Alastair Scott-McKInley
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley
@alonthelough.bsky.social
280 followers 510 following 3.3K posts
HE educator, researcher, youth worker, foster care worker, trade unionist. Ph.D
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · 24d
“MacAlister said that meant having “lots of excess foster carers in the care system”, some of whom would never look after a child” Wow the arrogance & naivety. Why would anyone put themselves through a fostering assessment to ‘never look after a child?” www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/02/c...
Children in care should have choice of where and with whom they live, says MacAlister - Community Care
Children's minister Josh MacAlister says giving children placement choice would require having 'lots of excess foster carers'
www.communitycare.co.uk
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Sep 11
Not in the least surprised. This is the same legislation that provides for new permanence options (SGOs) and for the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for Adoption and Foster Care. An absolute shambles. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Adoptive parents 'angry' at lack of support over delayed law change
A delay in a law aimed at better supporting parents of adoptive children has left families feeling let down.
www.bbc.co.uk
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Aug 4
Detailed report into Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers. Allowances clearly inadequate to cover the cost of care. www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Aug 4
Not surprising.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ex-foster carers accuse children's services of 'deceiving' them
A couple say they were not told information about some of the challenging children they looked after.
www.bbc.co.uk
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Aug 1
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Aug 1
The upward trajectory of children in care in Northern Ireland continues unabated. www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications...
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 24
A deleberate decision not disclose relevant evidence in a disciplinary hearing. Why does that sound familar www.mysocialworknews.com/article/coun...
Social Work News
www.mysocialworknews.com
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 4
Actions dishonest by the standards of ordinary people, concluding that she had “created a fictitious report with a huge level of detail and had done so deliberately with no possibility of error.”
www.mysocialworknews.com/article/soci...
Social Work News
www.mysocialworknews.com
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 3
Statement continues “What has become evident over the last few weeks leaves us with no doubt that our mum was failed, our family was failed and so too was the foster child that was in our long-term care.”
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 3
Statement from the family “We have been on an agonising journey to uncover the truth behind the events and systemic failings that led to the death of our beloved mum, Marcia Grant.
alonthelough.bsky.social Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 3
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 3
‘Particularly, she said that her findings discovered that concerns of the child were often considered, but the safeguarding of the foster family was not a priority.’
alonthelough.bsky.social Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 3
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jul 3
Ms Whittle criticised the "lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care”. www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 26
Recommendation from the care review here: HSC Trusts have increased (beyond regs requirement) statutory visit frequency from monthly to every four weeks. Effectively adding an additional visit every year. You have got to wonder what is going on when resources are so stretched.
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 25
Looks like the foster carer retention crisis in foster care is worsening in Northern Ireland. Some very clear messages from foster carers. Doubt the ‪@health-ni.gov.uk‬ Fostering Workstream is listening. Quick tip, coffee mornings don't cut it.
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Reposted by Alastair Scott-McKInley
nipsa.bsky.social
NIPSA @nipsa.bsky.social · Jun 24
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 24
Tedious BS
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 18
Something similar here in Northern Ireland would have the potential to transform the looked-after children system. Of course, we would have to get Special Guardianship Orders up and running first.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/06/17/d...
DfE seeks councils to pilot kinship carer allowances - Community Care
Payments equivalent to national minimum fostering allowance would be given to carers with, or applying for, court orders to look after children
www.communitycare.co.uk
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 15
Wondering if another year will be added to the DOH/SPPG Fostering Workstream milestones so they can remain green in their documentation.
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 9
Good to see Foster Carers' rights being protected in the new draft NI Fostering Standards. Important that foster carers' reputation and records are protected from spurious, malicious or vexatious allegations.
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 9
Good to see a requirement to have guidelines for timescales on the resolution of allegations in draft NI Fostering Standards. Something missing from SPPG draft allegations policy.
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 9
The Minister for Health has launched the full public consultation exercise regarding the draft Northern Ireland Fostering Services Minimum Standards. The consultation package, including the response questionnaire, can be accessed at the following link consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/consul...
Consultation on Introduction of Fostering Services Minimum Standards - NI Direct - Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations and surveys run by the Northern Ireland Civil Service
consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk
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alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 4
Doesn't look good, does it!
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · Jun 2
Tragic, but important to hear the inquests findings
www.itv.com/news/calenda...
www.itv.com
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · May 29
Not really a surprise, but is anyone listening in @health-ni.gov.uk
alonthelough.bsky.social
Alastair Scott-McKInley @alonthelough.bsky.social · May 27
"Founded-just-in-case" what a way to proceed.