1. Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 GIRFEC Provisions Marion Gillooly, Lesley Clark Scottish Government GIRFEC Team 04 June 2014

2. Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
Children’s Rights – ministerial & public authority duties in relation to UNCRC
Children’s Commissioner - investigations
Children’s Services Planning – reporting on outcomes
Elements of GIRFEC
Early Learning & Childcare – 600 hours, eligibility, flexibility
Corporate Parenting – definition & responsibilities
Aftercare – advice, guidance & assistance up to age 26
Continuing care – right to continuing care up to age 21
Support for Kinship Care – orders & assistance
Adoption Register – statutory register
School Closure proposals – changes to Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010
Children’s Hearings – changes to Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011
Other reforms – appeals re secure accommodation, children’s legal aid, free school lunches, licensing child performances

3. Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
Passed by Scottish Parliament 19 February 2014
Received Royal Assent 27 March 2014
Commencement of first provisions expected to be August 2014
Part 4, Part 5, sections 95 & 96 expected to commence in August 2016
Duties on public bodies, not individuals

4. Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 - GIRFEC
GIRFEC policy unchanged
Legislation – only aspects of the policy
Named Person
Information Sharing
Child’s Plan
Wellbeing
Why legislate?
Increase pace of change
Improve consistency across Scotland

5. The Named Person Service
Promote, support or safeguard wellbeing:
advising, informing or supporting the child or parent
helping the child or parent to access a service or support
discussing or raising a matter about the child with a service provider or relevant authority

6. Requirement for a Child’s Plan
Wellbeing need:
If a child’s wellbeing is being, or is at risk of being, adversely affected by any matter, they are defined as having a wellbeing need
A Child’s Plan is required if:
The wellbeing need cannot be met or fully met without a targeted intervention
Targeted intervention:
A service which is targeted at meeting the needs of children whose needs are not capable of being met, or met fully, by the services which are provided generally to children by the authority

7. The National Practice Model
The National Practice Model is the bedrock of the GIRFEC approach.
It should not be seen as a “one-off” activity but as a dynamic and evolving process of assessment, analysis, action and reviewing.
It is a tool that can be used alongside and in conjunction with other processes and assessment tools.
It is not intended or designed to replace existing methodologies but it does contain the core components that constitute a single planning process that in turn should lead to a single child’s plan.
It is the mechanism through which all agencies and workers engaged in supporting children, young people and their families can begin to develop a common language within a unified framework thereby enabling more effective inter and intra agency working.
Taken in the round this should inform decisions on a plan –agreed across agencies and wherever possible with the child and the family – which seek to improve well-being in the short, medium and long term. By reviewing at appropriate intervals a view can be taken on whether the anticipated improvements are being achieved and whether additional actions might be required. The aim is always wherever possible to return the child/ young person back to being supported by universal services, though in cases of significant needs or high risk that may not be achieved at least in the short term.

8. Assistance in relation to a Child’s Plan
A person specified must comply with any reasonable request to provide information, advice or assistance in relation to a Child’s Plan unless this would
be incompatible with any of the person’s duties
unduly prejudice the exercise of any of the person’s functions

9. Wellbeing
Throughout the bill – reference to duty to promote, support and safeguard wellbeing
S.95 Wellbeing under 1995 Act
S.96 Assessment of wellbeing
Defines wellbeing in terms of SHANARRI
Provides a common, shared language to describe children’s needs

10. Contact Details Twitter: @GilloolyMarion Dr Marion Gillooly
GIRFEC Team
Scottish Government
Area 2B-North, Victoria Quay
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Supt Lesley Clark GIRFEC Team Scottish Government Area 2B-North, Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