Future of foster care: consultation

Annex B

Glossary

Caregivers

Caregivers refers to individuals providing care to children and young people. The Promise recognises kinship carers, adoptive parents, foster carers and residential and secure care staff as caregivers.

Child or young person

An individual who has not yet attained the age of 18 years.

Child’s Plan

A personalised child’s plan is developed when those working with the child or young person and family identify that a child or young person needs a range of extra support planned, delivered and co-ordinated. The child’s plan should reflect the child or young person’s voice and explain what should be improved for the child or young person, the actions to be taken and why the plan has been created. Acceptance of a child's plan within GIRFEC along with the advice, information and support which are offered is voluntary: Unless compulsory measures are otherwise justified, if the intervention requires co-operation from children, young people and their families, they will be free to reject any proposed interventions.

Children’s human rights and UNCRC

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the base standard for children’s rights and sets out the fundamental rights of all children. The UNCRC sets out the specific rights that all children have to help fulfil their potential, including rights relating to health and education, leisure and play, fair and equal treatment, protection from exploitation and the right to be heard.

Continuing Care

Refers to a local authority’s duty to provide certain eligible young persons with the opportunity to continue with the accommodation (foster/kinship/residential) and assistance they were provided with immediately before they ceased to be looked after up until their 21st birthday.

Foster Care

When a child cannot be cared for by their birth parents, or by kinship carers (extended family or close friends), they can be cared for by an approved foster carer/family.

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)

This is Scotland’s national approach to promoting, supporting, and safeguarding the wellbeing of all children and young people. It provides a consistent framework, shared language and common understanding of wellbeing. GIRFEC puts the child or young person at the heart and helps children and young people get the right support from the right people at the right time.

Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)

An independent fostering agency works in partnership with the local authorities in order to provide suitable foster care to young people or children.

Looked After children

Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, 'looked after children' are defined as those in the care of their local authority – sometimes referred to as a 'corporate parent'.

There are many reasons children may become looked after, including:

• they face abuse or neglect at home
• they have disabilities that require special care
• they are unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, or who have been illegally trafficked into the UK
• they have been involved in the youth justice system

Team around the child (TAC)

A TAC meeting may be necessary when a child or young person and their family require a range of support from professionals to ensure they are supported to meet their full potential. A TAC meeting can also agree on and subsequently review a child’s plan. A TAC will include the child or young person, and may include family members and professionals, where appropriate, who will work together to ensure the child or young person, and their family are supported. Local arrangements and the term used to describe this type of meeting may vary from area to area.

Voluntary organisation

A body, other than a public or local authority, the activities of which are not carried on for profit.

Wellbeing

For the purposes of these guidance documents, wellbeing is a measure of how a child or young person is doing at a point in time and if there is any need for support. The eight wellbeing indicators (SHANARRI) provide a framework for assessment and planning in relation to wellbeing.

Wellbeing indicators (SHANARRI)

Any assessment of a child or young person’s wellbeing should be founded on the 8 wellbeing indicators: Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Respected, Responsible, Included, sometimes referred to as SHANARRI. The wellbeing indicators (SHANARRI) are informed by the UNCRC. They are overlapping and connect areas that are fundamental to understanding what children and young people need in order to grow, develop and thrive.