Children’s Hearings Scotland has introduced a new practice guide to help volunteers support older children entering the Children’s Hearings System.

Drafted by the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) in partnership with CHS, in anticipation of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 coming into effect, the Responding to the Needs of Older Children practice guide deals with issues that may impact older children entering the hearings system.

The Care and Justice Act, which is expected to be implemented in full during 2026, will enable any child under the age of 18 to be referred to the Children’s Reporter to arrange a hearing, regardless of any previous involvement in the hearings system. This extends the full scope of the welfare-based hearings system to 16- and 17-year-olds for the first time.

Complementing volunteers' ongoing learning

Topics covered by the guide were determined in consultation with both Panel Members, who shared what they wanted to learn more about, and experts in the field. They include poverty, harmful sexual behaviour, adversity and trauma, and substance misuse.

The guide complements volunteers’ ongoing learning. While it is especially useful when supporting the needs of 16- and 17-year-olds, it is also useful for supporting children of any age in hearings. 

“The Responding to the Needs of Older Children guide is a comprehensive, thoughtful and practical resource for Panel Members, to support them with the upcoming legislative changes arising from the Care and Justice Act. The subject matters covered in the guide were determined by both experts in the field and engagement with the panel community: what they wished to learn more about, what concerned them about the upcoming changes and ultimately what would help them to most effectively support children and families.

“We are sure that Panel Members will find the resource useful, and would like to thank CYCJ again for all of their support, knowledge and expertise with the production of the guide.”
– Stephen Bermingham, Senior Policy and Standards Manager, Children’s Hearings Scotland