What is the role of a Safeguarder?
What is the role of a Safeguarder?
General Role The role of the safeguarder is to identify and safeguard the interests of a child (or children) to whom they have been appointed in children’s hearing proceedings, which sometimes include court proceedings, relating to the child.
What age can a child be referred to the children’s Hearing System?
Any child generally under the age of 16, or under the age of 18 but still subject to a compulsory supervision order (CSO), who offends is referred to a hearing unless the area procurator fiscal decides that the seriousness of the case merits prosecution in either a sheriff court or the High Court of Justiciary.
Who has a duty to attend a childrens hearing?
The following people have a right, but not a duty, to attend the Pre-Hearing Panel: the child or young person, relevant persons, safeguarder, any person who appears to the reporter to have (or recently have had) significant involvement in the upbringing of the child, and any person who has requested to be deemed to be …
Who attends a children’s hearing in Scotland?
Each Hearing comprises of three Panel Members – all trained volunteers from the local community. The child and their family or carers are central participants in the Hearing. The role of the Reporter is to attend the Hearing to support fair process. The Reporter takes no part in the Panel Members’ deliberations.
What qualifications do you need to be a Safeguarder?
Anyone over 18 – there is no set academic or professional qualification required. As long as you have what the role is looking for and you are not disqualified or barred from becoming a Safeguarder.
What is a Safeguarder?
A Safeguarder is someone appointed by a Children’s Hearing, or Sheriff, to help them make the best decision for a child or young person. They are not connected to others involved with the child and they are free to give their view of what they think is in the child’s best interests.
Why would a child go to a childrens hearing?
A Children’s Hearing is a legal meeting for young people in need of help, support or protection. Remember, the purpose of a children’s hearing is to make the right decision for you.
What is a supervision order for a child?
A supervision order is a legal order, obtained by the local authority through the court, which requires a child to be supervised by social services, while still living in the family home (or placed with a relative), to make sure that the child is well cared for.
What is the purpose of a children’s hearing?
A Children’s Hearing is a legal meeting for young people in need of help, support or protection. Children’s Hearings are held in private, with a Children’s Reporter and three Panel Members, and you can bring your parent or carer with you.
What does the childrens hearing system do?
The Children’s Hearing System aims to help children and young people under 18 who have problems in their life. For example, they may need care and protection, or be in trouble with the police or at school. When a young person needs help, they’ll be referred to a Children’s Reporter.
What can the children’s hearing system do?
The Children’s Hearing System aims to help children and young people under 18 who have problems in their life. When a young person needs help, they’ll be referred to a Children’s Reporter. They’ll contact a social worker, teacher or the young person’s parents and decide what help they need to sort their problem out.
What is a safe guarder?
What is the statutory test for appointing a Safeguarder?
For panel members, in children’s hearings or pre-hearing panels, the statutory test for appointing a safeguarder is very broad: ‘whether to appoint a person to safeguard the interests of the child to whom the children’s hearing relates’ (2011 Act, s 30 (1)).
What is a Safeguarder’s role in a child protection case?
In children’s hearings, the overt focus of the safeguarder role is to produce an independent written report, which will usually present the views of the child, other family members and/or professionals involved in the case, and to identify a recommendation for the child, based on analysis of all information collected ( Chapter 5 ).
Do sheriffs have to appoint a Safeguarder for the child?
For sheriffs, effectively, there is no statutory test. They are required, simply, to ‘consider whether to appoint a safeguarder for the child’ (2011 Act, s 31 (2)). There were contrasting views at interview as to the value of this flexibility.
Should we tighten the criteria for safeguarding safeguarders?
Safeguarders predominantly, but also some social workers, did not favour tightening the criteria for appointment. However, other stakeholders considered that the current test left unsaid the more practical tasks expected of safeguarders (discussed further below).
