Governments answer to Eastenders real live portrayel of children brought up in care.

        Original Story  http://jimmydeuchars.blogspot.com/2011/10/bbc-are-doing-our-job-of-highlighting.html?spref=fb

                                                             

Children and Families Directorate Care and Justice Division

T: 0131-2445479 F: 0131-244 0978

E: thomas.hutchinson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Mr Jimmy Deuchars Grandparents Apart UK 22 Alness Crescent Glasgow

G521PJ

The Scottish Government

                      

Your ref: BBC - True Life Portrayal of Children from the Care System Our ref: 2011/1020806

10 November 2011

/ Mr Deuchars,

Thank you for your e-mail of 11 October to Brian Adam MSP, in which you expressed concern around the content of the BBC programme Easfenders, as a policy officer in the team that deals with kinship care I have been asked to respond on his behalf.

The Scottish Government believes that all children and young people who experience the care system should have the same life chances as any other youngsters, and that is why it's so important we treat all children and young people equally. The latest phase of the Who Cares? Anti-stigma campaign - Give Me A Chance - plays a key part in achieving this by helping counter any negative stereotyping misguidedly attached to children and young people who are or have been in care. A link to the campaign site is here http://www.givemeachancescotland.org/ .

The Scottish . Government flrQmote~Jhe Getting itRightJocEvery Child (GIRFEC)~approach iilWleprovision ol services. to children and young people. It provides a framework for all services and agencies working with children and families to deliver a co-ordinated approach which is appropriate, proportionate and timely. Among the values and principles of the GIRFEC approach are recognising that what is going on in one part of a child or young person's life can affect many other areas of his or her life; and supporting, wherever possible, those who know the child or young person well, know what they need, what works well for them and what may not be helpful. Keeping children and young people safe is also fundamental to the approach.

If you have any concerns around the content ,of the BBC programme and feel you need to comment you can contact the broadcaster directly. This can be done in writing to BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Darlington, DL3 OUR or by completing an on-line complaints form by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/formsif you do not get a satisfactory response from the BBC then you can raise your concerns with Of com , the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. You can contact Ofcom through

IS01400lalV, .~

          

Tom Hutchinsen

Victoria Quay. Edinburgh EH6 6QQ www.scotland.gov.uk

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