Children in care twice as likely to have disability

Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for young people Duncan Dunlop MSP has today said that it is time to fix the SNP’s broken Promise, as new figures revealed that children in care are twice as likely to have a disability compared to those in a household.

The Scottish Government’s Children in Care Statistics published today provide information on young people in residential care based on the March 2022 census.

The figures show that:

• The proportion of children in residential care with an activity limiting health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months was 18%, compared with 9% for children in households.
• A third of children in residential care had a learning disability, learning difficulty or developmental disorder, compared to just 9% for children in households.

As a former youth worker and Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland, Duncan used his maiden speech in the Scottish Parliament to tell the stories of young people who the state has failed. He has repeatedly urged the Scottish Government to focus on the rights of care-experienced young people.

Duncan Dunlop MSP said:

“Nicola Sturgeon’s ten-year-old promise said that families would be supported to look after disabled children and those with additional learning needs.

“That engagement, however, has failed to happen. If it had, it would have unleashed the love that so many people and communities across the country are ready to provide for these children.

“Yet again, it leaves us questioning the very point of the Promise when so many of its commitments have been broken or left to fall by the wayside.

“The care system is in desperate need of an overhaul, but it has failed to materialise, and the consequences of this inaction are tragic and life-limiting for young people.

“The Scottish Government urgently need to do better, and I will be using my voice in parliament to make sure that they finally step up to the mark.”