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Monday 21 Jan 2008 @ 14:52
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
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Improving services for vulnerable children
A single national body is to be established bringing together the various bodies involved in supporting, organising and delivering the Children's Hearings system, to improve the support given to vulnerable young people across Scotland.
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram said: "Bringing together the work of the Children's Reporter service, the delivery and administration of Children's Hearings and the recruitment, training and support provided to Panel members into one body will ensure a stronger, more consistent service and better delivery across the country."
While there will be national co-ordination of the Children's Hearings system, local delivery, links with local communities and the vital role of volunteer Panel members will all be preserved, through Scotland's unique approach to care and justice for children and young people.
The Scottish Government will work closely with stakeholders to develop detailed proposals on which to consult more widely and will take the necessary steps, including bringing forward any legislative proposals, to give effect to this.
Mr Ingram continued: "The impact of early disadvantage can affect a child's whole life. Supporting better chances for vulnerable and troubled young people now can have a positive effect for everyone in the future.
"That's what makes the work of those involved throughout the Children's Hearings system so vital. The excellent work that these volunteers and professionals do for their communities has enduring value for all of us.
"I want to give those individuals the support they deserve so that they in turn can give the highest quality of support to children in need.
"By incorporating the different bodies into a single body with a coherent supporting model geared to deliver locally but consistently across Scotland, we can re-focus on the individuals who deliver the Hearings system and provide more consistency in decision-making, clearer leadership and better support for everyone involved. That has to be good news for our most vulnerable children.
"I want our distinctive Scottish system, which attracts international attention, to be the very best it can be.
"I'm looking forward to working with CoSLA and other key interests on the detail of the changes which will secure even better support for our vulnerable children and young people."
Douglas Bulloch, Chair of SCRA, said: "SCRA is committed to the unique approach of the Children's Hearings System to care and justice for children, and welcomes this announcement of the Government's intention to further strengthen the system."
Isobel Hutton, CoSLA spokesperson on Education, Children and Young People, said: "CoSLA welcomes the Scottish Government's intention to create a new national body to strengthen our Children's Hearing System. The principle of local delivery and the role of local volunteer Panel members are fundamental to the system, and we look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government to develop the details."
Gavin McGregor, Chair of the Children's Panel Advisory Group, said: "I welcome the Government's declared aim of strengthening the hearings system and supporting the vital contribution of local volunteers."
Gerard McEneany, Chair of the Children's Panel Chairman's Group, said: "I welcome the Scottish Government's decision to strengthen the Children's Hearings system through the establishment of a national body to support the vital contribution of local volunteers."
The Children's Hearings system is Scotland's unique approach to dealing with children and young people in trouble or at risk. The system was created in the 1960s after it was recognised that young people appearing before the juvenile courts, whether they had committed offences or were in need of care and protection, had common needs. The system is founded on the principle of local people from the children's own communities making decisions about how best to address children's needs.
There are 2,700 volunteer panel members who are recruited through an annual national campaign supported by local campaigns. Panel members are carefully selected and undergo continuous training.
SCRA was created by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 to support the work of the Principal Reporter. SCRA has a statutory role of facilitating the work of the Principal Reporter and providing accommodation for children's hearings. The work of SCRA is overseen by a Board.
In 2006-07, SCRA received over 100,000 referrals involving 55,000 children and 42,000 hearings were held. The majority of referrals related to care grounds (e.g. parental neglect).
Related Information
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram said: "Bringing together the work of the Children's Reporter service, the delivery and administration of Children's Hearings and the recruitment, training and support provided to Panel members into one body will ensure a stronger, more consistent service and better delivery across the country."
While there will be national co-ordination of the Children's Hearings system, local delivery, links with local communities and the vital role of volunteer Panel members will all be preserved, through Scotland's unique approach to care and justice for children and young people.
The Scottish Government will work closely with stakeholders to develop detailed proposals on which to consult more widely and will take the necessary steps, including bringing forward any legislative proposals, to give effect to this.
Mr Ingram continued: "The impact of early disadvantage can affect a child's whole life. Supporting better chances for vulnerable and troubled young people now can have a positive effect for everyone in the future.
"That's what makes the work of those involved throughout the Children's Hearings system so vital. The excellent work that these volunteers and professionals do for their communities has enduring value for all of us.
"I want to give those individuals the support they deserve so that they in turn can give the highest quality of support to children in need.
"By incorporating the different bodies into a single body with a coherent supporting model geared to deliver locally but consistently across Scotland, we can re-focus on the individuals who deliver the Hearings system and provide more consistency in decision-making, clearer leadership and better support for everyone involved. That has to be good news for our most vulnerable children.
"I want our distinctive Scottish system, which attracts international attention, to be the very best it can be.
"I'm looking forward to working with CoSLA and other key interests on the detail of the changes which will secure even better support for our vulnerable children and young people."
Douglas Bulloch, Chair of SCRA, said: "SCRA is committed to the unique approach of the Children's Hearings System to care and justice for children, and welcomes this announcement of the Government's intention to further strengthen the system."
Isobel Hutton, CoSLA spokesperson on Education, Children and Young People, said: "CoSLA welcomes the Scottish Government's intention to create a new national body to strengthen our Children's Hearing System. The principle of local delivery and the role of local volunteer Panel members are fundamental to the system, and we look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government to develop the details."
Gavin McGregor, Chair of the Children's Panel Advisory Group, said: "I welcome the Government's declared aim of strengthening the hearings system and supporting the vital contribution of local volunteers."
Gerard McEneany, Chair of the Children's Panel Chairman's Group, said: "I welcome the Scottish Government's decision to strengthen the Children's Hearings system through the establishment of a national body to support the vital contribution of local volunteers."
The Children's Hearings system is Scotland's unique approach to dealing with children and young people in trouble or at risk. The system was created in the 1960s after it was recognised that young people appearing before the juvenile courts, whether they had committed offences or were in need of care and protection, had common needs. The system is founded on the principle of local people from the children's own communities making decisions about how best to address children's needs.
There are 2,700 volunteer panel members who are recruited through an annual national campaign supported by local campaigns. Panel members are carefully selected and undergo continuous training.
SCRA was created by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 to support the work of the Principal Reporter. SCRA has a statutory role of facilitating the work of the Principal Reporter and providing accommodation for children's hearings. The work of SCRA is overseen by a Board.
In 2006-07, SCRA received over 100,000 referrals involving 55,000 children and 42,000 hearings were held. The majority of referrals related to care grounds (e.g. parental neglect).
Related Information
