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Topic 2 The Children's Hearings Process - The Investigation

Teachers' Sheet
Fascinating Facts Sheet 4 The Investigation and Children's Reporter's Decisions
Activity 5 Decision Time
Case Studies for Activity 5

Teachers' Sheet
TOPIC 2 - THE CHILDREN'S HEARINGS PROCESS: Step 2 - The Investigation

Activity:
Fascinating Facts 4 - The Investigation and Children's Reporter's Decisions
Activity 5 - Decision Time

Aims:
To introduce pupils to step 2 of the Children's Hearings process.
To enable pupils to understand the role of the Children's Reporter and the decision-making process.
To allow pupils an opportunity to make decisions as a Children's Reporter.

Materials:
A copy of Fascinating Facts sheet 4, Activity sheet 5 and selected Case Studies for each pupil. (A visit from a Children's Reporter might be useful for this activity.)

Method:
Recap on the first step to check understanding.

Explain that they are now going to find out about what the Children's Reporter does once he/she hears about a child/young person who is in trouble.

Hand out Fascinating Facts 4 and read with the pupils. Look at each decision and their explanations. The decision not to arrange a Children's Hearing may include the Reporter issuing advice or referring the child/young person for a police warning. Make sure that the pupils understand each decision before moving on to Activity 5 - Decision Time.

Pupils can undertake this activity in pairs or threes. You can either allocate different groups different scenarios or the same ones. Allow sufficient time for pupils to work through the decision-making process using the guidance provided. Encourage them to consider each question as the Reporter would.

Discuss with the class their decisions and reasons.

NB: There is no right or wrong answer. Each case is dealt with on its own merit and, in assessing risk and need, the Reporter takes account of other professional assessments and exercises his/her own professional judgement.

Fascinating Facts 4 Step 2 - The Investigation and Children's Reporter's Decisions

Once the Children's Reporter has been told about a child or young person, it is his/her job to decide what should happen next.

He/she will ask for information from different people:

• social workers
• schools
• the police
• health workers.

The Children's Reporter has three decisions to choose from:

1. Not to arrange a Children's Hearing

The Children's Reporter might do this if, for example, it is the first referral and there are no other worries. They will write to the child and their family to let them know that they have made this decision.

2. Refer the child and family for voluntary support from the local authority

The Children's Reporter knows what support the local authority can give to a child or young person and their family which will help them. He/she will know that the child and family have agreed to work with a social worker.

3. Arrange a Children's Hearing

The Children's Reporter will do this if he/she thinks compulsory supervision is needed to help the child or young person and their family. A special meeting called a Children's Hearing needs to be arranged to discuss and decide this.

WORD CHECK

investigation = a careful look at everything in detail
health worker = someone who cares for people's health, for example a doctor, nurse, or health visitor
voluntary = choosing to do something
support = help
local authority = the local council
Children's Hearing = a special meeting arranged to discuss the situation and decide what should happen to the child or young person
Supervision Requirement = a plan of work and support to help the child or young person

Activity 5 - Decision Time

Name

Read the case study that you have been given.

You are the Children's Reporter and you have to decide what to do about this child that you have been told about. Discuss the information that you have. Use these questions to help you to decide what to do.

Have I heard about this child before?

Is the child healthy and doing well?

Is the child going to school?

Is he or she being bullied, or bullying someone else?

Is the child's behaviour in school good or bad?

Are the parents looking after the child well enough?

Is this the first time the child has offended?

Will the child and family work with a social worker voluntarily?

What help does this child need?

What is your decision? Tick the box

Not to arrange a Children's Hearing

Voluntary support from the local authority

Arrange a Children's Hearing

Why have you made this decision?

Case Studies for Activity 5 - Decision Time

GAVIN

The police have contacted you about Gavin. He is 11 years old and has been charged by the police with damaging cars. This is the first time that you have heard about Gavin.

Alan Wood, the social worker, has met with Gavin and his mum. Gavin's mum is very upset about what he has done. It has been hard for her to control Gavin since his dad left. Gavin does not listen to what she says and never comes home at the time she asks.

Gavin's class teacher, Mrs Hunter, has said that he used to behave well, but she has recently had to send him out of the class for being rude and rough with other children in the class. He now has no friends. His school work is not as good as it was.

LAURA

The Head Teacher of Shaw Road Primary School, Mrs Nicol, has contacted you again about Laura. She is in Primary 6. Laura has not been coming to school every day and when she does she is very quiet, which is not like her. She is normally a very good pupil who does well in all of her work.

The social worker, Anne Cairns, has been to visit Laura's family. When she called at lunch time Laura answered the door. Her mum was still in bed and it looked as if she had been drinking alcohol. The house was not very clean. Laura was upset and said that her mum was not well.

It was the same when the social worker visited a couple of months ago. You asked the social work department to help the family when you did the last investigation. They have tried to do this, but Laura's mum says that she does not need any help.

SCOTT AND AMY

Scott is nine years old and his sister Amy is six. They live with their mum and dad. The social worker and the police have reported them to you.

The police were called to their flat at 11pm by a neighbour because of the noise. When the police arrived they found that Scott and Amy's mum and dad had taken drugs and there were other people there who had also taken drugs. There were needles lying around. Scott was asleep on the floor in the living room. Amy was asleep in the bedroom. The children were taken to stay with their granny.

The social worker has found out that the parents are drug addicts and the dad has been arrested for selling drugs. The school has told you that both Scott and Amy come to school every day but are often tired and hungry and not always dressed to keep warm on a cold day.

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