Services for children and families

The Promise

The First Minister commissioned the Independent Care Review in 2016 with an aim to deliver lasting change in Scotland’s ‘care system’. It is designed to support shifts in policy, practice and culture for care-experienced infants, children, young people, adults and their families – ensuring that every child grows up loved, safe and respected, able to realise their full potential.

The Care Review listened to over 5,500 experiences of those living and working in and around the ‘care system’ to properly understand what needs to change and concluded on 5 February 2020 with the publication of seven comprehensive reports, one of which was The Promise.

The First Minister – alongside organisations, institutions, bodies, communities, and groups across Scotland – have pledged to #KeepThePromise.

Within Highland, to support our own commitment and the implementation of The Promise locally, a Programme Manager was appointed in January 2022. The Programme Manager leads on driving forward The Promise’s vision within Highland.

The Scottish Government agreed that The Promise Scotland’s Plan 2021-24, which focuses on the first three years of the change, was the first step towards full implementation and welcomed the approach outlined within the Change Programme.

The five priority areas and key milestones for Plan 2021-24 are:

• the right to a childhood
• whole family support
• supporting the workforce
• planning
• building capacity

More information is available on the official The Promise website.