Latest news with #HelenMinnis
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Why we need safe baby courts in Scotland
The Best Service Trial (BeST?), led by Professor Helen Minnis, compared an infant mental health intervention with social work services in Scotland and England, to identify the best service for infants placed outwith their birth family. The study found that authoritative and consistent oversight of a child's journey through care was crucial in safeguarding children's wellbeing. It also revealed that decisions about the permanent care of infants were made almost 4.5 times faster in England than in Scotland. For babies, timely decisions about their permanent care is critical for their recovery from trauma. Permanence can mean a child being returned to their birth family, achieving a permanent home with kin or adoption. Children should remain with their families wherever possible, with infant-parent relationship support, where necessary. Even with this support we know some babies will need to be placed outwith their birth family, to receive safe, consistent care. This means that Scotland must have a legal system that makes decisions about infants within their development timescales. Babies make up a large proportion of children in the Children's Hearings system. Yet it has not evolved to consider the unique needs of babies. Urgent reform of the Hearings system is required. Key policy proposals such as an authoritative chair, specialism on the panel and mandated timescales can help to strengthen the legal process for infants, but more fundamental change is required. We are calling for a pilot of a Safe Baby Court type model in Scotland. This is an evidence-based, trauma informed, legal decision-making model designed around the specific needs, and rights, of infants. It aims to maximise the chances of infants at high risk of significant harm being able to remain safely in the care of their birth family, when it is safe. When this is not possible, it is designed to make timely decisions about an infant's permanent home, to prevent the drift and delay that happens to so many infants in the Children's Hearings system, and which leads to a greater risk of relationship breakdown and repeated traumatisation which contributes to poor outcomes. Legal systems in New Zealand, Australia, America are working towards safe baby courts, and we are exploring the feasibility of adapting this model. The Children and Young People (Care) (Scotland) Bill presents an opportunity to place babies at the heart of social care and justice systems. Considering the BeST? evidence, it is no longer enough to adapt a system designed for older children and young people. We need ambitious action to enhance the Hearing system for infants and measure the impact against a pilot of a Safe Baby Court model. We must design a justice system that can make robust and timely decisions about where our most vulnerable citizens will call home. Joanne Smith is NSPCC Scotland's Policy and Public Affairs Manager Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Unacceptable impact': Researchers call for changes to Scotland's care system
Fundamental changes need to be made to Scotland's care system as a matter of urgency, researchers have concluded following a study involving hundreds of children in foster care. The study looked at improving the mental health of children aged up to five-years-old in foster and kinship care. It found authoritative and consistent oversight of a child's journey through the care system was crucial in safeguarding children's wellbeing. The researchers believe better and quicker decisions would be made if a single sheriff or expert oversaw a child's journey through care proceedings. The study by University of Glasgow in partnership with NSPCC and other universities was the largest of its kind, involving 488 children and their families from Glasgow and London. READ MORE: Swinney urged to act in bid to reverse near-record alcohol deaths 'We cannot allow our social care system to fall into further disrepair' The staggering cost of poverty and hardship on Scotland's economy revealed Helen Minnis, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, said: 'We know infant mental health interventions work well in many circumstances, and our study targeted the children who most need these services. 'Yet, our study showed it was impossible to deliver infant mental health services to these children because of failings in our systems. 'Short timescales in England affected families' ability to access treatment. 'Yet in Scotland, with no legal timescales, we found there were significant delays and drift in the care system, having an unacceptable impact on young children's mental health and also creating massive unnecessary costs to the Scottish economy. 'It is urgent that changes are made to the care system in the UK so that young children in foster care, and their families, can receive the help they need.' Matt Forde, NSPCC partnerships and development director, said: 'Sadly, children in foster care are more likely to have mental health difficulties. 'Experiences of abuse and neglect are part of this, and what happens once a child is in care can also affect their mental health. 'Our first relationships and experiences are the building blocks of our wellbeing and development. 'Providing early mental health support for infants and their parents and foster carers, helps build trusting relationships between the child and the adults caring for them. 'This can break down barriers and help parents better understand their child's experiences and find new ways to connect. 'Such services need to be an integral part of the social care and family justice system, so recommendations from treatment can properly inform life-changing decisions for these children. 'For that to be made possible, it is crucial that we have clear authoritative leadership at every stage of a child's journey through the care system to make sure timely decisions are made.'
