On Friday 4th March we had the pleasure of welcoming Scotland’s new Permanent Secretary, John Paul Marks, and other key officials from the Scottish Government to our Dundee service.
John Paul, or JP as he prefers, is the most senior civil servant in Scotland and head of the civil service supporting the Scottish Government, the Permanent Secretary is the principal policy adviser to the First Minister and Secretary to the Scottish Cabinet.
JP and his colleagues: Paul Johnston, Director General for Communities; Shirley Laing, Director for Housing and Social Justice; David Wallace, Social Security Scotland Chief Executive; and Linda Bauld, Chief Social Policy Advisor; spoke to families about the childcare challenges they have had, and are facing, and how a flexible childcare model has supported them to balance their work and childcare commitments.
One family member said:
“Flexible childcare is something I will always prize, To be honest I don’t think I would be able to work without flexible childcare, and I would really consider leaving my job without it.”
Another said:
“For me the flexibility of the service was a selling point. Childcare is expensive and if I know that I can put him (my son) in by the hour, or knowing that I don’t have to put him in when I’m not working or if my shifts change it really helps me out.”
Feedback from delegates on the day reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to support children and families.
