{"id":1578,"date":"2024-07-31T10:53:19","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T09:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/participation\/?p=1578"},"modified":"2024-07-31T10:54:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T09:54:41","slug":"planning-participation-developing-a-statutory-definition-of-care-experienced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/participation\/2024\/07\/31\/planning-participation-developing-a-statutory-definition-of-care-experienced\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of planning participation: developing a statutory definition of care experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Digital Engagement Team were lucky enough to catch up with Sean from Keeping the Promise on the importance of planning when it comes to public participation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sean shared how he is planning the upcoming consultation on the term \u201ccare experienced\u201d and connecting with other teams to co-ordinate consultations around similar topics.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We often showcase the outcomes of public engagement activities on our blog but in this post we will show you where the work begins.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to find out what Sean had to say!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The idea for the consultation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Scotland\u2019s promise to children and young people who have experienced the care system is that they will grow up loved, safe, and respected<\/span>. <\/span>For over three years, <\/span>the Independent Care Review<\/span><\/a> listened to care experienced children, young people, and families. It told us what we must do to make sure our most vulnerable children feel loved and have the childhood they deserve.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The voice of those with care experience was at the heart of the Independent Care Review and shaped the recommendations set out in <\/span>The Promise<\/span><\/a>. It is so important that these voices tell us how to move forward. This is why we are planning more engagement through consultations and events to continue listening and using these voices to develop policy that keeps the Promise.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Children and young people taking part in the Independent care review said they wanted a clear definition of \u201ccare experienced\u201d. The Promise tells us that care experience is a term that has special meaning to those who identify with it. However, it is not a legal term and there is not a universally understood definition.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As well as giving people a feeling of identity there are existing supports, rights and entitlements available to people with care experience, particularly care experienced young people. However, at the moment there isn\u2019t one cross sector definition which is commonly understood and captures all of care experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The planning process<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

We identified early in the planning process that across our Directorate, there are a number of public consultations and engagements planned over the next few months. We knew that there\u2019s going to be crossovers between each of the areas to be consulted on and by bringing these closer together it would help build the understanding of how these consultations work together and avoid tiring people out by asking the same questions to the same people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While each consultation will need to follow the legal process, we can connect the development and engagement around each.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of the consultations that have launched or are planned over the remainder of the year to look out for:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n