The Scottish Government

Next »

Listen

News Release

CHILDREN IN RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION 2000-2001

02 September 2002

A SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICS PUBLICATION

This document is also available in pdf format (52k)

CHILDREN IN RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION 2000-2001

Statistics on children in residential accommodation in Scotland for the year ended 31 March 2001 are published today.

The main points are:

• There were 1,942 children in residential accommodation at 31 March 2001, a decrease of 0.1 per cent (14 children) from the previous year.
• At 31 March 2001, 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 2001, there were 9,710 reported admissions to residential establishments. Of these children, 54 per cent were aged between 11 and 15 while 30 per cent were aged under 11 years old;
• There is a regular churn of children through residential care: Three quarters of the 9,724 reported discharges from residential establishments were from children who had been resident for less than one month - many of whom were in respite care. However, there are 268 residents who had been in care for more than 3 years.
• Of the 86 children in secure accomodation at 31 March 2001, over two thirds were aged 15 or over and one in six were aged 13 or under. Around three quarters of children in secure accomodation were boys.
• At 31 March 2001 the average size of residential establishment for children in Scotland was just over 11 places. Local authority run accommodation had 8 places per establishment compared to 18 places per establishment for those run by the private/voluntary sector.
• Even though there was little change in the number of residents, the number of staff (whole time equivalent) increased by 8 per cent since 1999-2000. This gave an average of 2 staff (whole time equivalent) for every place - with little difference in this ratio between unitary authority and voluntary/private accommodation.

The following tables are available:

Table 1 - Homes, Places and Staffing as at 31 March 2001.
Table 2 - Residents at 31 March 2001 by gender, age, and length of stay.
Table 3 - Admissions in 2000-01 by age group, and discharges in 2000 01 by length of stay.
Table 4 - Children in secure accommodation as at 31 March 2001.
Table 5 - Homes, Places and Staffing as at 31 March 2001 by Local Authority area.

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1. 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, run by local authorites, the private and voluntary sectors.

5. Figures shown here for 31 March 2000 differ from those published in June 2001. Since publication of those figures the coverage of the return has improved. The revised figures for 31 March 2000 include estimates for centres who were not able to provide figures. Some figures have been changed as better quality information has become available. The methodology for estimating figures in table 3 has changed this year to make it more robust. However, this produces figures significantly higher than in previous years.

6. Supporting tables are available on request - and on the Executive's site ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/publist.aspx?theme=38&pillar=people ).

7. 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.

8. 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 3745 or
e-mail Angus.MacDonald@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).

Contact: Murray Meikle 0131-244-2972

Contact:
News Release: «NewsReleaseNo»
Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk

Next »