Staying together and connected: getting it right for sisters and brothers: national practice guidance

Next steps

The co-operative approach taken in developing this guidance has highlighted areas in which we can all collaborate and continue our progress. The Scottish Government and our partners in this endeavour have committed to Keep The Promise, and this includes continuing our co-production in implementation. The Scottish Government has heard that we must work on, for example, developing a framework for collecting meaningful data. There is widespread recognition that cross-sector work underway on holistic family support, which includes consideration of commissioning and delivery strategies, has the potential to further strengthen the bonds that are important to children who may experience care.

"The workforce needs support, time and care to develop and maintain relationships. Scotland must hold the hands of those who hold the hand of the child."^[54]

Throughout this guidance, examples have been shared which demonstrate the creative skill of the workforce in the endeavours to help sisters and brothers stay together and stay connected. It is vital that we ensure that practitioners, those who have always strived to ensure that children living away from home remain connected, have the professional skill, knowledge, resources and enabling leadership that they have told us they require. Our collaboration in this venture has highlighted areas that require strengthening in order that we are Getting It Right For Scotland's Sisters and Brothers and we are committed to continue to work together to share our creativity and navigate our path to overcome barriers.

Our partnership with children, young people, parents, carers and professionals continues and we will work hard, reviewing, developing and implementing this guidance as we progress our journey to strengthen children's important relationships; and #Keep the Promise.