02 February 2022

Consultation underway to gather views of care experienced children and young people

Aberdeenshire Council has embarked on the Bright Spots Programme this week, with colleagues working alongside Coram Voice and CELCIS (Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection) to listen to children in care and the area’s care leavers to influence service development and strategic thinking.

The programme provides age-appropriate surveys to children and young people asking about their wellbeing and their experience of being in the care of the local authority. The results will highlight what is working well – the area’s ‘bright spots’ – and where things need to improve to best support children and young people who are looked after.

The surveys have been designed by children and young people, and the findings can be compared to other datasets across the UK. This will complement existing performance monitoring and will help services to focus change where children and young people say it is needed.

All children and young people taking part have been assigned a ‘trusted adult’, available to help them complete the survey, who is not their current social worker or carer.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee, Cllr Gillian Owen comments: “I am very much looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the Bright Spots Project and how we will continue to shape care for children and young people in ways that will make a real difference.”

If you have any questions or concerns for Aberdeenshire’s Children and Families teams, you can find local contact details on our website: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/children-and-families/children-and-families-team-offices/