October Update from David Anderson, Oversight Board chair

It has been a busy and significant period since our last update in May. Alongside the integration of new members, much of our work has focused on following up the calls to action in Report THREE, pressing for movement on stalled areas, and preparing the ground for Report FOUR.

We recently met with Iona Colvin, outgoing Chief Social Work Advisor, and Ben Farrugia from Social Work Scotland to discuss progress on the National Social Work Agency. The Board welcomed the ambition to strengthen and unify the profession but underlined the need for clarity on how national reform will translate into consistent, confident practice locally. We have since written to Iona with follow-up questions and will update as and when we receive answers.

We also met with the Scottish Refugee Council to examine the policy and political environment for refugee and asylum-seeking children, and with Farida Ali from JustRight Scotland to explore the legal and rights dimensions. These discussions were grounded, honest, and constructive. They will inform Report Four on if the Promise is being delivered to children and young people who arrive in Scotland without family support.

Over the summer I met twice with the Permanent Secretary. These meetings focused on delivery, accountability, and the continuing lack of tangible progress in key areas. We raised both the Homelessness Prevention Pathway and the stalled work on Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) as examples of this unnecessary delay.

Following these discussions, the Permanent Secretary wrote to confirm that a response to the Children 1st proposal on FGDM will be provided by the end of October. This clarification was welcome, but it remains only a first step. The real test will be whether that response leads to implementation at scale and pace. Also informing that progress will be made regarding the Homelessness Prevention Pathway

Last month the Board wrote to every corporate parent across Scotland. The letter reiterated the call to action set out in Report Three and asked each organisation to demonstrate, by the end of October 2025, how its current or forthcoming corporate-parenting plan shows clear intent to keep the promise. We understand that it is not solely down to Government to implement changes.

We ask for evidence of genuine collaboration between agencies and examples of how care-experienced children, young people, and families are being meaningfully involved in shaping that work. A summary update will be provided once all responses are collected.

This month the Board also wrote to the First Minister to provide an update on progress since Report Three in a range of areas, and underlined that progress remains too slow and that action must now follow. We reiterated our expectation that things must change—and quickly—if the Government is to succeed in fulfilling its responsibilities.

We also noted the abandonment of the planned joint Workforce Improvement Plan from The Scottish Government and COSLA, a gap that risks undermining wider reform. The workforce deserve to know what will be done to resolve prevailing issues. The letter asked that the role of Minister for The Promise be maintained in the next Parliament and that long-term, stable funding for third-sector partners be prioritised.

The Oversight Board’s job is to hold Scotland to account for the delivery of the promise by 2030. Report Three, published in February, sets out where Scotland is in relation to that ambition, concluding that although progress has been made Scotland is behind schedule.

Many of the themes in our report are echoed by Audit Scotland in its recent report, Improving Care Experience: Delivering The Promise which was published in October. We expect those with responsibility use the report as a driver for change. The Board has also been considering areas for deep dives to focus on for Report Four.

Each theme will be developed through evidence sessions and engagement over the coming months. We will continue to report honestly, raise awareness where possible, and ask those with responsibility to demonstrate that they have fulfilled them. Keeping The Promise is non-negotiable.

Lastly, as always, Board members have been actively attending and participating in Party conferences and other events. We will continue to take part in conversations aimed at promoting the work of the promise and with the aim of learning what is being done well and where there are barriers to change.