As we celebrate the third anniversary of the Independent Care Review, Clan Childlaw is reflecting on what we have done so far to #KeepThePromise and our priorities and goals for the coming years. Our lawyers work with care experienced children and young people every day to protect their rights and make sure their voices are heard.
Alongside that work we are:
- Working towards creating an accredited legal specialism to set standards for legal professionals representing children, focusing on a trauma informed approach.
- Through policy and practice, working towards equity and opportunity for care experienced young adults by eradicating youth homelessness and ensuring young care experienced people live in caring, supportive settings and experience needs-focused transitions from care.
- Developing our work with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, giving them access to legal support, advice and advocacy to navigate the Home Office asylum procedures.
- Providing training and support to those who advocate for care experienced children so that children in young people in Scotland have access to independent, legally informed advocacy.
- Continuing our work to strengthen the legal rights of brothers and sisters and ensure a strong legal framework that protects brother and sister relationships in and on the edges of care, including rights to appeal.
- Contributing to change to make sure the Children’s Hearings System is best placed to protect and uphold the legal rights of children.
- Working to ensure that children and young people in conflict with the law have their rights respected and have access to legal support where public authorities fail in their duties to them.
There is lots still to do, but we are proud of our part so far in making sure that all of Scotland’s children can grow up loved, safe and respected.
