The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) will begin hearing evidence relating to Phase 9 of its investigations on Tuesday (29 April).
The evidence will relate to the provision of residential care in establishments for children and young people with long-term healthcare needs, additional support needs, and disabilities.
A range of organisations have been involved in the provision of such care, including the National Health Service, local authorities, voluntary providers, and private providers.
A spokesperson for SCAI said:
‘Over the next three weeks our focus will be on healthcare settings – primarily those which provided for children with learning disabilities or mental health needs. This will cover provision by three NHS institutions – Lennox Castle, Ladyfield (and other units at the Crichton Royal) – and the Royal Scottish National Hospital. It will also cover St Joseph’s, Rosewell (operated by the Daughters of Charity), and Algrade (operated by the Algrade Trust).
‘In late May, the focus will move to other settings, including residential schools providing for children with additional support needs. Towards the end of the case study, later in the summer, we will hear evidence relative to residential schools which provided specialist residential care for deaf or visually impaired children, including Donaldson’s School for the Deaf and St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and Blind.’
The period examined by SCAI’s investigations into abuse at these establishments extends from within living memory until the end of 2014.
This case study will explore the nature and extent of all forms of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse including the abusive use of corporal punishment and restraint.
Reporting systems and the wide-ranging impact of abuse have been and continue to be aspects of SCAI’s investigations, as are staff recruitment, training, and organisational culture; these will also be explored during the case study.
The case study will include the presentation of evidence from individuals who experienced and/or witnessed abuse when in residential care in one of these settings, from relevant experts, from regulatory bodies, and from providers.
Hearings will be held at the Inquiry’s venue at Mint House, 20 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA.
Opening submissions from all parties with leave to appear will begin on Tuesday, 29 April.