The New Scottish Children's Care Bill: understanding what's proposed and what's needed
Tuesday 03rd March 2026
Care experienced children deserve consistency, dignity and lifelong support. However, responsibilities are currently split, services are stretched and progress toward The Promise is uneven. The Scottish Government's new Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill aims to address this. So what is in the Bill, will it work, who will it impact and when will it happen?
The intentions of the Bill are clear. Establish a universal definition of care experience, create extended entitlements, redesign Children’s Hearings, add Children’s Services Planning duties for Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) and deliver not-for-profit fostering. What do you need to know about the consequences of the Bill for your organisation and your role in delivering children's care services?
The Bill is currently going through Parliament with broad consensus about its objectives. Its core aims are likely to become law, meaning extended entitlements across education, health, housing and transitions. Proposals for Children’s Hearings redesign, expanded Children’s Services Planning duties and shifting responsibilities toward IJBs will have major funding and organisational implications.
The proposals sit within keeping The Promise to 2030 and connected reform programmes. Key strands include advocacy, respectful language change, ethical commissioning and a not-for-profit approach to fostering. However scrutiny shows uneven progress, gaps in governance and risks from fragmented delivery. What will matter is concrete planning, resourcing, accountability and early measurable improvements for children and families. What will it all mean for you?
This online conference will focus on three themes:
- Getting the foundations right – defining, entitling and resourcing
- Redesigning systems around children and families
- The challenges in delivery – workforce, commissioning and improvement
Topics the conference will explore
- Understanding how to get the foundations right – defining, entitling and resourcing
- Focussing on who is care experienced – from definition to delivery
- Embedding prevention of cliff-edges – aftercare, continuing care and adult transitions
- Hearing about “No profit from care” – implementing the not-for-profit principle in fostering
- Taking action on redesigning systems around children and families
- Addressing children’s hearings redesign – from report to reality
- Discussing children’s services planning and shared accountability with IJBs
- Considering the role of advocacy, participation and language in making rights real
- Targeting outcomes in integrated commissioning and procurement
- Planning a new 'National Social Work Agency' – what will it mean?
- Meeting the challenge of finance, performance and oversight – what's the cost, where's the accountability and what are the early wins?
Who should attend
This conference is intended for all organisations and individuals working in the field of childcare support and care services across public, private and third sectors, including:
- Councils – Chief Social Work Officers, Heads of Children & Families, Children’s Services Planning Leads
- Health and Social Care Partnerships / Integration Joint Boards – Chief Officers, Commissioning & Contracts Managers, Organisational Development /Workforce Leads
- Education (Local & National) – Directors of Education, Virtual School Heads, Attainment and Improvement Leads
- Inspection & Regulators – Care Inspectorate, Education Scotland Improvement and Assurance Leads
- Children’s Hearings System – Children’s Hearings Scotland Senior Officers, SCRA Reporters and Practice Leads
- NHS & Health – Child Health, CAMHS, Public Health Managers linked to Care-experienced Pathways
- Third Sector & Providers – CEOs and Programme Leads in Fostering, Residential, Kinship and Family Support
- Advocacy & Rights – Independent Advocacy Organisations, Participation and Engagement Leads, CYPCS Liaisons
- Legal & Policy – Children’s Rights, Data Sharing & Safeguarding Advisers, Law Centre Representatives
- Cross-cutting Roles – Finance and Performance Analysts, Procurement, Housing and Employability Transitions Coordinators, Care-experienced representatives
Speakers
Maria Galli
Solicitor, Notary Public and Independent Legal Consultant
Kay McKerrell
Director of Advocacy & Participation
Who Cares? Scotland
Agenda
Tuesday 03rd March 2026
09:25 Chair's opening remarks
Session 1: Getting the foundations right – defining, entitling and resourcing
09:30 Keynote speaker: Who is care experienced? – from definition to delivery
- Mapping the Bill’s definition to real-world points – schools, health, housing and beyond
- Considering data and evidence standards for eligibility without re-traumatising gatekeeping
- Governance for cross-system recognition – NHS, colleges, councils and SSSC-registered services
09:45 Question and answer session
09:55 Preventing cliff-edges – aftercare, continuing care and adult transitions
- Designing offers that prevent support drop-off at key transitions – finance and pathways
- Commissioning models for continuing/aftercare that integrate housing, employability and mental health
- Measuring outcomes that matter to care-experienced adults
10:10 “No profit from care” – implementing the not-for-profit principle in fostering
- Phased procurement/contracting options and care resource stewardship
- Carer pipeline – recruitment, retention, allowances and support standards
- Managing TUPE, continuity of placements and provider risk
10:25 Question and answer session
10:40 Comfort break
Session 2: Redesigning systems around children and families
10:55 Children’s hearings redesign – from report to reality
Maria Galli, Solicitor, Notary Public and Independent Legal Consultant
- Implementing the Hearings for Children recommendations – volunteer model, participation and language
- Cross-system links with education/health and secure care
- Practical change management and workforce development
11:10 Children’s Services Planning and shared accountability with IJBs
- Practical governance – who signs off, who holds risk and how scrutiny aligns
- Data sharing, performance frameworks and pooled/aligned budgets
- Islands/rural considerations and equalities/UNCRC compliance
11:25 The role of advocacy, participation and language in making rights real
Kay McKerrell, Director of Advocacy and Participation, Who Cares? Scotland
- Commissioning and standards for independent advocacy – scope, conflicts and escalation
- Records reform – plain-language, respectful, co-authored notes and information access
- Indicators for participation quality and decision-making influence
11:40 Question and answer session
11:55 Comfort break
Session 3: The challenges in delivery – workforce, commissioning and improvement
12:10 Focusing on outcomes in integrated commissioning and procurement
- Outcome-based contracts across councils and IJBs – aligning with not-for-profit ethos
- Market stewardship, provider viability, and transition protections for placements
- Data dashboards linked to Children’s Services Plans and oversight
12:25 A new 'National Social Work Agency' – what will it mean?
