Alastair Scott-McKInley
@alonthelough.bsky.social
HE educator, researcher, youth worker, foster care worker, trade unionist. Ph.D
“MacAlister said that meant having “lots of excess foster carers in the care system”, some of whom would never look after a child” Wow the arrogance & naivety. Why would anyone put themselves through a fostering assessment to ‘never look after a child?” www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/02/c...
Children in care should have choice of where and with whom they live, says MacAlister - Community Care
Children's minister Josh MacAlister says giving children placement choice would require having 'lots of excess foster carers'
www.communitycare.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 7:22 AM
“MacAlister said that meant having “lots of excess foster carers in the care system”, some of whom would never look after a child” Wow the arrogance & naivety. Why would anyone put themselves through a fostering assessment to ‘never look after a child?” www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/02/c...
Not in the least surprised. This is the same legislation that provides for new permanence options (SGOs) and for the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Adoption and Foster Care. An absolute shambles. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Adoptive parents 'angry' at lack of support over delayed law change
A delay in a law aimed at better supporting parents of adoptive children has left families feeling let down.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Not in the least surprised. This is the same legislation that provides for new permanence options (SGOs) and for the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Adoption and Foster Care. An absolute shambles. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Detailed report into Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers. Allowances clearly inadequate to cover the cost of care. www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
August 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Detailed report into Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers. Allowances clearly inadequate to cover the cost of care. www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
The upward trajectory of children in care in Northern Ireland continues unabated. www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications...
August 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The upward trajectory of children in care in Northern Ireland continues unabated. www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications...
A deleberate decision not disclose relevant evidence in a disciplinary hearing. Why does that sound familar www.mysocialworknews.com/article/coun...
Social Work News
www.mysocialworknews.com
July 24, 2025 at 11:54 AM
A deleberate decision not disclose relevant evidence in a disciplinary hearing. Why does that sound familar www.mysocialworknews.com/article/coun...
Actions dishonest by the standards of ordinary people, concluding that she had “created a fictitious report with a huge level of detail and had done so deliberately with no possibility of error.”
www.mysocialworknews.com/article/soci...
www.mysocialworknews.com/article/soci...
Social Work News
www.mysocialworknews.com
July 4, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Actions dishonest by the standards of ordinary people, concluding that she had “created a fictitious report with a huge level of detail and had done so deliberately with no possibility of error.”
www.mysocialworknews.com/article/soci...
www.mysocialworknews.com/article/soci...
Statement continues “What has become evident over the last few weeks leaves us with no doubt that our mum was failed, our family was failed and so too was the foster child that was in our long-term care.”
July 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Statement continues “What has become evident over the last few weeks leaves us with no doubt that our mum was failed, our family was failed and so too was the foster child that was in our long-term care.”
Statement from the family “We have been on an agonising journey to uncover the truth behind the events and systemic failings that led to the death of our beloved mum, Marcia Grant.
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
July 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Statement from the family “We have been on an agonising journey to uncover the truth behind the events and systemic failings that led to the death of our beloved mum, Marcia Grant.
‘Particularly, she said that her findings discovered that concerns of the child were often considered, but the safeguarding of the foster family was not a priority.’
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
July 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
‘Particularly, she said that her findings discovered that concerns of the child were often considered, but the safeguarding of the foster family was not a priority.’
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
July 3, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
Recommendation from the care review here: HSC Trusts have increased (beyond regs requirement) statutory visit frequency from monthly to every four weeks. Effectively adding an additional visit every year. You have got to wonder what is going on when resources are so stretched.
June 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Recommendation from the care review here: HSC Trusts have increased (beyond regs requirement) statutory visit frequency from monthly to every four weeks. Effectively adding an additional visit every year. You have got to wonder what is going on when resources are so stretched.
Looks like the foster carer retention crisis in foster care is worsening in Northern Ireland. Some very clear messages from foster carers. Doubt the @health-ni.gov.uk Fostering Workstream is listening. Quick tip, coffee mornings don't cut it.
June 25, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Looks like the foster carer retention crisis in foster care is worsening in Northern Ireland. Some very clear messages from foster carers. Doubt the @health-ni.gov.uk Fostering Workstream is listening. Quick tip, coffee mornings don't cut it.
Reposted by Alastair Scott-McKInley
Something similar here in Northern Ireland would have the potential to transform the looked-after children system. Of course, we would have to get Special Guardianship Orders up and running first.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/06/17/d...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/06/17/d...
DfE seeks councils to pilot kinship carer allowances - Community Care
Payments equivalent to national minimum fostering allowance would be given to carers with, or applying for, court orders to look after children
www.communitycare.co.uk
June 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Something similar here in Northern Ireland would have the potential to transform the looked-after children system. Of course, we would have to get Special Guardianship Orders up and running first.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/06/17/d...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/06/17/d...
Wondering if another year will be added to the DOH/SPPG Fostering Workstream milestones so they can remain green in their documentation.
June 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Wondering if another year will be added to the DOH/SPPG Fostering Workstream milestones so they can remain green in their documentation.
Good to see Foster Carers' rights being protected in the new draft NI Fostering Standards. Important that foster carers' reputation and records are protected from spurious, malicious or vexatious allegations.
June 9, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Good to see Foster Carers' rights being protected in the new draft NI Fostering Standards. Important that foster carers' reputation and records are protected from spurious, malicious or vexatious allegations.
Good to see a requirement to have guidelines for timescales on the resolution of allegations in draft NI Fostering Standards. Something missing from SPPG draft allegations policy.
June 9, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Good to see a requirement to have guidelines for timescales on the resolution of allegations in draft NI Fostering Standards. Something missing from SPPG draft allegations policy.
The Minister for Health has launched the full public consultation exercise regarding the draft Northern Ireland Fostering Services Minimum Standards. The consultation package, including the response questionnaire, can be accessed at the following link consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/consul...
Consultation on Introduction of Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- NI Direct
- Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations and surveys run by the Northern Ireland Civil Service
consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk
June 9, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The Minister for Health has launched the full public consultation exercise regarding the draft Northern Ireland Fostering Services Minimum Standards. The consultation package, including the response questionnaire, can be accessed at the following link consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/consul...
Doesn't look good, does it!
June 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Doesn't look good, does it!
Tragic, but important to hear the inquests findings
www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
June 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Tragic, but important to hear the inquests findings
www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com/news/calenda...
Not really a surprise, but is anyone listening in @health-ni.gov.uk
May 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Not really a surprise, but is anyone listening in @health-ni.gov.uk
"Founded-just-in-case" what a way to proceed.
May 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"Founded-just-in-case" what a way to proceed.
Hard to believe it's over 3 yrs since foster carers told an incredulous Prof. Jones in the NI Children's Services Review that every day disrespect extended to social workers refusing to use email with foster carers. Harder to believe many report this is still everyday practice..
a man is typing on a keyboard and pointing at the camera while saying email sent .
ALT: a man is typing on a keyboard and pointing at the camera while saying email sent .
media.tenor.com
May 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Hard to believe it's over 3 yrs since foster carers told an incredulous Prof. Jones in the NI Children's Services Review that every day disrespect extended to social workers refusing to use email with foster carers. Harder to believe many report this is still everyday practice..