Children’s Minister praises residential school for innovative work

Scotland’s Children’s Minister Adam Ingram is to visit one of the country’s leading residential schools for male children and youths.

The Minister for Children and Early Years will be at Ballikinrain Residential School to see the innovative and creative work it does in supporting children and families who face various challenging life situations.

He will visit the Balfron based residential school run by the Church of Scotland’s Social Care Council, CrossReach, from 11am to 12noon on Monday June 14. The school provides support and education to boys aged 6 to 16-years-old.

Mr Ingram said: “I am looking forward to meeting staff and young people at Ballikinrain and discussing with them how they can contribute to the reform of the residential sector, and particularly how they can help promote a positive image of residential care. This was an important theme in the reports of the National Residential Child Care Initiative.”

Ballikinrain Residential School received high praise last year in the joint HMIE Care Commission inspection report. The report highlighted the high quality social and emotional support Ballikinrain offers along with progressive partnership working, person centred working and a culture of equality and, fairness and respect.

The school is committed to helping support children and their families. Through its family support team and transition support Ballikinrain enables children and their families to become active participants in their communities.

Ballikinrain has an approach firmly grounded in creating an ethos of fairness, equality and respect through developing positive and genuine relationships where adults are consistent and positive role models.