Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Health and wellbeing of children and young people
Background
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee undertook an inquiry into the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland
The inquiry aimed to address key issues affecting the health and wellbeing of children and young people including:
- Child poverty (including the Scottish Government’s current child poverty delivery plan), inequality and adverse childhood experiences
- Issues affecting care experienced young people;
- Mental health, access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the importance of early intervention; and
- Health and wellbeing in schools
Engagement
Oral evidence
11 January: The Committee took evidence from—
Professor Hazel Borland, Interim Chief Executive, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Heather Connolly, Health Psychologist, Division of Health Psychology - Scotland, British Psychological Society
Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children 1st
Kirsty-Louise Hunt, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Barnardo's Scotland
Jacquie Pepper, Chief Social Work Officer, Perth and Kinross Council, Social Work Scotland
Suzanne Shields, Occupational Therapist and Care Group Lead for Occupational Therapy - Children and Young People, Royal College of Occupational Therapist
Papers for the meeting on 11 January 2022
Minutes for the meeting on 11 January 2022
18 January: The Committee took evidence from—
Shelley Buckley, Programme Manager - Families Children and Young People, Mental Health Foundation
Alex Cumming, Assistant Director of Delivery and Development, Scottish Association for Mental Health
Susie Fitton, Policy Manager, Inclusion Scotland
Sam March, Principal Educational Psychologist, South Lanarkshire Council, The Association of Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists
Joanne Smith, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, NSPCC Scotland
Dr Mairi Stark, Scottish Officer, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health
Jackie Brock, Chief Operations Officer (Interim), The Promise Scotland
Helen Happer, Chief Inspector, Care Inspectorate
Lucy Hughes, Policy Development Coordinator, Who Cares? Scotland
Kate MacKinnon, Policy Associate, CELCIS
Papers for the meeting on 18 January 2022
Minutes for the meeting on 18 January 2022
25 January: The Committee took evidence from—
Dr Josie Booth, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology, University of Edinburgh
Mike Corbett, National Official (Scotland), NASUWT
Judy Edwards, Service Manager, Stirling Council
Kevin Kane, Policy and Research Manager, YouthLink Scotland
Jacqueline Lynn, Head of School and Community Sport, SportScotland
Papers for the meeting on 25 January 2022
Minutes for the meeting on 25 January 2022
1 February: The Committee took evidence from—
Dr Josie Booth, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology, University of Edinburgh
Mike Corbett, National Official (Scotland), NASUWT
Judy Edwards, Service Manager, Stirling Council
Kevin Kane, Policy and Research Manager, YouthLink Scotland
Jacqueline Lynn, Head of School and Community Sport, SportScotland
Papers for the meeting on 1 February 2022
Minutes for the meeting on 1 February 2022
8 February: The Committee took evidence from—
Clare Haughey MSP, Minister for Children and Young People, Scottish Government
Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, housing and Local Government, Scottish Government.
Fiona Clements, Improving Lives for People with Care Experience Unit, Children and Families Directorate, Scottish Government
Gavin Henderson, Deputy Director, Keeping the Promise, Scottish Government
Shirley Laing, Director for Housing and Social Justice, Scottish Government
Tom McNamara, Head of Youth Justice & Children's Hearings, Scottish Government
Laura Meikle, Head of Support and Wellbeing Unit, Scottish Government
Papers for the meeting on 8 February 2022
Minutes for the meeting on 8 February 2022
Report
The Committee published its report on 13 May 2022.
The Scottish Government response was received on 6 July 2022.
Read the response (959KB, pdf) posted 11 July 2022
The Parliament debated the report on 15 June 2022.