Number of children in residential care falls

The numbers and ages of children in residential care continues
to decrease according to the latest statistical report from the
Scottish executive.

Comparing figures for the year ending 31 March 2000 with those
for year ending 31 March 1999, there has been a 2.6 per cent
decrease to 1,973 children in residential care at that time. Two
thirds of the total were boys and two thirds were aged between 11
and 15 years.

There continues to be a trend towards younger children being
looked after elsewhere and to short stays in residential care. In
the year to March 2000, only 27 per cent of the total discharges of
7,635 were aged less than 11 years and three quarters of all
children had been in residential care for less than one month.
Residential units continue to become smaller with the average size
now being for 11 places with an average of 1.86 whole time
equivalent staff per place.

Children in Residential Accommodation 1999-2000 is available
from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00091-00.asp