« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
The Children's Hearings System in Scotland 2003
Training Resource Manual 2nd edition
PART TWO
Section 3 Communication
The success of the children's hearings will depend to a large extent on the ability of their members to get through to the children and their parents; and a capacity to communicate with them, and an understanding of their feelings so that they gain their confidence will be of great importance.
(SWSG Circular SW7, 1969)
The views and concerns of children should always be taken seriously and given due weight in reaching decisions.
(White Paper Scotland's Children, 1993)
One of the most obvious facts about grown-ups, to a child, is that they have forgotten what it is like to be a child.
(Randall Jarrell, Introduction to The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead, 1965)
Contents
1 Introduction
2 What is meant by communication?
Legal obligations
What is effective communication?
Barriers to effective communication in hearings
3 Non-verbal communication
Sight
Sound
Smell
Self awareness
4 Communicating with children
Children's views
Younger children
Teenagers
Communication in the hearing
What if they just won't talk?
A checklist for child-friendly language
5 Communicating with adults
Relevant persons
Representatives
Professionals
Other panel members
Special circumstances
6 Questions and discussion
What to say and how to say it
7 Listening
Problems of listening
8 Speech and language: Ability and disability
Comprehension
Expressive language
Summary of issues to be taken into account
9 Written communication
Papers for the hearing
Social background reports
School reports
Safeguarders' reports
Other reports
Reasons for decisions
10 Summary
11 Further reading
« Previous | Contents | Next »