The report found “illegality, maladministration and injustice” in the secure accommodation at Howdenhall and St Katharine’s run by Edinburgh Secure Services, part of the council’s Children and Families department. It is understood to have referred to children with bruised faces and others with burn marks after being restrained.
Writing in today’s Evening News, Councillor Dickie, former education vice-convener who quit the SNP group amid tensions over her support for whistleblowers, says: “I could have cried again on Thursday afternoon at the meeting of Edinburgh council when the administration voted against discussing the report, simply because we had reached 5pm and the rules for video meetings said we could just go straight to a vote without debate.
“Had there been a debate, I wanted speeches filled with ‘sorry’; an apology to any of the care experienced young people who may have been listening. But there was nothing for them to hear.”
The report highlighted a “toxic management culture” as well as failings at all levels and makes a long list of recommendations on how to improve the working of the homes.
Councillor Dickie writes: “The report tells the story of the council’s failure to meet the promise to put all children and young people in the driving seat of decisions to prioritise their rights and needs, and there is a long way to go to ensure other commitments are met, like...
In January of 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice reported a record-breaking year for False Claims Act recoveries, with the vast majority related to healthcare. What the DOJ report does not captu...