The Scottish Government is “delivering for young people in care” an SNP minister has insisted amid warnings the Promise is not being kept.
In an interview with the Record, Natalie Don-Innes said “transformational change does not happen overnight”.
The Promise was announced by then first minister Nicola Sturgeon as a 10-year Government pledge to care-experienced children they would grow up loved, safe and respected.
The policy was launched after an official review concluded children in care were being failed.
Speaking on the fifth anniversary of the announcement, Don-Innes said “huge progress” had been made in improving child-support services at all levels.
It comes as a group of experts today warned the fulfilment of the Promise had been delayed due to a mix of unexpected events and “systemic barriers”.
The report states too many people cannot access the right family support when they need it, including barriers to housing and issues with support for kinship, adoption and foster carers.
Other issues include short-term funding cycles, stretched services and continuing issues with social worker retention and recruitment.
Speaking before the report’s publication, Don-Innes said: “I would say we’ve certainly delivered for young people in care. I would note we’re not at that 2030 milestone. We are five years through. This is an important time to look back at the progress made. But I know we still have work to do. That will be our focus going forward over the next five years.”
Asked for examples of progress made, the SNP MSP added: “Last year, I passed the Children (Care and Justice Act), which ensures no 16 or 17-year-olds will go to Polmont, they’ll be removed from Young Offenders Institutions, they’ll be put into secure care.
“We’ve had investment into Whole Family Wellbeing, which I think is one of the most important things in relation to the Promise. It’s about making sure we get to families at the right time, before crisis points, and investment in families to make sure they have the support to thrive.
She continued: “I think there has been huge progress. I’m out speaking with young people. On one of my recent visits to Young Scot, speaking to three people, now over 18, they said they could see so many of the things we’ve brought in, they would have helped them when they were growing up.
“Of course, though, whenever I have these conversations, I recognise we have more to do.”
Nicola Sturgeon last year warned “vested interests” were delaying the Promise from being delivered.
Asked if she had encountered such issues, Don-Innes said: “No, I wouldn’t say so. I think one of the biggest challenges with the Promise is we are setting the path in Government, we are creating legislation, but there are numerous organisations, and we’re all responsible together for keeping the Promise.
“Transformational change does not happen overnight – and that is what we are doing. Whether it’s local authorities, third sector, government, the public – we all have a part to play to keep the Promise.”
Asked if Nicola Sturgeon was wrong, Don-Innes added: “What I would say is, we are due to keep the Promise by 2030 and we’re on track.”
David Anderson, chair of the Promise’s oversight board, said: “All our board members know how important it is that the Promise is kept, many of us have direct experience of care whilst every one of us strives to keep the promise in our working lives.
“What we need now is action, around spending decisions; bravery to do things differently; to count what matters rather than what is easy or politically palatable.
“Some people, some organisations, and some systems are not yet doing enough, and this risks the country as a whole failing to deliver the Promise.”
Sturgeon announced the Promise in 2020 following a damning report that highlighted the “separation, trauma, stigma and pain” in the care system that had let young people down.
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