What is the Children’s Panel?
The Children's Panel makes legal decisions on how to support infants, children, and young people who come to children's hearings. At every children’s hearing there are always three volunteer, lay Panel Members and it is their role to: listen to the child or young person’s views, understand their circumstances, and ultimately make legal decisions about how to best protect and care for them.
What is a Panel Member?
Panel Members take part in children's hearings, and are legally appointed for three years. Their role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people. They are there to ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision reached – because every decision, no matter how big or small, has a huge impact. Panel Members are appointed for an initial three year period with the possibility of being re-appointed.
What is the National Convener’s role?
What is Children’s Hearings Scotland?
What is the Children’s Hearings System?
Children’s Hearings Scotland is one of a number of dedicated organisations that work as part of the children’s hearings system. This care and justice system is unique to Scotland and exists to protect the safety and wellbeing of infants, children and young people nationally. Children’s Hearings Scotland works closely with partners, across projects and groups at both a national and local level to improve children’s hearings and to consider how the wider system can best support the wellbeing of Scotland’s young people.
What is an Area Support Team?
Do I need any specific qualifications to volunteer?
Will I get trained appropriately to be a Panel Member?
What will happen at a children’s hearing?
Three Panel Members are present at each children’s hearings and will be the decision makers. The infant, child or young person is the key participant at any hearing, closely followed by carers and/or family members. A Children’s Reporter (from the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration) will be at the hearing too to make sure the hearing follows a fair process. The Children’s Reporter does not have influence on the Panel Members’ final decisions. The Panel Members spend a hearing listening to everyone, considering information, and asking further questions if they are needed. The Panel Members will make sure that the attending young person is at the heart of their hearing and that decisions are made in the best interest of that young person. Legally, Panel Members must give full reasons for their decision and share these openly at the hearing.
What is the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration?
How do I make an Information Request to CHS?
The Information Governance team at Children's Hearings Scotland (CHS) are responsible for handling all types of information requests. There are different ways you can ask to see information you are interested in or your own information. For full details on our processes, see our Information Governance page under Resources.