Most children and young people
become looked after because of difficulties in their
home circumstances, including family break-up and an
accumulation of the effects of poverty.
Statistics do not reveal the family stresses and
personal upset which can result when a child or
young person becomes looked after. Some children
will have had very distressing experiences,
including severe neglect, and physical or sexual
abuse.
Many looked after children require social work
involvement for quite complex reasons. Reasons for
becoming looked after may include child protection
issues, parental addiction, school attendance
problems and offending.
Below are listed some of the different
legal reasons for children becoming looked after:
Accommodated under Section 25 of
Children (Scotland Act)
Parental Responsibilities Order
Supervision Requirement at Home
Supervision Requirement away from
Home (excluding Residential Establishment)
Supervision Requirement away from
Home (in a Residential Establishment but excluding
Secure)
Supervision Requirement away from
Home with a Secure Condition
Warrant
Child Protection Measure
Criminal Court Provision
Freed for Adoption
Many children and young people
require compulsory measures of care through the
Children’s Hearing system, under Section 70 of the
Children (Scotland) Act 1995. These children/young
people became ‘looked after’ by their local
authority. The majority are subject to a supervision
requirement naming their parent; some may have a
condition of residence naming a friend or relative.
When the supervision requirement names a foster
carer or residential establishment children or young
people are ‘looked after and accommodated’. Some
looked after children and young people become looked
after and accommodated on a voluntary basis under
Section 25 of the Children (Scotland) Act
1995.
For example, because their parents are
unable to look after them. A negligible proportion of
children and young people become looked after under criminal
court provisions.