Date: 26th February 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Respect for the views of the child

The Day of General Discussion (DGD) will take place on 18 September in Geneva and its main theme will be Children in Alternative Care. Children and young people are invited to join the Child and Young People’s Advisory Teams that will be involved in key decision making about the DGD.

Date: 12th February 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

On Wednesday 5 February, the Independent Care Review launched its final conclusions, producing a series of publications that mark the culmination of nearly three years of listening to people across Scotland who have personal and professional experience of the ‘care system’.

Date: 12th February 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Parental guidance

#WithAHandFromParentline campaign aims to raise awareness that Children 1st’s national Parentline service offers free, confidential support for Scotland’s parents and carers, 365 days a year.

Date: 12th February 2020
Category: Equal protection from violence, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Parental responsibilities, Protection from abuse or neglect

On 28 January 2020, Members of the National Assembly for Wales voted 36 to 14 to approve the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill.

Date: 12th February 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Family reunification, Care Experienced children, Protection from abuse or neglect

The 2019 Resolution on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2019. The Resolution focuses specifically on children without parental care.

Date: 10th December 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

The briefing - Resolving Parenting Disputes: Scotland Compared to Other Countries - looks at how other legal systems deal with parenting disputes, both in terms of what the law says and how it is applied in practice.  The report, written by Dr Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane of Edinburgh Napier University, reviews the current law and the proposed reforms from a human rights perspective.

Date: 19th November 2019
Category: Respect for the views of the child, Family Environment and Alternative Care

Clan Childlaw’s leading case involving the rights of brothers and sisters in children’s hearings began in the Supreme Court on 13th November. 

Date: 29th October 2019
Category: Care Experienced children, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Training

This six-week course is designed for practitioners and policymakers from both state and non-state bodies and anyone working in providing services around children’s care.

Date: 8th October 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

Closing date: 15th November 2019

Date: 16th September 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Access to appropriate information, Child justice system

The briefing, issued jointly with members of the UK Children and Brexit coalition, outlines the implications of EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) policy and guidance for EU-national children who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. 

Date: 11th September 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

The proposed legislation will update the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and aims to improve the experience of children involved in family law cases.

Date: 14th August 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Social security, Family Environment and Alternative Care

The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report measuring the stability of the lives of children and young people in care in England over 2017-18.

Date: 30th July 2019
Category: Mental health, Family Environment and Alternative Care

NSPCC has launched a campaign calling for perinatal mental health support for every mum, so that every baby and every family gets a fair start.

Date: 15th July 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

The report sets out key learning points following a national review of Part 12 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Date: 15th July 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

A study from Unicef argues children get a better start in life and parents are more able to find the right balance between work and private life in countries that have family-friendly policies.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Special protection measures, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Protection from abuse or neglect, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Together is pleased to see the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill pass at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament on 20th June 2019.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Child justice system, Special protection measures

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf’s response included a commitment to develop a bespoke mental health strategy for young people, end the routine use of strip searches and to “explore options” for a pilot of in cell phones to support family contact.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The UK’s Supreme Court has issued a judgment to restore the right of children to sue local authorities for negligence where councils have failed to protect them from harm.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

A new report by UNICEF reveals that many of the world’s richest countries are failing to provide comprehensive solutions to families.

Date: 5th June 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

On behalf of the Scottish Government, CELCIS (the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland) commissioned Blake Stevenson to evaluate the Realigning Children's Services (RCS) programme.