FM condemns ‘incredible level of criminal deception’ from jailed childminder

John Swinney has said he expects lessons to be learned from the case of a childminder jailed for abandoning youngsters in her care, as he condemned the “incredible level of criminal deception” perpetrated by Amanda Mathewson.

The 55-year-old was jailed for two years last week for wilfully neglecting and abandoning children in her care over a 50-week period between September 2023 and August 2024.

Mathewson had been permitted to look after eight children in her home in Dunfermline, Fife, but at one point 27 youngsters were found there.

Some of the children were found unsupervised in the garden and others were strapped into prams in an upstairs room.

Evidence showed she had “repeatedly” left children at her home unsupervised.

Her conviction also leaves the Care Inspectorate – the body which inspects childminders along with other care providers – facing legal action after it emerged it was “highly likely” Mathewson had been tipped off about complaints and inspections relating to her.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Swinney said the government expected the Care Inspectorate to “learn lessons from this particular case which has caused such suffering and distress to so many families”.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said he had been contacted by parents of some the children under her care, saying they had been “traumatised by this experience” and had “huge concerns about the conduct of the Care Inspectorate after it was found highly likely that an employee shared confidential information with Mathewson”.

The Conservative called on the First Minister to “ensure these matters are properly and fully investigated”, adding that the frequency with which childminders are inspected should also be reviewed in light of the case.

Mr Swinney said the parents who used Mathewson as a childminder had been “spectacularly let down” by her.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions for backbenchers, the SNP leader added that he would “expect the Care Inspectorate to review significantly its approach to this matter to ensure that high standards of scrutiny are being applied in all cases”.

Mr Swinney continued: “The issue of frequency of inspection and the risk model is an issue the Care Inspectorate must consider and reflect upon, though I am struck by the fact that at the heart of this case is just an incredible level of criminal deception by Amanda Mathewson, it lies at the heart of the issues that are at stake here.”

Sentencing her last week, Sheriff John MacRitchie said Mathewson’s case had raised “serious questions about regulatory competence”.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said after Mathewson was jailed that it had been a “shocking case”.

The spokesperson stated: “Amanda Mathewson broke the trust of families and children, and the crime for which she is responsible has been dealt with by the courts.

“The Care Inspectorate has listened carefully to parents who raised concerns with us and we have reviewed how we work following learning from this case.

“This has included updating our inspection, complaints and conflict of interest procedures.

“We have provided new ways to submit feedback on childminders both during and out-with inspections.

“We have also provided clearer resources to help families understand what to expect from their childminder.”

The spokesperson also stressed: “It is important to note that this case does not reflect the wider childminding sector. The overwhelming majority of childminders in Scotland provide safe, nurturing care for children, with more than 90% receiving grades of good or better at inspection.”