Revealed: How children-in-care watchdog backs gender row group

The organisation that regulates and inspects children’s homes across Scotland is signed up to a controversial scheme run by a group which has campaigned at the forefront of transgender recognition.

The Care Inspectorate is one of a number of organisations working with vulnerable children which has joined the LGBT Youth Scotland charter scheme.

LGBT Youth Scotland has described puberty blockers as “wonderful” and says it believes children should have “autonomy” to decide whether or not to take them. The organisation is also under fresh scrutiny after it criticised the findings of the Cass Review.

In one disturbing example on the Care Inspectorate website, it describes how a care worker supported a young person in care in having their breasts removed.

LGBT Youth Scotland receives around £1 million a year from the Scottish Government, NHS and local authorities – with their accounts showing grants and taxpayer money making up the majority of their income.

Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and NHS Lothian’s children’s services have signed up to the charter, as have NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde which runs the Sandyford gender clinic.

With more than 250 schools signed up to “charter award schemes” they pay up to £2,000 a time, with the charity claiming to have trained thousands of teachers.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: “It is deeply alarming that this ideology is influencing crucial decisions in our care system and in relation to vulnerable individuals.”

The Care Inspectorate said: “This guidance was developed following requests from services for children and young people for guidance to help them support transgender including non-binary young people experiencing care. As is the case with all guidance, we review how it is being followed during our inspections.”