Falkirk Council is leading the way in providing vital backing for people who have been involved with the care system thanks to Labour efforts to forward their cause.
A Labour motion proposed by Councillor Siobhan Paterson means that from now on children and young people who have experience of the care system will have this considered whenever decisions are taken affecting them.
The motion, passed at the full Falkirk Council meeting on Wednesday, covers anyone who has been looked after by family members other other than their parents, looked after at home, in foster care, residential care, secure homes or through adoption.
Care experience will now be considered a ‘protected characteristic’, joining age, disability, race, religion and general as protected under the 2010 Equality Act.
It also means the council should seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced young people when developing new policies.
During the debate councillors heard from Terry Galloway, lead campaigner for Care to be a Protected Characteristic, a UK-wide campaign seeking changes to the current system.
He spoke of his own experience, having lived at over 100 addresses before he had left care. He said that while he made a life for himself other members of his family didn’t, turning to drink and drugs because of their experiences.
A conversation with his sister at the funeral of a friend led to him promising that he would work to change the system.
His sister died soon after, killed by a violent boyfriend, and becoming part of a statistic that sees care experienced people 70 per cent more likely to die prematurely than their peers.
He was backed by Casey Ferguson, Gemma Ferrie and Isa Santos from the Falkirk Champs Board, which gives a voice to people who have experienced care locally.
They told councillors they did not want sympathy or special treatment but spoke of the barriers they face finding permanent accommodation or employment and often find themselves disadvantaged with problems accessing transport or affording many things.
Councillor Paterson’s motion, seconded by council leader Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn was passed unanimously.
Councillor Paterson’s Speech
I’m not going to recite the statistical outcomes faced by our care experienced individuals, because they are more than statistics which is why I’m so glad that I’m able to share this platform today with some of the Falkirk Champs. They are most qualified to talk on their own lived experiences and are more than able to advocate for themselves. This really is their movement and I am honoured that I am able to play a supporting role in it.
These are the first Scottish young people to come forward and speak in support of this kind of motion and I know they will inspire many more to follow.
Whilst we can’t undo adverse childhood experiences, as corporate parents we are responsible for safeguarding our young people to prevent further trauma. We must do all we can to ensure that our policies and decision making are informed and trauma responsive.
In the dozen years I’ve worked in residential childcare, I’m glad to report that things have come a long way. A major contributing factor to this progress has been the willingness of professionals to seek out and listen to our young people and their families. It is logical that those with relevant lived experience should be considered and involved at all stages of policy development to help guide us in best practice.
If this council chooses to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic, we can help cultivate a more caring and nurturing environment for all of our young people. By calling on and collaborating with outside institutes to step up and do the same, we may be successful in relieving some of the pressure facing our overstretched social care system.
Whilst there are many overarching acts and policies that cover the rights of children, they do not extend far enough for those with care experience. With the introduction of ‘The Promise’ the Scottish Government did place focus on care experienced young people but to have any chance to keep our promise to Scotland’s children that they can grow up “safe, loved and respected” we have to ensure the views of care experienced individuals are considered at every level of local and national decision making.
And whilst the UK government is slow in recognising their responsibility as corporate parents, children’s lives cannot wait. We at Falkirk Council have the opportunity here today to officially recognise and place value in our young people. Because an adverse childhood should not dictate a future.
I’m thrilled that Terry Galloway was able to join us today and I thank him for all the work that he’s doing nationally to achieve systematic change in the care system.
By recognising care experience as a protected characteristic, I hope that it will not only offer protections, but go some way in combatting the barriers and discrimination face by the Bairns of Falkirk who have been disadvantaged through no fault of their own.
Councillor Paterson’s motion
- Falkirk Council recognises our collective responsibility as corporate parents and our commitment to the delivery of ‘The Promise’ that Scotland’s children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected.
- Council agrees to add ‘Care Experienced’ as a protected characteristic into our Equalities Impact Assessments where Care Experienced people is used to describe anyone who is currently, or has been, in the care system; for example, kinship care, looked after at home, foster care, residential care, secure homes and adoption.
- Council also agrees that when officers add ‘Care Experienced’ to the current statutory list of protected characteristics, consideration should be given to adapting the impact assessment process to integrate Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment to advance compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and to report back to the Executive but ‘Care Experienced’ will be considered in all Impact Assessments from the date Council agrees this motion.
- Council agrees to continually and proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced young people when developing new policies.
- Council notes that the addition of Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic would formally recognise the impact any future decisions, services, policies would have on care experienced people.
- Council agrees to formally call upon other bodies to treat care experience as a Protected Characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation.