordat and Single Outcome Agreements.
• To work with colleagues within and outwith Government to promote organisational structures and processes which are streamlined, effective and personalised and which improve experiences and outcomes for children and social care service users.

The Directorate comprises four divisions:

• Positive Futures

Preschool education, childcare, play, parenting support, implementation of Early Years Framework, children's rights and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, asylum-seeking children, youth engagement and participation.

• Safer Children, Stronger Families

Implementing Getting it Right for Every Child, child protection, implementing the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act.

• Care and Justice

Improving outcomes for looked-after children (kinship and foster care, residential and secure care, adoption, throughcare and aftercare, corporate parenting, survivors of in-care abuse) and preventing offending by young people.

• Workforce and Capacity Issues

Reform of the Children's Hearing System, sponsorship of Scottish Social Services Council and Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, capacity building within the social care workforce.