Scotland

The Children (Scotland) act 1995 is the legislative basis for work with children and young people in care and leaving care. Sections 17, 29 and 30 in particular relate to throughcare and aftercare.

The Regulations and Guidance for young people leaving care in Scotland were implemented on 1st April 2004. This document states how Scottish local authorities should be working to support young people leaving care.

The manifesto No Time to Lose highlights the challenges that confront service providers and that children and their families experience. It recommends action that can be taken to make a difference to children’s lives. The needs of young people leaving care are included, with recommendations to improve throughcare aftercare services.

The purpose of  the Scottish Protocol for Leaving Care Work is to try to achieve clarity and consistency across Local Authorities in Scotland as to how each will deal with young people leaving care living in, or moving into, a different Authority within Scotland other than the one where they were last ‘looked after’.

Health for All Children provides guidance on how to support implementation in Scotland of Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health recommendations on child health screening and surveillance activity.