An Update from David Anderson, Oversight Board Chair

It has now been two months since we released our third report. It is our belief that the report has been well received and widely shared. There has been both positive feedback and acknowledgement that the content is accurate and on point. Our calls to action are clear, what we need now is action - at pace. Following the launch we have been continuing to engage with people across Scotland, and to help create the change we identified was needed. This blog highlights some of our work.

Following the launch we held a Parliamentary reception, where we asked those with power and influence, what had been done to advance the necessary work? The Promise will only be kept if all those responsible play their part and ensure that the collaborative work needed is progressed in a timely manner.

Since that well-attended event - where many people with experience of care were present alongside MSPS, the former and present First Ministers and individuals from a number of organisations - we have been active in a number of areas. Not least, a new recruitment campaign that will see a cohort of five new members join the board. We look forward to welcoming them in the coming month or so.

We have written to some of those individuals and organisations concerned with our calls to action. The First Minister, The Independent Strategic Advisor, the promise – Fiona Duncan, and the Chief Executive of The Promise Scotland – Fraser McKinlay have all replied and those responses can be found on our website. It has been interesting to see what work is planned and where some obstacles lie. We have committed to keeping the First Minister personally informed and will be writing to him with an update soon. Leadership must come from the top. We have also had correspondence with the Care Inspectorate to clarify some of the report content. This too can be found on the website.

Further to this, we invited councillor Tony Buchanan, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People and The Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise, Natalie Don-Innes, to attend our board meeting in April. Unfortunately, the minister had to cancel at the last moment. We hope to rearrange in the near future and will send on our questions in the interim so as to have those responses as soon as possible. Mr Buchanan attended and answered all our questions, confirming much of what we already knew. We acknowledge the continued commitment all 32 local Authorities have communicated both to us and their constituents. We look forward to seeing the progress of some of the ongoing work and will be resolute in our own commitment to reporting honestly as to how Local Authorities are doing. As he pointed out, the further we get along the journey the more direct we will have to be in identifying the places where progress is too slow.

Our engagement with individuals and organisations concerned with the promise continues. We met with The Scottish Autistic Society and The Commission for Learning disabilities. We have acted and asked that they are linked into ongoing efforts to support change and look forward to seeing this develop. It is our intention to meet with relevant persons to ensure we are both informed and able to report on what is happening for those the promise concerns.

We also participated in an online conference with a number of organisations and individuals concerned with keeping the promise. This was intended to further understanding of the role of the Oversight Board and highlight the content of our latest report. This led to a direct conversation with Barnardos and the GAP housing lead Elizabeth McShane, and resulted in a meeting being arranged with other organisations involved in supporting young people moving into independent accommodation aimed at sharing practice, collaborative working, and determining asks of both Government and Local Authorities to assist their respective programmes of work to progress without unnecessary obstacles. We look forward to hearting the outcome of this meeting and will do our best to support progress where we can.

Following on from a previous meeting, we received an update from Children’s First on their efforts to embed Family Group Decision Making across Scotland. We were dissatisfied on hearing the news that their proposal to Government to expand on this important support for children and families has yet to receive a response after six months. This is unacceptable and an example of the slow pace or progress we highlight in our report. We will be seeking clarity from Government as to why this has occurred and expect positive news to be communicated for such an important part of whole family support.

Our member Jemma Kerr attended and spoke at the Labour Party conference. Her contribution was well received and aided our effort to develop understanding around our work. Conversations on the side of the event led to further discussions later in the month and helped us to understand that some organisations need to be brought into the support networks being developed through work undertaken by The Promise Scotland. Our member Emma Brennan will be speaking at a joint event from The Promise Scotland and Who Cares? Scotland at the Conservative Party conference in June.

Lastly, we were invited to attend a celebration of all the promise groups in Aberdeenshire. I am unable to attend but will send a short video thanking them for their efforts. It is a huge privilege to be associated with such fine people. We work together to push for the necessary change and we on the Oversight Board want them to know we stand alongside them and are proud to be promise-keepers just as they are. We wish them all the best for their future efforts and call on those responsible to ensure those efforts are matched by action on their part.

All Oversight Board members are working to keep The Promise in their respective positions out with that of the board. We work alongside many others who do the same. We know there are many others who do too. With that in mind, we remind those with power to work at pace. The Promise can and must be kept.

Read Report THREE here.

About the author

David Anderson

David is a care experienced activist who pushes for the necessary changes to ensure all care experienced people – past and present – can realise their rights and full potential.

He is a father and a foster carer to three children with his wife. Together, in France, they run a therapeutic farm where they welcome anyone who may benefit from the mixture of animals, nature and connection.

David also teaches social work students and social educators on the importance on love, respect and equality for people experiencing “the care system”. He works collaboratively to ensure the promise is kept in full.