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Extraordinary lives. Creating a positive future for looked after children and young people in Scotland

The purpose of this review is to demonstrate what good care for children and young people who are looked after by local authorities looks like, to identify good practice and to recommend in what ways care can be further improved. It is intended for everyone who is concerned with looked after children and their families; elected members, local authority staff, staff in voluntary organisations, private providers, foster carers, health professionals and those involved in developing and improving children’s services.

Making sense of human rights: a short introduction

Guide designed for officials in public authorities to assist them in working with the Human Rights Act 1998, which has been described as the most important piece of constitutional legislation passed in the United Kingdom since the achievement of universal suffrage in 1918.

The guide is short and simple and offers a brief introduction to human rights for use in straightforward situations.

More detailed guidance can be found in the human rights handbook for public officials, Human Rights and Human Lives, produced by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

The arrest and detention of children subject to immigration control : a report following the Children's Commissioner for England's visit to Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre

Report presenting the findings of the Children's Commissioner for England's visit to Yarl's Wood in 2008 and considering the detention of children there in the light of the UK Government's obligations under Article 37 of the UNCRC. It looks particularly at the effect of detention on children's mental and physical health.

Ellie - Drugs : case narrative

This is a short training scenario originally used in the context of introductory child protection training. It gives brief information from which participants are asked to identify what they are concerned about and what they would do next. The scenario is: Ellie and her partner are prescribed methadone. Their care of their children is causing concern.

HIV-related stigma & discrimination : sex workers

This factsheet discusses the HIV-related stigma and discrimination that sex workers face. They are marginalised and stigmatised because of their work and the fact that prostitution is still criminalised. Many sex workers are further marginalised because of their race or their sexuality, drug taking behaviour and poverty. All these factors increase stigmatisation experienced by sex workers and make them extremely vulnerable to HIV infection.

The Scottish Government's response to essential care: a report on the approach required to maximise opportunity for recovery from problem substance misuse in Scotland

This report gives the Scottish Government's response to the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse-Essential Care Working Group Report 'Essential Care: a report on the approach required to maximise opportunity for recovery from problem substance misuse in Scotland'.

This response addresses each of the 15 recommendations, outlining both current and planned action by the Government and its delivery partners.