HfS responds to Scottish Government consultation on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill
The Hub for SUCCESS has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
This response was developed collaboratively by our care-experienced student ambassador team, supported by the Hub’s core staff and partners. Feedback was gathered through a survey designed to ensure all voices could be heard. As with all of our work, lived experience sits at the heart of this response.
The Bill is an important step in Scotland’s commitment to keep The Promise and to recognise that care experience is lifelong. The Hub welcomes the proposals for more inclusive aftercare, extended corporate parenting duties, a legal right to independent advocacy, and the introduction of national guidance on care experience.
In our response, we make clear recommendations, including:
Extending aftercare support beyond age 25 where appropriate, reflecting the lifelong impact of care experience.
Ensuring that undocumented or informal care experience is recognised without placing the burden of proof on individuals.
Resourcing and supporting services to implement expanded duties effectively, avoiding dilution or tokenism.
Embedding education explicitly throughout the Bill, including post-school transitions, financial security, and mental health provision.
Guaranteeing that advocacy is accessible, relational, and co-designed with care-experienced people.
Establishing accountability and consistency in national guidance, and considering additional corporate parents, such as the Scottish Funding Council.
The Hub for SUCCESS strongly supports the direction of the Bill but urges the Scottish Government and Committee to go further, ensuring that the final legislation reflects the lifelong and relational nature of care experience, with education as a central theme
