The widely-criticised scheme to provide every Scottish child with a ‘state guardian’ has come under fire yet again as current staff shortages will make it under resourced. The scheme, which has already been implemented in some parts of Scotland, is due to be rolled out next month across the whole of Scotland.
Health visitors would play a key role in the ‘named persons’ scheme, but the number of vacancies for health visitors has increased by 10% over the past year.
Of the 182 vacant positions, 26 have remained unfilled for more than three months.
'Utter crisis'
Simon Calvert, spokesman for the No to Named Persons (No2NP) coalition, said: "With less than 60 days before this scheme goes live across the country it is mired in utter crisis.
"The Scottish government boasted 500 additional health visitors would be employed after being told by the Royal College of Nursing they were essential to make this scheme function. But they have missed their target by miles.
"Without these professionals in place the scheme is unworkable even on its own terms."
The Scottish Conservatives have urged the SNP to delay the scheme so that those responsible for running it will be ready. The shadow education secretary, Liz Smith, said: "Those who are tasked with implementing it aren’t sure how to, and the families it will affect are unclear on the impact."
Invasion of privacy
The 'named persons' scheme would give the appointed state guardian access to a child’s medical records and other confidential information, and give them permission to monitor the child’s ‘well-being’.
Christian Concern and other groups have strongly criticised the plans, with Chief Executive Andrea Williams saying previously that it "creates suspicion and undermines parents’ authority in raising their children".
No2NP, which is in the midst of a legal challenge against the measures, has said that the scheme is "an outrageous invasion of private family life".
Scottish public against the plans
The Scottish public has also indicated that it is against the state guardian scheme. Last month, a poll showed that almost two-thirds of Scots believe the scheme is an "unacceptable intrusion" into family life. In a Survation poll commissioned by the Scottish Daily Mail, 64% of 1,024 adults said they thought the scheme was intrusive.
In comparison, only 18.5% thought the scheme was not intrusive.
Related Links:
'Staff shortage will make child guardian scheme unworkable' (Times £)
Fresh fears over Named Person roll-out (Scotsman)
Poll reveals majority oppose 'intrusive' 'Named person' scheme
Pupils' home life to be state-monitored under 'named person' scheme
Scotland's 'Named Person' scheme under renewed fire