Scotland currently has 124 secure care places, spread across seven dedicated secure care units. These units provide a full curriculum of care, delivering a range of educational, health and behavioural programmes for our young people. In addition, the units undertake tailored programmes of work to prepare the young people for their transition back into the community.
In 2002 the then Scottish Executive announced plans to redevelop and modernise Scotland's secure estate, which saw an increase in the number of beds from 90 to 125. The investment also saw the establishment of a girls only unit.
The first of these redeveloped secure units was St Philip's in Airdrie which opened on 6 March 2006 providing 24 boys only places, with the Good Shepherd Centre opening in summer 2006 providing 18 girls only places.
The Scottish Government is currently working with Rossie Secure Accommodation Services to complete the reconfiguration programme. This final phase of the redevelopment is expected to be completed in early 2009.
The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) recently committed to work with secure care providers to review the capacity, usage and appropriateness of secure accommodation in Scotland. The short life working group - Securing our Future Initiative (SOFI) - brings together purchasers, providers and other interested partners to consider how best to meet Scotland's need for secure accommodation over the short to medium term.
This work is being undertaken as part of the National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI). Further information of the work of the NRCCI, and membership of both groups can be found below.
National Residential Childcare Initiative
The residential childcare sector consistently faces many challenges, from the complexity of children and young people's needs and workforce development, to the broader external factors such as budgetary restrictions, commissioning arrangements, and limited specialist service options.
The Scottish Government has approached the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) to lead and co-ordinate a National Residential Child Care Initiative to recommend the changes and developments needed within Scotland's residential childcare services.
The NRCCI will:
· Develop a blueprint for the development of residential childcare in Scotland including:
o An audit and strategy for the supply of residential childcare services to match the full range of needs of children and young people;
o A determination of the right skills mix of professionals working in residential childcare to ensure those working with children and young people are well-equipped to support them to develop their full potential;
o An agreement of expectations between local authorities and providers to ensure effective outcome-based commissioning of services for these young people.
· Recommend to Scottish Government, local government and providers of residential childcare the actions required to achieve consistent improvement and change across the residential childcare sector
The NRCCI will produce a report of key recommendations to ministers, COSLA and relevant stakeholders by summer 2009.
The NRCCI project board and working groups consist of representatives of key stakeholder groups/networks. A key element of the initiative will be engagement with the wider constituency of stakeholders, including the owners of the independent secure units.
Membership of NRCCI Project Board:
Aberlour
Action for Children, Scotland
Glasgow School of Social Work
Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care - Chair
Scottish Government
Association of Directors of Social Work - North Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire
CoSLA
Care Commission
Association of Directors of Education Services
Scottish Social Services Council
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
Association of Heads of Residential Special Schools
NHS Highland Board
Who Cares? Scotland
Social Work Inspectorate Agency
HM Inspectorate of Education
Secure Care Forum
Councillor - North Lanarkshire Council
Membership of SOFI:
Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care - Chair
Scottish Government
Association of Directors of Social Work
CoSLA
Care Commission
CORA Independent Schools
Independent academic
Scottish Prison Service
Rossie Secure Accommodation Services
Kibble Safe Centre
The Elms - Dundee City Council
Includem
Intensive Support and Monitoring Services - Glasgow
Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - Glasgow