Clackmannanshire Council Online

Clackmannanshire keeps The Promise to support our care experienced children

Councillors have agreed the next phase of the plan to keep The Promise to Clackmannanshire’s care experienced, children, young people and their families.

Clackmannanshire’s Promise Plan for 2023-26 was approved at today’s Council meeting.

As well as the Plan, a new Language of Care Policy, which has been co-designed with our care community, was approved. The new policy aims to ensure that the language the Council uses is non-judgemental, doesn't' reinforce stigma, is respectful and removes some of the cold and formal language that families experience when using services.  It is crucial that the Council’s actions align with the language used.

The Promise is a national commitment that by 2030 all children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected so that they realise their full potential.

The Promise Plan sets out the progress made so far towards The Promise in Clackmannanshire, including:

• The appointment of a new Virtual Headteacher to focus on The Promise in partnership with all educational establishments
• increased support to foster carers and kinship carers
• commissioning of an intensive support provision so that children on the edge of care can remain supported at home with their family
• a Wellbeing Worker for young people who have left care
• strengthening of support for early intervention for 0-2 year olds
• a strong partnership with the Vardy Foundation to improve resources and support for our children and young people and their families

A number of key areas will be progressed during the course of the next phase of the Plan:

• council policies will be reviewed to review provisions for staff members who serve on a Children's Panel
• housing policies to be reviewed to reflect the needs of care experienced young people leaving care, kinship carers and foster carers
• robust education attendance, attainment and achievement tracking of all our care experienced children and young people
• brothers and sisters to be supported to stay together
• review of approaches across Youth Justice
• pre-interview coaching to support care leavers guaranteed interview scheme
• investment in a family placement team
• Columba 1400 leadership experience for young people

The plan will be monitored closely with a new data map being developed to ensure that we are capturing the right outcomes and evidence to track progress.

Council Leader Ellen Forson, Champion for The Promise, said: “The Council is a corporate parent for children in Clackmannanshire, and we have a duty to make sure that we are meeting the ambition of The Promise. I am pleased to hear about the progress made towards Keeping The Promise, but there is still work to do, as set out in this three year plan. We owe it to our children and families to get this right, and I look forward to seeing us make the progress that is required.”