Scotland’s Redress Scheme Statistics December 2021 - June 2023

Background notes

Methodology

Data collection

Applications received by Scotland’s Redress Scheme are processed by the Scottish Government Operations Team. All details of the application are recorded on a bespoke Case Management System (CMS). This is the single source of truth for data relating to Scotland’s Redress Scheme. The data that is covered in this publication was collected by a Senior Business Analyst, who ran SQL queries against the database, using Amazon QuickSight.

Data quality

Several types of validation checks were undertaken for quality assurance by the Service Design and Delivery team.

Duplicate checks involved checking for and deleting any duplicate applications incorrectly recorded on the Case Management System. The exception to this was where an applicant initially applied for an FRP with a subsequent IAP application submitted and awarded in which case both applications would be kept.

Clerical spot checks involved spot checking randomly chosen data records against the CMS to ensure that all necessary criteria was met. For example, analysis of number of FRP applications in the dataset would be checked against five random records on the CMS to make sure they were in fact FRP applications. Where sample sizes were small, such as number of review decisions, quality assurance checks were conducted on all data entries on the CMS.

Analysed figures were also compared and checked against the following reports:

• a CMS-generated report on all applications and totals
• a prototype management information dashboard created by the Solutions Architect, and
• The Redress Scotland facts and figures report.

Equalities monitoring data

From the start of the scheme, the print version of the Equalities Monitoring Form was sent out to applicants following the submission of an application. From 04 May 2022 onwards the EMF was included as part of the application pack. The digital version was sent as part of an acknowledgement to anyone who applied by email from 25 October 2022 onwards.

Definitions

The Act – this is an act of the Scottish Parliament, called the Redress for Survivors (Historical Abuse in Care) (Scotland) act, which sets out the right of survivors to apply to the Scottish Government for redress. It became law in 2021.

Relevant care setting – a place or institution where a survivor was staying while in care. This does not include all care settings, but does include most children’s homes, some residential schools, detention centres, boarded-out and foster care environments and in some cases long-stay hospitals. It does not include places where the survivor was living with a parent or guardian, or which was arranged by a parent or guardian.

Case worker – a professional person who is trained to help survivors apply for redress.  In Scotland’s redress scheme, case workers are employed by the Scottish Government.

Historical abuse – abuse which happened in the past. For this redress scheme, the abuse must have occurred before 1st December 2004, and when the survivor was below the age of 18.

Next of kin – a spouse, partner or cohabitant, or if no one eligible is in that category, a child of a survivor. If a survivor died on or after 1st December 2004, that person’s next of kin may be eligible for a redress payment of £10,000.

Review – if a survivor is not satisfied with the offer of redress, they can ask for a review. A different group of people from Redress Scotland will then look at the original decision and tell the Scottish Government if they think it was correct, or if a new offer should be made. A survivor can ask for another review about a different issue, but can’t ask for a second review on the same issue.

Survivor – anyone who has suffered historic abuse while under the age of 18 and in care in Scotland before 1st December 2004.

Application types

There are two types of applications for Scotland’s Redress Scheme. You can apply for either:

Fixed rate payment – payments that are fixed at £10,000. Fixed rate payments may be subject to deductions or paid in instalments. For a fixed rate payment, applicants must show they were living in a relevant care setting when they were abused - however, they do not need to give documents as evidence of abuse.

Individually assessed payment – payments up to £100,000 that may be subject to deductions or paid in instalments. Individually assessed payments require applicants to provide as much evidence as possible.

Next of kin payments – a fixed payment of £10,000. Applicants can apply for a next of kin payment if their partner or parent was abused:

• as a child (when they were 17 years old or younger)
• before 1 December 2004
• in a relevant care setting
• in Scotland.

The applicant’s partner or parent must have also died on or after 1 December 2004.

Accessibility statement

We want Redress Statistics publications to be accessible and usable for as many people as possible. We try to make this publication more accessible by using:

• easier-to-read accessible colours
• larger fonts
• alternative text for figures and charts

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We are always interested to hear from our users about how our statistics are used, and how they can be improved.

Enquiries

For enquiries about this publication please contact:

Children and Families Analysis, Education Analytical Services

E-mail: childrens.statistics@gov.scot

For general enquiries about Scottish Government statistics please contact:

Office of the Chief Statistician

Telephone: 0131 244 0302

E-mail: statistics.enquiries@gov.scot

How to access background or source data

The data collected for this statistical bulletin may be made available on request, subject to consideration of legal and ethical factors. Please contact redress@gov.scot for further information.

Complaints and suggestions

If you are not satisfied with our service or have any comments or suggestions, please write to the:

Office of the Chief Statistician

2W.02 St Andrews House

Edinburgh

EH1 3DG

Telephone: 0131 244 0302

E-mail: statistics.enquiries@gov.scot

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Future publications

Details of future publications can be found on our forthcoming publications page.