The Scottish Government
Primary and Community Care Directorate
Adult Care and Support Division
10 October 2008
Dear consultee
PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FORUM FOR ADULT SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE
The attached paper has been developed with the National Reference Group, set up to implement the recommendations of SurvivorScotland, and takes account of their input. It is principally intended for adult survivors of childhood abuse, particularly those who were abused in care settings and marks the beginning of a debate about the possibility of creating a forum which some survivors may welcome and could benefit from. Families, residential staff and a wide range of other professionals in the field will also have an interest.
For survivors, it could offer an opportunity to be heard and acknowledged by Scottish society as a whole and to contribute to further improving the care provided for children in care settings. For institutions, it may be an opportunity to move on from the past by ensuring that a children's rights approach is embedded in their culture and behaviours.
The paper provides summaries of the key elements of some similar approaches from across the Globe, to stimulate thinking about what might work in a Scottish context. That is not to say that any of these approaches is seen as ideal, not least because some models are responses to political unrest and to mistreatment of individuals who were detained in adult psychiatric settings. Nevertheless, these examples are included because some of the underpinning values and principles may be helpful.
It is not a conventional consultation, in that, rather than asking a series of questions, collating the responses and using them as the vehicle for making recommendations to Ministers about future policy, this part of the consultation will be followed with a series of meetings with individuals and groups to explore whether such an approach should be developed or not. It is also appreciated that not all survivors feel able to express their views, so ideas on how best to reach and work with individual survivors who may not be part of organised groups would be very welcome to ensure that any survivors who want to express a view are encouraged to do so.
The paper does not go into detail because the Scottish Government is keen to know your views on whether such an approach should be adopted and if so, what the remit, processes and outcomes should be.
We would be grateful if you could respond to the attached by 16 January 2009.
Please indicate clearly in your response which paragraphs you are commenting on, as this will help our analysis of the responses received.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important discussion.
Yours sincerely
JEAN MACLELLAN