The Promise Oversight Board’s second annual Report welcomed by Council

Highland Council has welcomed the recent publication of The Promise Oversight Board’s second annual Report. 

The Oversight Board primarily reports to the care community and the Scottish Parliament, but the report is also equally relevant to anyone who has a part to play in keeping the Promise.

The Promise, at its core, is a Scotland-wide commitment to support care-experienced people. 

The report captures the work happening across Scotland, recognising what else must happen to achieve The Promise by 2030. Whilst much is yet to be done, the work being undertaken within Highland illustrates the local commitment to help achieve the ambition of The Promise.

In recognition and acknowledgement of the feedback received from surveying Health & Social care staff, Promise Engagement sessions are now offered as part of a programme of work to promote, share and improve communication on Highland’s vision to Keep The Promise.  Nine online sessions were delivered between June and November 2022, with over 150 staff members signing up, and positive feedback illustrating the value of these sessions to participants.

Furthermore, the next phase of engagement is actively underway through The Promise Café: online, partnership engagement open to all who are interested in sharing how Highland is #KeepingThePromise.  The ambition of the Café is to create a safe, trauma-informed, collaborative space for all partners and ensures a voice is given to the workforce across all sectors.

Early work is also underway in the development of Promise Ambassador roles and this marks another initiative to drive the ambitions of the independent care review forward locally.

Promise Ambassadors will be key to supporting delivery of the Promise, ensuring there is connection to the communities of Highland whilst recognising the vast and varied geography.  Additionally, Promise Ambassadors will play a crucial role in developing a feedback loop to and from our children, families and communities.

A further key area within Highland has been the development of a 'Language Bin' – with input from the workforce, families and young people – to understand the words and terminology they would like to ‘bin’ from day-to-day conversations around care, with initial feedback being positive and suggesting that its implementation has enabled practice to feel more child centred.

While it is recognised that there is still a journey ahead – both within the region and across Scotland – work continues locally to ensure that, by 2030, all of Highland’s children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected.