CEO

About Rossie

What does Rossie do?

Rossie Secure Accommodation Services is a registered Scottish Charity and the trading arm of Rossie Young People’s Trust. It is one of the longest established providers of children’s services in the UK and dates from 1857.

Services include care, education, health and specialist interventions for about 36 young people aged 10 -18 years. Our young people have multiple and complex needs. Services are based on a relational model delivered by a qualified and committed workforce in secure, residential and close support environments, depending on the risks and vulnerabilities the young people pose to themselves and others. Staff take an integrated and holistic approach to responding to the needs of all those in our care, which is closely aligned with the principles of The Promise announced by the Scottish Government in 2020 following an Independent Care Review.

Through the Curriculum for Excellence young people can work towards and attain nationally recognised education qualifications. There is a modern well equipped health suite to enable the promotion of the health and wellbeing of our young people. We schedule visits by GPs, dental staff and opticians as required.

Rossie’s Vision and Mission

Rossie’s vision is to be a Centre of Excellence that changes lives with a mission to protect and improve the wellbeing of young people in our care, to maximise their potential, resilience, and to enable their effective transition back into their communities. We achieve this through the provision of individualised high-quality care, education, health, and therapeutic interventions. Our highly qualified competent workforce deliver services in a safe environment, in partnership with families, carers and other key stakeholders.

Rossie has achieved significant successes, with national awards and formal national recognition across all aspects of our business. We are the only secure care provider in Scotland that has signed up to the Redress Scheme. We have been commended nationally, regionally and locally for our innovative practice. The Care Inspectorate have graded us in 2005 as “excellent” in our leadership and management, and “very good” in the care we provide to our young people. We have invested significantly in our IT infrastructure to modernise service delivery and future proof our organisation. We are members of two national groups to reduce the use of physical restraints in care. We have a 6-year contract for our Residential Care Services (2022-2028). Our Secure Care contract has been extended in 2025, and the Scottish Government is funding accommodation adaptations to increase secure capacity following legislation passed in 2024 to ensure no child under 18 is held in the prison system.

Those indications of confidence by key stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, create stability for our staff, young people and the organisation. We will continue to build on the confidence placed in us and explore different strategic opportunities to enable diversification. We are committed to being an efficient, effective, economically viable and sustainable organisation. Any surplus income generated through our services is reinvested to improve and enhance the services provided to all children and young people, families/carers, commissioners, staff and key stakeholders. We are also a significant employer in the local area.

Our Strategic Plan (2023-2026) sets out our strategic priorities and objectives, demonstrating how all staff will contribute and which are essential to successful achievement. Our priorities are informed by and located within the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework (NPF).

Who regulates Rossie?

Rossie is licensed by Scottish Ministers and regulated by the Care and Education Inspectorates and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). It is also subject to the requirements of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to whom it has to submit its Annual Accounts, as well as Companies House. Rossie’s Training Assessment Centre is accredited by The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to enable staff to gain vocational qualifications levels 3 and 4.

Where is Rossie?

Rossie is inland just south of Montrose on the east coast of Scotland in a pleasant environment of 150m acres of mature woodland, which adds to the benefits of the therapeutic approach to the young people in our care.

Who is in charge at Rossie?

Day to day operational leadership and management are the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Senior Management and Leadership Team (SMLT) comprising a Deputy CEO and 7 heads of service. At April 2025 there are some 170 staff.

Governance, strategic direction, and oversight of performance rest with a Board of Governors (Directors) who discharge their responsibilities on a voluntary pro bono basis. The maximum number of Directors specified in the constitution is 12. There are currently 10 serving Governors whose skills and experience include business, finance, social care, young people, justice, marketing and central government.

There are 8 main Board meetings a year, which are held on site at Rossie on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, plus a separate Board reflective/planning session. The AGM takes place following the September Board meeting. There are three sub-committees, one which deals with finance/estates, one which focuses on the core services provided to young people, and a third which deals with research proposals and convenes when required.