News Release
CHILDREN IN RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION 1999-200027 June 2001 This document is also available in pdf format (66k) Statistics on children in residential accommodation in Scotland for the year
ended 31 March 2000 are published today. This news release updates the figures published in July 2000 in the news release
Children in Residential Accommodation 1998-99. The main points are:
- There were 1,973 children in residential accommodation at 31 March 2000,
a decrease of 2.6 per cent from the 31 March 1999 figure of 2025.
- Of the total of 1,973 children, 87 were in secure accommodation;
- At 31 March 2000, two thirds of the children in residential accommodation
were boys, and two thirds of the total were aged between 11 and 15 years old;
- In the year to 31 March 2000, there were 7,635 reported admissions to residential
establishments. Of these children, 58 per cent were aged between 11 and 15
while 27 per cent were aged under 11 years old;
- There were 7,692 reported discharges from residential establishments in
the year to March 2000. In three quarters of these cases, the children had
been resident for less than one month and 8 per cent of children discharged
had been resident for 1 year or more;
- Of those children in secure accomodation at 31 March 2000, over two thirds
were aged 15 or over and 8 per cent were aged 13 or under. Of the total number
of children in secure accomodation 82 per cent were boys.
- At 31 March 2000 the average size of residential establishment for children
in Scotland was just over 11 places. There was an average of 1.86 staff (whole
time equivalent) for every place.
The following tables are available: Table 1 - Homes, Places and Staffing as at 31 March
2000.
Table 2 - Residents at 31 March 2000 by gender,
age group and length of stay.
Table 3 - Admissions in the year to 31 March 2000
by age group and discharges in the year to 31 March 2000 by length of stay.
Table 4 - Children in secure accommodation as
at 31 March 2000.
Table 5 - Local authority breakdown
of Homes, Places and Staffing as at 31 March 2000. NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS1. The main purpose of residential care for children is to provide good
quality care, support and opportunities for development in a safe environment.
It may also provide education or specialist care. Residential care is an important
element in children’s services. For some children looked after away from
home, it will be the most appropriate option for meeting their particular needs. 2. There are various types of residential accommodation to which children
and young persons may be admitted. The main types of establishments are children’s
homes, residential schools, hostels and homes for children with disabilities.
There are also a few establishments which provide secure accommodation. 3. Children may be in a residential establishment under a voluntary care
arrangement, under a supervision requirement made by a children’s hearing,
where a parental responsibilities order had been obtained by the local authority
or as a requirement made by a Court. These placements will have been made under
the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (placements prior to 1 April 1997) the Children
(Scotland) Act 1995 (placements from 1st April 1997) or the Criminal Procedure
(Scotland) Act 1995. 4. Data about children in residential accommodation in Scotland are collected
through a system of annual returns made to the Scottish Executive by individual
establishments. The system covers the local authority, private and voluntary
sectors. 5. Figures shown here for 31 March 1999 differ from those published in July
2000. Since publication of those figures the coverage of the return has improved.
The revised figures for 31 March 1999 include estimates for centres not covered
by the 1999-00 return. Some other figures have also been reviewed in the light
of additional information that has become available since the publication of
the 31 March 1999 figures. 6. Some centres were not able to provide complete information on admissions
and discharges. For this reason the number of residents at 31 March 1999 and
the number at 31 March 2000 do not tie in precisely with the number of admissions
and discharges in that year. 7. There is no bulletin publication for these figures. Supporting tables
are, however, available on request — media should contact David Hood on
0131-244-5033 - and on the Scottish Executive web site (www.scotland.gov.uk). 8. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced
to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice.
They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer
needs. They are produced free from any political interference. 9. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this
News Release should be addressed to Angus MacDonald, Scottish Executive Education
Department, Area 1-A, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244
3551 or e-mail angus.macdonald @scotland.gsi.gov.uk. Contact: Fiona Wilson: 0131-244-2910 News Release: Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk
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