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.

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.