Scotland’s efforts to reform its care system are being held back by a lack of clear planning, accountability, and defined roles, according to a new report from Audit Scotland.
The report reviews progress towards The Promise, the Scottish Government’s 2020 pledge to improve the lives of care-experienced people by 2030. Despite strong commitment across organisations, it found slow progress due to unclear responsibilities and ‘confusion’ between the Scottish Government, COSLA, and newly established delivery bodies.
Efforts to streamline The Promise's complex governance arrangements have also been ‘insufficient’ and there has been no assessment of what resources and skills were needed to deliver The Promise by 2030, or how success would be defined or measured.
A framework to measure progress was agreed in December 2024, but national data remains too weak to assess whether outcomes for care-experienced people are improving.
Auditor General for Scotland Stephen Boyle said early planning ‘didn’t provide a strong platform for success’ and called for a clear, costed action plan for the next five years.
Angela Leitch, of the Accounts Commission, urged ‘greater pace and momentum’ and closer collaboration between national and local bodies.
A joint statement from the Scottish Government, COSLA, Solace, The Promise Scotland, and The Independent Strategic Advisor for The Promise, said: 'We will review all the recommendations and respond accordingly, ensuring we continue to work in the best way possible for children, families and care experienced adults.'
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