- Preparing for the National Social Work Agency – supervision, career pathways, recruitment and retention
- Trauma-informed and relationship-based practice and reflective spaces
- Aligning Education Scotland and Care Inspectorate improvement frameworks
12:40 Finance, performance & oversight – what's the cost, where is the accountability and what are the early wins?
- Costing and phasing – what becomes statutory when and what requires guidance?
- Public reporting aligned to Audit Scotland scrutiny and The Promise oversight
- 12-month “starter pack” – considering 90-day actions, six-month milestones, one-year outcomes
12:55 Question and answer session
13:10 Chair's closing remarks
Speakers
Maria Galli
Solicitor, Notary Public and Independent Legal Consultant
davieclan
Maria is a dual-qualified litigation lawyer, admitted to practice as a Solicitor in Scotland, and as a Lawyer, Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and the High Court of Australia. With over 35 years of extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation, alternative dispute resolution and public services, she has held diverse and impactful roles in child protection, safeguarding, education, family, and criminal justice, whilst continuously advocating for the human rights of babies, children, young people, and families across Scotland, Australia, and Jersey.
As one of the first solicitors accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in child law, Maria has also earned certifications as a Trauma-Informed Lawyer, and in Child-Centred Practice. Currently, she serves as the Convenor of the Child and Family Law, Sub-Committee at the Law Society of Scotland.
Maria's commitment to social justice extends to her volunteer work as a Trustee and Board Member for various charities, where she has held leadership positions such as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Company Secretary. Her contributions include roles at the Scottish Child Law Centre, the South Ayrshire Befriending Project, Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights), and Ayrshire Cancer Support, a local charity particularly close to her heart.
Her previous appointments reflect her dedication to improving child welfare, including her involvement with the Independent Advisory Group on Policing in the Pandemic, the Independent Information Sharing, Legal Sub-Group, and the international Rights Respecting Justice for Children in Conflict with the Law- a six nations, expert working group. On behalf of the Commissioner, she participated in the National Working Group on the use of physical interventions (restraint and seclusion) in schools, and served on the Expert Advisory Group for the incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots Law.
In her capacity as Legal Officer, and in-house solicitor, for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Maria contributed to advancing the children’s rights movement in landmark strategic litigation and legislative reforms for Scotland over the past decade.
Maria has recently transitioned to a new role as an Independent Legal Consultant, where she remains dedicated to working with children and families, promoting the implementation and realisation of human rights protections in law, and practice: here in Scotland, and beyond.
Kay McKerrell
Director of Advocacy & Participation
Who Cares? Scotland
whocaresscot
Kay is the Director of Advocacy for Who Cares? Scotland which delivers advocacy services throughout Scotland.
She also sits as Chair of the National Providers Network, a forum for advocacy providers who have been commissioned by ScotGov to deliver Children’s Hearing Services advocacy throughout Scotland. As well as being on the Board of Voluntary Action Orkney, she is also a Trustee of the Kristin Linklater Voice Foundation and has been elected as the Scotland Representative for UNISON National Black Members' Committee. She holds a judicial appointment as a Mental Health Tribunal Service (MHTS) Legal Convener.
Venue
This conference takes place online.
Fees
How to book
You can book to attend in 3 ways:
- Select book now on the right hand side of this page, fill in the form on that page and click the 'send booking' button
- Call 0131 556 1500
- Email mail@mackayhannah.com
Conference fees
- Delegate fee (includes video recording of the conference) – £169 +VAT
- Group discount – organisations booking 3 or more delegates will receive every third delegate place at half price (please complete further forms if necessary)
Please note – It is not permissible to share the recording. Please contact us if you wish to share it. See our terms and conditions for further information.
Payment
We do not currently accept payments online and will send you an invoice.
You have the option to pay by bank transfer or card.
Bank details will be included on the invoice.
If you wish to pay by card, please tick the appropriate box on the booking form and a member of our staff will contact you by telephone to take the payment. Alternatively you may call 0131 556 1500.
Terms and conditions
By placing this booking, you agree to the full terms and conditions found via the link at the foot of our website.
