Edinburgh secure unit scandal: Ministers say they have not seen damning report

The Scottish Government says it has not seen the damning report on physical and mental abuse in Edinburgh’s secure accommodation, but has been assured by the council it has a robust action plan.

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Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton wrote to Children’s Minister Clare Haughey last month, calling for urgent action after an internal council investigation found “illegality, maladministration and injustice” at Edinburgh Secure Services, part of the children and families department, which runs Howdenhall and St Katharine’s secure units. The report told of children with bruised faces and children with burn marks after inappropriate restraint, assaults on young people, abusive language, children being put in isolation and a toxic management culture.

Mr Cole-Hamilton asked the minister what plans she had to support the victims and ensure the mistakes that led to the abuse are not repeated.

Ms Haughey has now replied, saying she wholeheartedly shared his concern at the report’s findings. She said: “Children and young people living in this type of accommodation should receive the highest level and quality of care, especially given the extent of their needs and vulnerabilities.”

Ms Haughey continued: “The report has not been shared with us, but the Scottish Government’s Chief Social Work Advisor has been in touch with Edinburgh’s Chief Social Work Officer. She has been assured that the findings and recommendations of the report are now to be taken forward as part of a robust and detailed action plan.

"I note that Edinburgh Council has apologised to the children and young people affected by this, praising those who contributed to the investigation.”

She added that the Scottish Government was committed to ensuring that secure care was the best it could be for the children and young people who needed it.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (left) and Clare Haughey

"In October 2020 we launched the Secure Care pathways and Standards which set out what support children should expect from professionals – before, during and after secure care placements. Work is underway to support local authorities, secure care services and inspection agencies to fully implement the standards to deliver a consistent approach to children Scotland-wide.”

But Mr Cole-Hamilton said ministers should be taking a closer interest in the Edinburgh situation. He said: "As someone who worked with vulnerable children for more than a decade, this letter does not reassure me that this issue is being treated with the seriousness that it deserves.

"Either the Scottish Government asked to see this report and were rebuffed by the council or they have decided to simply take on trust that there is nothing to see here.

"Frankly after the level of failure that we have seen on the ground in Edinburgh I would expect to see ministers taking more of an interest.

"We are talking about children being bruised and burned, inappropriate restraint, isolation and a toxic management culture. That should be ringing alarm bells at every level yet so much is still being hidden from the public."

Last month one former resident who was sexually abused at St Katharine’s secure unit told the Evening News many of the recommendations made in the council report were the same as those in the report on her case 15 years ago.