Independent Advocacy and Children’s Hearings:

The Children’s Panel is a group of lay people (ie not lawyers, social workers or other involved professionals) which can hear evidence at a Children’s Hearing about a child or young person’s circumstances and behaviour, as well as their own thoughts and feelings about it.

The Children’s Hearings system is a unique system that only operates in Scotland. It is separate from the Courts and Tribunals Service, but the Children’s Panel can make legally-binding decisions about the care and wellbeing of a child. The Children’s Hearing System has the safety and wellbeing of the child as its core value.

You can find out more about Children’s Hearings Scotland here.

Some parents who fall within our community care groups may find that they need to attend a Children’s Hearing, and may find it difficult to communicate their own thoughts and their concerns about their child’s welfare to the Panel.

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Independent Advocacy can help parents in those circumstances, by giving them information about their rights, the rights of their child, the processes of the Children’s Hearing system, and the possible outcomes.

We can also support you to prepare for a Children’s Hearing, and attend Children’s Hearings with you, to support you to make your contribution to the Hearing. If you would like support to attend a Children’s Hearing please contact us as soon as as you have been notified of a date and time.

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