Secure Care Forum
Background to the groups facilitated by CYCJ related to Secure Care.
The Secure Care Champions Group was formed in 2018 during the development of the Secure Care Pathway and Standards. This group brought together key stakeholders from the secure centres and local authorities who were immersed in the implementation of the standards. Following the launch of the standards in 2020, the meetings focussed on each of the standards and discussions around how they were being met and any barriers. A review of the Secure Care Standards was undertaken by the Care Inspectorate in 2023, the report is available here Secure care pathway review 2023.pdf.
The Secure Care Practitioners Forum was set up to provide a safe space for practitioners to discuss good practice and challenges. Membership included practitioners working in secure care, in the community with young people on the cusp of secure care and third sector partners who were working in the secure centres.
Attendance at both groups has decreased over the past few years therefore careful consideration has been taken to evaluate both groups. Feedback was gathered from members of each group at the start of 2026, and we are grateful to those who took the time to respond. Going forward both groups will merge to form one group, the Secure Care Forum with meetings taking place on a bi-monthly basis.
The forum aims to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expertise among members and key speakers on issues relating to Secure Care. It will provide updates on relevant legislation, standards, and professional practice, while continuing to promote and embed the Secure Care Pathways and Standards across both secure care and community-based services. The forum will encourage partnership working to support rights-respecting outcomes for children, young people, and practitioners. It will also highlights local and international research on issues related to deprivation of liberty and promote multi-agency and innovative approaches to achieving the aspirations of Reimagining Secure Care. In addition, the forum will serve as a consultative platform to offer advice and insight, while providing a safe and supportive space for professionals to share practice challenges.
Dates/times for the Secure Care Forum will be distributed to current members and if you would be interested in joining, contact details are below. Updates will be detailed in our monthly e-bulletin.
To find out more about the upcoming meeting dates, click here. If you would like to join the forum, please contact Sharon.mcginty@strath.ac.uk.
CELCIS Education Forum
The CELCIS Education Forum is a free, open-access network of practitioners and leaders who are involved or interested in the education of children with experience of care, and their families. It encourages and facilitates opportunities for practitioners to come together in a reflective, challenging and enabling space.
Membership is free and open to anyone with an interest in this area of education. We have members who are students, foster carers, health visitors, teachers and academics – so many different roles are represented. Email linda.o-neill@strath.ac.uk to find out more.
The latest Forum was held online (March 30) on the theme of using Scotland’s Secure Care Pathway and Standards to improve educational outcomes for children and young people. Watch here.
Secure Care Pathway and Standards – What, Why and How We Can Help
The Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland were launched on October 5, 2020, to improve the experiences of children and young people who are in, or on the edges of, secure care, leading to better and brighter outcomes.
One year on, the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and partners held an open event to showcase how the Standards are transforming the secure care journey in Scotland. Speakers from the Scottish Government, CYCJ and local authorities discussed why the Standards matter, the journey so far and experiences of implementation. STARR – Scotland’s only curated space for care experienced people of all ages – also presented, announcing that they are now online and on Twitter @STARR_Secure.