Call for Reform in Scotland's Care System Following Comprehensive Study

The University of Glasgow has spearheaded a significant study, in collaboration with the NSPCC and other academic institutions, focusing on enhancing the mental health of nearly 500 children aged 0 to 5 who are in foster and kinship care. The findings emphasize that consistent and authoritative oversight throughout a child's experience in the care system is vital for ensuring their well-being.

Research indicates that young children, particularly infants and preschoolers, need stable family environments to flourish. Those entering foster care are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues, and studies suggest that early intervention is more effective than later assistance. The researchers propose that appointing a single Sheriff or expert chairperson to oversee each child's care proceedings in Scotland could facilitate quicker and more informed decisions, allowing families to access necessary mental health support without enduring long waiting periods.

This research represents the largest analysis of its kind, involving 488 children and their families from Glasgow and London. It compared the effects of the New Orleans Intervention Model (NIM)--which incorporates a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers--on child well-being against the traditional social work services typically provided to families. The NIM approach aims to strengthen the relationships between children and their birth parents, as well as between children and their foster carers.

Follow-up assessments conducted two-and-a-half years after the trial began showed no significant difference in outcomes between the two groups. The researchers believe that systemic issues in Scotland's care framework hindered the full implementation of NIM, which has previously demonstrated success in the United States.

In London, legally mandated timeframes for decision-making in family courts allowed more families to access treatment. Conversely, in Scotland, the absence of such timelines, coupled with a panel of laypeople overseeing the Children's Hearings System, led to delays and a backlog, preventing many families from benefiting from NIM.

The disparity in permanency placement rates reflects this inefficiency: children in England achieved permanent placements nearly four and a half times faster than their Scottish counterparts. Additionally, the costs associated with care in Scotland were nearly double those in England for both groups.

In response to the study's results, published in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers are advocating for the following changes:

• Establishment of consistent oversight for children navigating Scotland's care system, emphasizing adherence to court-mandated timelines while balancing the need for birth families to access therapeutic support.
• Integration of mental health services for infants into social and legal frameworks to ensure timely reports inform critical decisions regarding permanent placements.

The upcoming Promise Bill presents a timely opportunity to implement these essential reforms within the Children's Hearings System.

A leading researcher in the field, a Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, expressed concern regarding the inability to deliver effective infant mental health services to children in need due to systemic failings. The lack of legal timelines has resulted in delays within the Scottish care system, adversely affecting young children's mental health and leading to increased costs for the Scottish economy.

The NSPCC's Partnerships and Development Director noted that children in foster care often face greater mental health challenges due to previous abuse and neglect. He emphasized the importance of early mental health support for both infants and their caregivers to foster secure attachments and enhance overall well-being.

Sheriff David Mackie, who led a working group exploring reforms to the Children's Hearings System, highlighted the fragmented and costly nature of current processes, which adversely affects vulnerable infants and prospective adoptive families. He underscored the urgency for transformative changes in policy and practice surrounding adoption.