Delivering on the Dundee Promise

Considerable progress is being made in Dundee to improve outcomes for care experienced children, young people and care leavers.  

The Children and Families Committee will note the progress in the 'Our Promise to Care Experienced Children, Young People and Care Leavers 2023-26' report.    

The report outlines a total of 29 initiatives aimed at improving outcomes. Since implementation, 19 initiatives have been completed and the remaining 10 are making good progress. 

Key highlights to date include: 

• A 14% reduction in the number of care experienced young people, from 375 in 2023 to 335 in March 2025. 

• The school attendance rate for care experienced pupils is now 82.8%, higher than the Local Government Benchmark Framework Family Group average of 80.5%. 

• The percentage of care experienced pupils achieving one or more awards at SCQF Level 4 or better has steadily increased from 73% in 2020–21 to 81% in 2024–25. 

As set out in the update, work continues to strengthen the support provided by the New Beginnings Team to vulnerable parents and carers with babies and infants. Over the past year, 70% of referred babies were able to remain either at home in the care of their parent or with a kinship carer. 

Other initiatives to support parents and carers with babies and infants includes Alternatives Counselling helping people with emotional health concerns and Tayside Council on Alcohol assisting those who have previously had children removed from their care. 

Children and Families Convener Stewart Hunter said: "This is an important update that highlights the excellent work across the council to support our care experienced young people and those who care for them. 

"The report really illustrates the breadth of work that goes on to achieve this, from supporting our young people to have a say in how we can best meet their needs, to carrying out welfare checks to ensure everyone is getting the financial help they are entitled to, and offering therapeutic and other supports to kinship carers. 

"We know there is still more work to be done, as there remains a disproportionate number of babies and infants subject to formal child protection processes and ultimately in care. We are also still experiencing significant challenges in the recruitment of foster carers.