That Painter & Decorator Moment

Every politician loves a photocall!  Add in a great cause, a placard or two and the ultimate…a human with ‘lived experience’ and the excitement is tangible.  I can say this, I used to be a local one and I won’t deny, I indulged in a fair few myself.  It’s progress for people, isn’t it?

Raising awareness is important and whatever the medium, children’s issues are often the subject matter.  Let’s be honest, they're vote winners!

However, as the Scottish Parliament returns from its summer recess, the focus must be on much stronger action and scrutiny that boldly goes beyond a blind acceptance of internal papers and party lines, if there’s to be genuine progress around children’s rights…especially when it comes to keeping children safe.

It’s a child’s right to be protected, not the fight it has become.

There’s a moment in my life when I wished I’d been a painter and decorator. A poignant moment, where I was reminded that action mattered more.

To this day, I can still see the look of sheer disappointment on the young person’s face.  Her initial excitement on seeing me instantly turning to dismay when it became clear that I was not, in fact, the council’s painter, there to finally decorate her room!

Instead, I was the Vice Convener of Education, Children and Families out on my first visit to one of our young people’s houses and who, over the years, became frustrated at the fight for resources and action that care experienced - and indeed all children and young people - desperately needed.  Not least, the fight for the very best of protection as is their legislative right.

Before the summer, there was a sense of that continued fight in the statement issued by Scotland’s chief social workers, where they warned of the acute shortage of suitable homes and carers for children who are unable to remain in the care of their families, making them increasingly vulnerable to physical, sexual and emotional abuse or exploitation and neglect.

Whilst questions burned at the back of my mind around what solutions and strategies had been proposed by these senior officers - particularly in terms of greater family support and preventative investment - or indeed what budget discussions had taken place, it highlighted the vital need for greater scrutiny of the reality outside the political bubble and the action that is vital to better protect our children.

As a campaigner and one of four petitioners, I’ve been calling for independent investigation of allegations relating to the mishandling of child abuse concerns by public bodies and through the ongoing and empowering space of an independent national whistleblowing office for education and children’s services.

We believe it will address the power imbalances involved, amplify the voice of survivors and whistleblowers (in their broadest sense) and limit the conflicts of interest and marking of one’s own homework that thrives at public body, multi-agency and national strategic group levels.

Ultimately, it establishes the child safeguarding truth and the level of confidence we can have in our current systems and personnel - especially where alleged perpetrators still work with, or have access to, children and young people.

We’re now four years into the petitions process and whilst thankful for the cross-party support of the previous petitions committee, it’s felt like a fight to ensure that the voice of the survivors and whistleblowers behind the petition’s calls is heard and that progress is not just limited to words.

 Our communications with other campaigners though tell us that we’re far from alone in our frustration.  This includes group-based child abuse and sexual exploitation survivors who have been retraumatised in their fight for justice and accountability and to be heard in Scotland. Some having approached our group for support.

Meanwhile, it feels like progress is being defined by more announcements, more sticking plaster solutions, more forums marking their own homework, more focus on processes and lessons learned rather than investigation, justice and accountability…and whilst the news of yet more child safeguarding failures fill our screens.

Whether it’s past or present abuse, the truth really matters.  It has a potential bearing on the current protection of our children.  Sadly though, we know of MSPs who have even refused to meet with and listen to survivors within their own constituencies.

The question here is...do MSPs want to know the full truth about child abuse in Scotland? If so, they need to get behind those fighting for their voices to be heard and through real action, help to make this less of a fight.