Listen
Young people in care
26/11/2008
Young people in care should not be resigned to a lack of opportunities and have a vital part to play in a more successful Scotland, Children's Minister Adam Ingram said today.
Hundreds more care leavers were in education, training or employment this year than in 2007 but more needs to be done to boost chances for all children who are leaving care, Mr Ingram said.
The Minister was commenting on the Children Looked After Statistics 2007-08 published today which show:
- In 2008, 14,886 children were looked after by local authorities, an increase of six per cent since 2007
- 1,225 care leavers aged 19-21 were being offered aftercare services from their local authority - an increase of 19 per cent on 2007
- 1144 young people eligible for aftercare services were in education, training or employment - up from 855 in 2007
Mr Ingram said:
"I believe that the key to a more successful Scotland lies with investment in our greatest asset - our people. All children deserve the chance to fulfil their potential and there should be no difference between the chances of young people in care and their peers.
"It is very encouraging to see that there were almost 300 more care leavers in education, employment or training than last year and that more are being offered support to make the transition to independent living.
"Yet I have said before - and I make no apologies for repeating - that if we are judged as a nation on the past treatment of our most vulnerable young people then that judgment must be damning and we are determined to improve things.
"That's why we recently moved to clearly set out what is expected of everyone responsible for our looked after children and to launch measures to improve the educational attainment and achievement of young people in care.
"Any decision to take a child into care is always made on the best interests of the young person and the numbers are increasing, suggesting those in need are being identified and agencies are intervening to get them support and security.
"But I want to see an improvement across the board for children and young people who are looked after because the status quo is simply not good enough."
In September, the Scottish Government published 'These Are Our Bairns' - the first document in Scotland to set out the role and responsibilities of everyone who are responsible for our looked after children.
The term 'looked after' refers to children who live with foster or kinship carers, in residential schools or care homes or who live in secure units. It also includes children subject to a supervision order from a Children's Hearing but living at home with their birth parents or other family members.
The Scottish Government led a debate on supporting looked after children in the Scottish Parliament on November 20, 2008.