Letter to and reply from the Scottish First Minister

The First Minister for Scotland

(Alex Salmond)

St. Andrew's House

Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG                                                                                                                  23^rd May 2011 

Dear First Minister, 

Our group would like to raise some issues relating to family matters with you and look forward to your positive response. 

Firstly could you please explain to our members why your government is funding Woman’s Aid when there appears to be no funding in place for men who are victims of domestic violence?  Any domestic violence impacts on children and funding should be available to help all family members, not just women. 

It is my opinion that your government does not work in the best interests of children because it does not use every means possible to protect them. The Charter for Grandchildren was created by a previous Scottish Government as a tool for best practice but because it was not made a legal document it has too often been ignored and without the positive backing of your Government and its Ministers this excellent and necessary guidance is lost.  There was an accepted need for such a charter but it seems to have been removed from government responsibility to the responsibility of local authority who in turn says it is a government responsibility. How is it ever going to help families in this ‘pass the buck’ manner? 

While contact with and support for any child is important, early intervention to prevent child neglect and abuse is sadly a major issue here. Grandparents are well placed to detect abuse or neglect and if they are not shut out can support and help children long before authorities can or would step in, perhaps preventing a child from being removed and placed in care.  However without some formal backing this support system for children is cast aside. 

All MPs and MSPs say they recognise the important role grandparents can play in a child’s life but most step back from actually doing something to make that recognition official. Glasgow social services claim they operate by the principles of the Charter for Grandchildren contained in other laws, but sadly we still hear of cases where this is not true. Grandparents are told that they don’t need to be kept informed or are not allowed to look after their grandchildren, even when to do so would allow stability and security for the children.  Research by children’s charities has shown that children themselves would prefer to stay with other family members if their parents are unable to care for them for whatever reason.  Without some support of officialdom or law grandparents are rendered helpless to back up their grandchildren.  Do you know what it feels like to be shut out of your grandchildren’s life while they continue to suffer because concerns raised were about their treatment? There is surely now enough evidence to prove that it is better for a child, where possible, to be kept in kinship care rather than social service care.  While some children go on to have positive lives horror stories emerge every day of children’s suffering at the hands of care homes or foster carers and their feelings of rejection by their families surface no matter how good their foster or adoptive families have been. 

Children are the backbone of society and our future citizens.  If they are not treated with the love, support and respect that they are entitled to it reflects on society when they become adults. Feeling rejected by society, too many commit their life to unsocial activities as non achievers having been taken from their families and dragged through the care system, the cost of which is a major concern both financially and emotionally.  Why are so many young people disrespectful to our elderly people, to other adults, but most of all to themselves? Because they are taught disrespect by a lack of family values, whether living together or apart, by the system your government supports. 

Short-sighted financial constraints seem to be at the root of the problem, whereas short term investment in the right areas would give long term reduction in cost.  Family education, mediation and better early support systems to allow families to help themselves when problems arise are the key.  It should be automatic for separating families to use mediation to reach their own solution instead of legal, adversarial methods which should be kept for only the most serious cases, once again reducing costs in legal aid funding. 

Please reply at your earliest.

Reply 

The Scottish Government

Children and Families Directorate

Children's Rights and Wellbeing (CRW) Division

T: 0131-244 7583 F: 0131-244

E: elizabeth.sloan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Mr Jimmy Deuchars 22 Alness Crescent GLASGOW

G52 1 pJ

Our ref: 2011/1005010 1 July 2011

Mr Deuchars

Firstly, I would like to assure you that the Scottish Government .is fully aware of, and committed to eradicating all forms of violence, including domestic abuse. This Government recognises that domestic abuse affects men, women and children and that 14% of victims. are men. Regardless of who the victim is, domestic abuse is never acceptable. - It Was due to this recognition of the need to fill a gap in services for male victims of domestic abuse that the Scottish Government provided funding for the Men's Advice Line to provide a service in Scotland from April 2010

Furthermore, the protection of Scotland's children, keeping them happy, healthy and safe from harm is a key priority for the Scottish Government. There is no more important role for us all than keeping our children and young people safe and well. That is why the Scottish Government launched the new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland in December 2010 which followed a major consultation and comprehensive review of child protection procedures in Scotland. This new guidance can be found online at; http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/201 0/12/09134441/0

The guidance sets a national framework to help shape local practices and procedures. It will improve the way all professionals and organisations work together to give children the protection they need, quickly and effectively at the earliest possible stage. It highlights that all agencies and services have a shared responsibility for protecting children and

                 safeguarding their- welfare.

Scottish ministers are very aware of the import that grandparents have to play, in the development of young people. It is very important that children are given the right support ,and where necessary, protection to ensure 'their development into confident individuals and effective contributors  in our society ..

With regards to the charter for grandchildren, it still remains the responsibility of the local authorities to put in place protocols relating to child protection procedures. Local authorities have a statutory duty to protect children in there area, but under the concordat it is for them to determine how best to do this.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Your Sincerely

  Elizabeth Sloan

Child Protection Team

Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