Scaffolding: Consistency, accountability and delivering The Promise

The issue

Scotland has made the right commitments to keep the promise. The next Parliament must now ensure the system delivers them, consistently, fairly and at scale.

This is the role of scaffolding: the structures, funding, accountability and shared understanding required to turn ambition into reality. 

The Promise will ultimately be judged by delivery. 

Across Scotland today, however, support still varies by location, systems remain fragmented, and outcomes too often depend on postcode. 

Through Staf’s national engagement, we have heard clearly that delivery is inconsistent across areas, support is not always reliable or sustained, and policy intent does not always translate into practice on the ground. 

This undermines national commitments and perpetuates inequality. 

National direction 

Through Scottish Government leadership and Plan 24–30, Scotland has a clear roadmap for change, is strengthening legislative foundations, through the Children (Care, Care Experience, and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill 2025, and has a shared, cross-party commitment to keep the promise. 

Central to this for young people transitioning to adulthood, is the synergy between the aforementioned Bill and the Moving On and Lifelong Support Route Map - co-designed with the sector, facilitated by Staf. 

This sets out how Scotland must deliver lifelong, needs-led support, ensure transitions to adulthood are planned and relational, and end the cliff edge of care. 

The direction is not the challenge. Consistent implementation is. 

Why this matters in your constituency

Inconsistent systems lead to: 

• Inequality in outcomes for care experienced people  

• Inefficient use of public resources  

• Reduced public confidence in services  

Conversely, strong national scaffolding: 

• Improves fairness and consistency  

• Reduces pressure on housing, health and justice systems  

• Delivers better long-term value  

This is both a fairness issue and a public service priority. 

The importance of implementation: Moving On 

The Moving On and Lifelong Support Route Map is a practical blueprint for delivering change. 

It reflects what care experienced people and the workforce have told us consistently: support must be based on need, not age; transitions must be relational, not administrative; and systems must work together, not in silos. 

Staf played a key role in co-designing this route map, and is committed to ensuring Corporate Parents across Scotland embrace the essential learning and development opportunities Staf offers, to support full implementation to keep the promise by 2030. 

The funding reality 

Delivery cannot be achieved without sustainable investment. 

Currently, many organisations supporting implementation are operating with short-term funding cycles, ongoing financial uncertainty and limited ability to plan for long-term impact. 

This creates instability in services, disrupts relationships and support, and places barriers in the way of consistent national delivery. 

Delivering The Promise requires longer-term, multi-year funding aligned to the 2030 ambition.

The role of Staf - your delivery partner

Staf works nationally to connect policy, practice and lived experience. 

We support delivery by translating national commitments into practical implementation, building shared understanding across sectors, and supporting consistent, relationship-based approaches. 

Through our member learning programme, we enable peer support and learning that act as enablers to implement the Moving On Route Map, and are committed to support the learning for Corporate Parents on the Implementation of the forthcoming Children (Care, Care Experience, and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act as we help embed understanding of care experience, rights and entitlements, trauma and relationships across services. 

We ensure the system is equipped not just to change, but to deliver. 

What must happen now

The next Parliament must: 

• Commit to full implementation of the Moving On Route Map  

• Deliver consistent national frameworks to end postcode variation  

• Provide long-term, multi-year funding for delivery organisations  

• Strengthen accountability, data and transparency  

• Embed corporate parenting responsibilities across all sectors  

• Scale tools and approaches that support system-wide understanding  

Final word

Scotland has made strong commitments. 

Delivery will determine whether they are kept. 

For more information, or to set up a meeting after 7 May, please contact info@staf.scot.