Consultation on the redesign of Scotland’s children’s hearings system to build on its strengths so that it can deliver the best possible experience to the children and families in need of its support. It focusses on areas which may require changes to the law.
For nearly 60 years, one of the key strengths of the children’s hearings system has been its ability to evolve and adapt roles, practices and functions - to better meet the needs of children and their families - while adhering to its established founding principles. As the system approaches a further period of change, we must underline our gratitude to the volunteers and professionals who continue to offer so much time, dedication and care to the children referred to hearings. We also need those partners to stay the course as we decide the best course of action for children’s hearings all the way through the redesign process, and for the stages beyond.
This is a chance to consider how the system can again adapt, to continue to meet babies’, infants’, children’s and young people’s needs for the years to 2030 and beyond; and to be bold and positive in doing so. It will be essential to build on the work done over recent years by the organisations most closely involved in leading and supporting system improvement.