1. Young people in the Hearing System –
towards change, relevance and improvement
Neil Hunter Principal Reporter/Chief Executive Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

2. Getting it Right in the Hearing System
Clarity on a national referral criteria to the Reporter for compulsory measures
Taking advantage of the statutory plan and CSO’s
Refreshing the Reporters relationship to EEI – more consistency in working arrangements
Collectively working on inter-agency approaches

3. Whole Systems Approach – the 3 big issues for SCRA
Early and Effective interventions for low level offences, offering support and advice to young people in order to address need and change behaviour.
Retaining more young people on compulsory supervision orders through the children’s hearing system, where there is a need to do so.
Encouraging more cases to be dealt with through the
children’s hearings system rather than adult court.

4. Criteria for Referral to Reporter – a reminder
Where local authority, constable, other person considers
(a) that the child is in need of protection, guidance, treatment or control, and
(b) that it might be necessary for a compulsory supervision order to be made in relation to the child
then local authority and constable MUST - other person MAY - give all relevant information to the reporter.

5. Role of the Reporter in EEI/Whole System Approach – Experiences across Scotland
Significant involvement in developing WSA processes and approaches (the “setting up”). Obvious that different authorities at different stages in this development.
Clear that the reporter should have no role in decision-making around referrals being made.
Varying involvement in other discussions about young people already known to reporter.
Varying role for reporter in providing information to inform multi-agency discussion.
Reference to a range of issues around sustainability and the impact of the creation of Police Scotland and implementation of Management of Concerns structure
Children and Young People’s Act – sharing information.
Multi-agency Group being chaired by SCRA to look at the relationship between the Hearing System and GIRFEC – WSA issues will be central to this.

6. Information gathering, assessment and decision making
Bringing information to a single place
Ordering it and making sense of it
Informed decision making about need for compulsion to be considered
Utilising the arms length objectivity of the Reporter
Providing maximum information at the point of referral – streamlining subsequent investigatory processes

7. Criteria for Referral to Reporter – Referral trends
Consider referral rates for all ages to reporter for offending:
That’s a reduction of 68%.
Referral rates for 16 and 17 year olds:
That’s a reduction of only 20%
 YEAR
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Offence Referrals
25004
21373
16444
11690
8082 16
1013
1176
894
631
793 17
176
238
162
161
156

8. Purpose of Compulsory Supervision – retaining 16 and 17 year olds within the Hearing System
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
13/14
All Children
13503
13808
13448
13067
12460
11428
Children
aged 16,17
976
1011
889
850
934
911
% 16,17
7.2%
7.3%
6.6%
6.5%
7.5%
8.0%

9. 16 and 17 year olds subject to compulsory measures Regional variations – a selection
% 16,17
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
13/14
Aberdeen City
4.7%
5.3%
6.4%
7.7%
7.8%
Dumfries & Galloway
7.9%
10.9%
11.4%
10.0%
13.8%
10.4%
Dundee
5.6%
4.1%
3.4%
3.3%
4.5%
5.5%
East Dunbartonshire
11.9%
15.0%
14.2%
8.8%
3.7%
East Lothian
2.6%
4.3%
12.6%
City of
Edinburgh
7.4%
5.1%
4.9%
6.3%
8.4%
8.3%
Glasgow
9.2%
9.4%
8.1%
9.0%
9.5
Highland
8.6%
7.3%
7.2%
11.2%
Perth & Kinross
2.1%
3.5%
1.3%
5.2%
2.0%
Scottish Borders
8.5%
6.0%
6.5%
12.4%
13.6%
Random selection of some loc auth areas, biggest shifts and the biggest cities.

10. 16 and 17 year olds – cases remitted by the court
References for Advice Remits for Disposal
16,17 yr olds
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Sum:
353
324
332
278
231
16,17 yr olds
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Sum:
183
165
151
122

11. Development of Criteria for Referral to SCRA in WSA cases
Factors
Change in definition of “child” – s.199 of Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011
Change to the Lord Advocate’s Guidelines:
(i) Joint Reporting where s.199 applies, and
(ii) No need for joint reporting of minor offences
by 16/17 year olds on CSO
EEI Guidance – children on CSO, “rebuttable presumption” that referral made to reporter

12. Purpose of Compulsory Supervision – retaining 16 and 17 year olds within the Hearing System
Termination due to age/continued offending/lack of engagement.
ADSW (Social Work Scotland) Position Statement & Guidance for Panel Members
Signs that more 16 and 17 year olds remain within hearings system
There are regional variations

13. Summary The Hearing system must be seen in the context of GIRFEC
We are not making sufficient progress everywhere on retaining 16/17 years olds in the Hearing System
We need to develop further clarity on referral and compulsory measures
The relevance and efficacy of our interventions requires constant review
We need to keep sharing our professional resources and expertise in the best, most effective way possible