Professional Information
How are we registered and regulated?
All our residential provisions are registered with the Care Inspectorate; Services that provide both care in their residences and education in their schools can be registered with the Registrar of Independent Schools as School Care Accommodation; however, some services register as residential provisions with the Care Inspectorate and separately with the Registrar as an Independent Special School.
A pre-registration visit is carried out by HM Inspectors from Education Scotland normally within 6 working weeks. Subsequently, Inspectors carry out a post-registration inspection within nine months of registration of the school to allow them to observe learning and teaching in the school and to evaluate the overall quality of education and care. Follow up visits are undertaken if necessary, and further full inspections occur approximately every 4 years. School Care Accommodation Services are inspected jointly by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate. Evaluations of quality take account of certain Quality Indicators in HGIOS? 4 and vary from 6 (Excellent) to 1 (Unsatisfactory). Inspection reports can be accessed here.
Care Inspectors also carry out inspections of new services to ensure they abide by the law as set out in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. Subsequently Care Inspectors carry out both announced and unannounced inspections and award grades for certain ‘quality themes’ that cover the main areas of a service’s work. Care Inspectors also grade services on a six point scale similar to that of Education Scotland, and depending on the outcome can make recommendations and requirements, the latter being legally enforceable. Inspection reports can be accessed here.
The main aim of these frequent inspection regimes is to protect Scotland’s children and young people and to promote best practice.
Professional Bodies and Support Organisations
EtCS has important contacts with a range of professional bodies and support organisations that include
The Promise Scotland
The Promise is responsible for driving the work of change demanded by the findings of the Independent Care Review.
Who Cares? Scotland
A national voluntary organisation, working with care experienced young people and care leavers across Scotland.
Let’s Talk ASN
The National Advocacy Service for Additional Support Needs, funded by the Scottish Government for the parents of children with additional support needs who may require support in relation to a dispute or potential dispute with an authority and aims to resolve disputes at the earliest stage possible.
Scottish Attachment in Action (SAIA)
Aims to make sure that everyone understands the fundamental importance of attachment relationships throughout life by: Providing training and consultancy in attachment and trauma to practitioners, parents and carers.
The Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS)
Aim is to improve children’s lives by supporting people and organisations to drive long-lasting change in the services they need, and the practices used by people responsible for their care.
Education Scotland
A Scottish Government executive agency charged with supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education and thereby securing the delivery of better learning experiences and outcomes for Scottish learners of all ages.
The Care Inspectorate Scotland
Regulates and inspects care services to make sure they meet the right standards and works with providers to help them improve their service and make sure everyone gets safe, high-quality care that meets their needs.
The Registrar of Independent Schools in Scotland
An official of the Scottish Government appointed by the Scottish Ministers who is responsible for agreeing to register all independent schools in Scotland in accordance with the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
Scottish Social Services Council
Whose code sets out the behaviours and values expected of social service workers and their employers.