This Inquiry is not about individual cases. It is not about investigating specific allegations. Nor is it about identifying individuals or holding them personally to account.
It is about understanding how it was that abuse occurred at Kerelaw, the nature and extent of abuse, and how it went undetected. The Inquiry will consider among other things management structures and processes, recruitment procedures, cultural issues, and lines of accountability both inside Kerelaw and between Kerelaw and the Managing Authority.
The Inquiry will take into account the legal and regulatory framework within which Kerelaw operated during the period covered by the review, as well as the best practice prevailing at the time. It will consider the extent to which findings and recommendations from other relevant Inquiries were considered and, where appropriate, implemented. It will also consider the requirements and guidelines laid down by Glasgow City Council in relation to children in its care, and to Kerelaw in particular. It will also consider how the investigation of allegations and the follow up to the investigation findings were handled within the Council.
The Inquiry will prepare a report for the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council and will make recommendations. In doing so it will identify what lessons might be learned from the Kerelaw experience to ensure the future safety of children and young people in care.
All personal information given to the Inquiry relating to individuals will be confidential to the Inquiry and will be used anonymously to enable the terms of reference to be fulfilled and the report to be prepared.
No individuals will be named in the report, and all information will be handled safely and stored securely, in accordance with the attached data protection policy. Although commissioned by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, the Inquiry is independent of both, and personal information provided to the Inquiry will not be passed to any third party unless required to do so by law. Anyone raising new allegations will be advised to contact the appropriate authorities. The Inquiry is not able to pursue individual complaints.