Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, 'looked after children' are defined as those in the care of their local authority.
There are many reasons children may become looked after, including: they face abuse or neglect at home; they have disabilities that require special care; they are unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, or who have been illegally trafficked into the UK; or they have been involved in the youth justice system.
How a child becomes looked after in Scotland; most looked after children fall into two categories;
1. Looked after at home – where the child or young person has been through the Children's Hearings system and is subject to a Supervision Requirement (regular contact with social services) with no condition of residence.
2. Looked after away from home – where the child or young person has either:
been through the Children's Hearings system and is subject to a Supervision Requirement with a condition of residence
is subject to an order made or authoritisation or warrant granted by virtue of chapter 2, 3 or 4 of Part 2 of the 1995 Act
is being provided with accommodation under Section 25 (a voluntary agreement)
is placed by a local authority which has made a permanence order under section 80 of the Adoption and Children Act 2007
In these cases the child or young person is cared for away from their normal place of residence, by foster or kinship carers, by prospective adopters, or in residential care homes, schools or secure units.
The Scottish Government maintains a Looked After Children policy webpage on their website.
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