'Children's Hearings Scotland', Seamus Spencer

Wed, Sep 16th 2015 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

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President Peter gave a warm welcome to our speaker Seamus Spencer who has a background in education and who has been a member of the Children's Panel for eight years. 


Seamus' compelling story explained how the Children's Hearing Scotland and the Children's Panel, being part of the legal and welfare system in Scotland, has made a difference to children (up to the age of 18 years) and families throughout Scotland.


The children's hearing system was initiated in 1971 under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 following a report in 1964 by Lord Kilbrandon, a Senator of the College of Justice. In 2013 Children's Hearing Scotland took over the running of thirty-two local authority panels and formed one national children's panel for Scotland with approximately 2,500 volunteers supported by 22 area support teams.


Seamus explained that referrals are made to the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) normally by the Police, Social Work or Education authorities. On the basis of sixteen legally prescribed care and offence related grounds, following investigation, the Reporter decides whether or not a hearing is required. A children's hearing is then carried out by three specially trained lay tribunal members of the Children's Panel supported by the Children's Reporter, child and legal guardian, local Social Work representative and others who may assist in the proceedings. Following the hearing the Panel will decide what action is appropriate in the best interests of the child including compulsory measures of supervision.


During the year 2014/15, some 15,858 children were referred to the Children's Reporter, 2,891 of these related to offences. This represents a year-on-year reduction in overall numbers of children referred since 2010/11 when in excess of 30,000 were recorded. This period has also seen a reduction in the number of offence related referrals and an increase in the number of non-offence related referrals.


In closing, Seamus encouraged people from all walks of life to consider becoming a Children's Panel volunteer and informed our Club that the current annual recruitment initiative ends on 30th September 2015.


Graham Low thanked Seamus for his interesting and informative talk.

Report by Graham Low

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