New reports suggest major changes for secure care in Scotland

Date: 19th November 2024
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments, Special protection measures

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The Scottish Government and the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) have released three new reports that propose big changes to how secure care is handled for young people in Scotland. Known as the Reimagining Secure Care project, these reports suggest a new way forward that puts children’s rights and wellbeing at the centre of care.

The main report calls for a shift in focus to ensure children are treated as children first. It suggests a trauma-informed and rights-respecting model, based on feedback from young people, families, and professionals involved in the system. The new approach aims to keep children within their families whenever possible. If that is not an option, they should be cared for within their communities, with different services working together to give personalised support. The goal is to replace the current secure care model with more community-focused, therapeutic settings.

This vision aligns with Scotland’s commitment to The Promise and the recent commencement of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which recognises all under-18s as children.

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