STV News
02-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
System failures in Scottish care 'putting children's mental health at risk'
Fundamental changes need to be made to Scotland's care system as a matter of urgency, researchers have concluded following a study involving hundreds of children in foster care. The study looked at improving the mental health of children aged up to five-years-old in foster and kinship care. It found authoritative and consistent oversight of a child's journey through the care system was crucial in safeguarding children's wellbeing. The researchers believe better and quicker decisions would be made if a single sheriff or expert oversaw a child's journey through care proceedings. The study by University of Glasgow in partnership with NSPCC and other universities was the largest of its kind, involving 488 children and their families from Glasgow and London. Helen Minnis, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, said: 'We know infant mental health interventions work well in many circumstances, and our study targeted the children who most need these services. 'Yet, our study showed it was impossible to deliver infant mental health services to these children because of failings in our systems. 'Short timescales in England affected families' ability to access treatment. 'Yet in Scotland, with no legal timescales, we found there were significant delays and drift in the care system, having an unacceptable impact on young children's mental health and also creating massive unnecessary costs to the Scottish economy. 'It is urgent that changes are made to the care system in the UK so that young children in foster care, and their families, can receive the help they need.' Matt Forde, NSPCC partnerships and development director, said: 'Sadly, children in foster care are more likely to have mental health difficulties. 'Experiences of abuse and neglect are part of this, and what happens once a child is in care can also affect their mental health. 'Our first relationships and experiences are the building blocks of our wellbeing and development. 'Providing early mental health support for infants and their parents and foster carers, helps build trusting relationships between the child and the adults caring for them. 'This can break down barriers and help parents better understand their child's experiences and find new ways to connect. 'Such services need to be an integral part of the social care and family justice system, so recommendations from treatment can properly inform life-changing decisions for these children. 'For that to be made possible, it is crucial that we have clear authoritative leadership at every stage of a child's journey through the care system to make sure timely decisions are made.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Researchers call for changes to Scotland's care system
Fundamental changes need to be made to Scotland's care system as a matter of urgency, researchers have concluded following a study involving hundreds of children in foster care. The study looked at improving the mental health of children aged up to five-years-old in foster and kinship care. It found authoritative and consistent oversight of a child's journey through the care system was crucial in safeguarding children's wellbeing. The researchers believe better and quicker decisions would be made if a single sheriff or expert oversaw a child's journey through care proceedings. The study by University of Glasgow in partnership with NSPCC and other universities was the largest of its kind, involving 488 children and their families from Glasgow and London. READ MORE: Swinney urged to act in bid to reverse near-record alcohol deaths 'We cannot allow our social care system to fall into further disrepair' The staggering cost of poverty and hardship on Scotland's economy revealed Helen Minnis, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, said: 'We know infant mental health interventions work well in many circumstances, and our study targeted the children who most need these services. 'Yet, our study showed it was impossible to deliver infant mental health services to these children because of failings in our systems. 'Short timescales in England affected families' ability to access treatment. 'Yet in Scotland, with no legal timescales, we found there were significant delays and drift in the care system, having an unacceptable impact on young children's mental health and also creating massive unnecessary costs to the Scottish economy. 'It is urgent that changes are made to the care system in the UK so that young children in foster care, and their families, can receive the help they need.' Matt Forde, NSPCC partnerships and development director, said: 'Sadly, children in foster care are more likely to have mental health difficulties. 'Experiences of abuse and neglect are part of this, and what happens once a child is in care can also affect their mental health. 'Our first relationships and experiences are the building blocks of our wellbeing and development. 'Providing early mental health support for infants and their parents and foster carers, helps build trusting relationships between the child and the adults caring for them. 'This can break down barriers and help parents better understand their child's experiences and find new ways to connect. 'Such services need to be an integral part of the social care and family justice system, so recommendations from treatment can properly inform life-changing decisions for these children. 'For that to be made possible, it is crucial that we have clear authoritative leadership at every stage of a child's journey through the care system to make sure timely decisions are made.'
