Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, ‘looked after children’ are defined as those in the care of their local authority – sometimes referred to as a ‘corporate parent’.
There are many reasons children may become looked after, including: they face abuse or neglect at home; they have disabilities that require special care; they are unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, or who have been illegally trafficked into the UK; or they have been involved in the youth justice system.
Further information can be found here: