NHS Lanarkshire has launched a new plan to support care-experienced young people.
The “corporate parenting” commitment details how the health board will meet its responsibility to uphold the rights, ensure the wellbeing and create and enhance the life opportunities of children, young people and adults who have experience of being in care.
This plan is closely aligned to The Promise Scotland, which is the nation’s commitment to ensure that care-experienced children, young people and families feel loved, safe and respected as the nation moves to transform the care system by 2030.
Beth-Anne McDowall (pictured) is NHS Lanarkshire’s Promise Lead Officer, the only person in the role in a Scottish health board, and oversaw the new corporate parenting initiative.
She said: “We have 1,394 children and young people experiencing care in Lanarkshire and thousands more who have previous experience of care. Every interaction with a care-experienced person can have a profound impact on them. What may be seen as a routine 10-minute appointment can have a lasting impact.
“That’s why this plan must be a consistent, committed approach to how we support care-experienced people in Lanarkshire – where we stand beside them, listen to them, remove barriers, fight for their rights and help them feel safe, supported and able to thrive.
“We’ll listen to care-experienced people, take decisive action and work with partners across emergency services, education, social work, the charity sector and community services to ensure every child grows up loved, safe and respected.
“Care-experienced children and young people have phenomenal potential, yet many continue to experience difficulties and navigate barriers that others don’t face. Consistent testimonies from people with care experience tell us they often face a lack of support, nurture, compassion and care, leaving them feeling unheard, unvalued and unsupported.
“This plan is a commitment from NHS Lanarkshire to being a ‘good parent’ to this group of children and young people. We look forward to working with them to ensure we meet our responsibilities to ensure they get the healthcare they need and deserve.
“I’d like to thank the young people who selflessly and candidly shared their stories to help us create the plan. We understand the emotional toll sharing those experiences can have and we’re extremely grateful that they trusted us with their stories.
“We promise to honour this, and we hope they can see how their views have shaped the design and delivery of the work.”
The plan sets the strategic direction for 2026–2029 and includes seven priorities with a range of actions to address them:
- Trauma-informed compassionate healthcare
- Improving mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Reducing health inequalities
- Improving transitions (in the 16 to 26 age group)
- Listening to care-experienced voices
- Workforce development and training
- Employment, skills and opportunities
Here’s what the young people told us about these priorities:
- “Give us grace, it’s hard opening up”
- “Staff need continuous training and a better understanding of the root causes of trauma”
- “Not long waiting lists for mental health – be seen quickly”
- “Please don’t send us home from crisis with nothing – we need aftercare”
- “Access to services still too hard”
- “Help us live in nice houses in nice areas”
- “We’re tired of retelling our story – give us a sticky person”
- “Need a homeless pathway”
- “Actually listen to us”
- “Be trauma informed, compassionate, non‑stigmatising”
- “Do training, do it regularly, update it, involve us”
- “Want mandatory learning”
- “Treat us like you would treat your own children”
To learn about the multiple actions NHS Lanarkshire is planning to address these needs you can read the full Corporate Parenting Plan.
