government and social policy

Delivering digital inclusion: summary of consultation responses

This report documents key findings from analysis of stakeholder feedback and responses to 'Delivering digital inclusion: an action plan for consultation'. It explores what stakeholders perceive to be the core factors shaping successful delivery of the digital inclusion agenda: citizen focus not technology focus; strong leadership; national approach, local delivery; benchmarking, timeframes and measurable outcomes; sustainable, long term funding and planning.

Growing up in Scotland (GUS): food and activity summary report

The Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) is an important longitudinal research project aimed at tracking the lives of a cohort of Scottish children from the early years, through childhood and beyond.

The study is funded by the Scottish Government and carried out by the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen). Its principal aim is to provide information to support policy-making, but it is also intended to be a broader resource that can be drawn on by academics, voluntary sector organisations and other interested parties.

Securing our future: a way forward for Scotland's secure care estate - a response from the Scottish Government and COSLA

The response is presented of Scottish ministers and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to the recommendations put forward by the Securing Our Future Initiative into how to make best use of Scotland’s secure care resources to improve outcomes for young people and their communities.

They welcome the group’s report and strongly endorse the principles outlined in the vision. They accept in full the nine recommendations of Securing Our Future Initiative and believe that the recommendations should be implemented as an integrated package.

Response to consultation on the framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers and consultation on draft regulations

Document that presents the government’s response to the consultation held during spring 2008 on the new registration framework to be introduced from 2010.

The main purpose of the registration framework is independent assurance of the safety and quality of care. All providers of regulated activities will need to register with the new Care Quality Commission and meet the same essential standards, whether they are public, private or third sector.

United Nations convention on the rights of the child 2008 concluding observations: report of a national consultation with young people to determine their priorities for action

In late summer of 2008, Young Scot was commissioned by the Scottish Government to seek the views of young people from across Scotland on what they thought about the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child's Concluding Observations relating to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC). The consultation explored the levels of awareness children and young people had regarding children's rights and their thoughts on which rights were most important for them, and for Scotland as a whole, to take action on.

Empowering engagement: a stronger voice for older people - the government response to John Elbourne's review

Publication that sets out an action plan to improve the quality of life of older people through closer engagement with government, in response to John Elbourne's review of the subject, whose key findings and recommendations are discussed and the next steps outlined.

SCIE Report 5: Users at the heart - User participation in the governance and operations of social care regulatory bodies

There is a growing realisation that service uses and carers should be involved in developing the services they receive. Their expertise as users of services and what they want from services should be heard. It is particularly important that service users are involved in the national organisations that regulate services, the workforce, education and training n social care.

Children caring for themselves and child neglect: when do they overlap?

For some families leaving a child alone is a necessity because of lack of other options. For others it is a symptom of parental neglect. Understanding the differences between these situations is a challenge for child protective services agencies. This is the report of a study to examine how local child welfare agencies respond when they receive reports of children who are taking care of themselves.