Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland said: ‘We welcome today’s publication of the findings of the independent care review, after three years of work and listening to care experienced children and young people in Scotland. 

‘It is really positive that the review placed the voices of care experienced children and young people so clearly at its heart, and we endorse the overall view of the ‘care system’ that is laid out in the review’s report, especially the idea that the purpose of care ought to be “protecting all safe, loving, respectful relationships” rather than “protecting against harm”. We particularly welcome the placing of children and young people with care experience and those who know them best at the centre of decision making.

‘Yet it is important to recognise that for all the work that has already been done, after three years we are only now at the starting line for change rather than a significant way through the journey. The real question is what will all this mean for children and young people? Ensuring that the vision set out becomes a reality is essential; the review rightly concludes that children must not wait, and there must be a concerted effort over the next year to develop a detailed, funded plan to ensure that the current generation of children in care can benefit from its ambition. It is this plan, and its implementation, that will determine whether or not the review will fundamentally improve the experience of children and young people and the people caring for them.

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