Purpose of the Inquiry
To secure comprehensive insight into the circumstances that led to the abuse that occurred at Kerelaw open and secure school from April 1996 until closure.
To examine Glasgow City Council's stewardship of Kerelaw School.
To consider the investigation by Glasgow City Council and post-school closure arrangements.
To make recommendations relevant to ensuring that the contributory factors which led to abuse at Kerelaw occurring and remaining unactioned for a protracted period cannot happen again.
To identify any other issues arising in the course of undertaking the Inquiry considered to be relevant to the safe care of young people in residential settings.
It is expected the inquiry will encompass consideration of:
- The school at the point of local government re-organisation in April 1996
- The arrangements for children who were placed in and accepted by Kerelaw
- The care planning and management of residents in the open school and the secure school
- The effectiveness of arrangements for safeguarding residents, identifying concerns and responding to complaints
- The recruitment, management and training of staff
- The degree to which Kerelaw adopted best practice and implemented and learned lessons from other inquiries and reports, including, in particular, 'Edinburgh's Children: The report of the Edinburgh Inquiry into abuse and protection of Children in Care January 1999' and The Fife Council Independent Inquiry report of January 2002
- Glasgow City Council's oversight of Kerelaw including management and accountability arrangements
- The role of the bodies conducting inspection and registration functions in relation to Kerelaw
- The arrangements for reviewing the complaints identified in 2004 and the subsequent closure of the school
- The support offered to victims of abuse and former residents
- The investigation undertaken by Glasgow City Council post-school closure
- Subsequent steps taken by Glasgow City Council following the closure of the schools to ensure the safeguarding of children which it places in a residential care home or school
Conduct of the Inquiry
The Inquiry will take place in private.
The Inquiry team may require access to confidential and personal information held by Glasgow City Council and Scottish Ministers (excluding information held by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for the purposes of criminal investigations). In doing so, the Inquiry team will operate within the terms of a Code of Practice. The Code will comply fully with the Data Protection Act.
The report at the conclusion of the Inquiry will be anonymised as regards former members of staff and pupils at Kerelaw.
The published report will not contain reference to any information which could be considered prejudicial to any outstanding criminal case.