Chamber and committees

Convener, my next question will probably not surprise you. I think that everyone would subscribe to the idea that we need to prevent problems before they happen; the real challenge is moving finance and resource from crisis to prevention. How will the national care service help us to do that?

That is helpful.

Good morning, ministers. I will direct my questions to the Minister for Children and Young People. The committee met in private with organisations that work with and represent children and young people, including care-experienced children and young people, those affected by domestic abuse, children and young people in conflict with the law, neurodivergent children and young people, and young carers.

Reflecting on the current situation in children’s services, I think that we would all recognise that good work is on-going but, according to some of the feedback that we have received, families are being bounced around the system and a rights-focused approach has not been adopted across the piece. We have been told about organisational gatekeeping; about children, young people and families often having to prove extreme need in order to access services; about there being no shared language between organisations on occasion; and about responsibility shifting from organisation to organisation.

We have had integration for more than 10 years now, so how will a national care service that covers children’s services make those experiences better for children and families? How will we ensure that a rights-based approach is taken?

Okay. That probably shows the need for us all to reflect on children and families rather than organisations.

It would be good to hear from some of the other witnesses.

Good morning. I had some questions about structure, but I think that you have covered that issue pretty well in your answers about the importance of leadership and the issue of culture versus structure. I also hear Jude Currie loud and clear when she talks about her members feeling depleted if navigating around the structures takes more energy than doing the job itself.

One aspect of leadership and culture that we have not talked about is accountability. What risks and opportunities do you see in the proposal to move accountability for children’s services from local authorities to Scottish Government ministers?

I am interested in how your model supports local accountability, flexibility and more joined-up services. I would like some examples of how that is working from the perspective of children and families in Highland.

How long has your system of integration been in place?

I wonder whether, looking back at the integration of health and social care, Barnardo’s Scotland might have any reflections on potential risks.

I was using the language of politicians—or, I should say, policy making. Given that we are going to be in the business of realising people’s rights, can you see any opportunities in the chain of accountability—I cannot think of another word to use for it—being to the Scottish Government and Scottish ministers rather than to local authorities?

Jude, I want to stick with you for my next question. With any change come risks as well as opportunities. Reflecting on the change that we saw with the integration of health and social care services, what do you think are the short, medium and long-term risks to families and children who access such services?