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Chapter Six: Improving public confidence in the Children's Hearings system
6.1 This chapter examines those proposal directly concerned with improving public confidence in the Hearing system. These are:
- Proposal 16: Providing information to communities about the nature of decisions made by Children's Hearings and their outcomes.
- Proposal 23: Agencies to keep the public and communities informed about what is being done with their concerns and help them understand the role of the Children's Hearing system.
Proposal Sixteen: Providing information about Children's Hearings decisions and outcomes
6.2 A majority of respondents (62%) were in favour of this proposal, however, a substantial minority of respondents (25%) said they were opposed to the proposal. Of those who answered the second part of the question, 60% agreed that the proposal met the stated objective in comparison to 26% who thought that it did not. 43% of respondents offered suggestions for further or additional action in respect of this proposal.
6.3 Those respondents who supported the proposal emphasised the importance of sharing information with the community in order to improve public awareness and understanding. There was particularly strong support amongst those with direct experience of the Hearings system, namely Panel Members, Panels, CPACs and local authorities. Panel Members were also keen to dispel the myth that the Hearings system was a soft option.
6.4 According to Renfrewshire Council, the sharing of information would:
"… contribute to a better understanding of how children and the community are being protected. …"
For North Lanarkshire the sharing of information would be a helpful way of increasing public awareness.
6.5 Opponents of the proposal and those respondents with reservations were concerned about a number of issues, the most significant of which was that of a potential breach of confidentiality. Glasgow City Council argue that:
"… privacy and confidentiality of Hearings require to be preserved to focus on the welfare and needs of children and families. …"
Smaller and rural local authorities expressed particular concern that information would have to be sufficiently anonymous to protect the identities of children and their families.
6.6 The principal issue to emerge is not whether information should or should not be shared with the community but what information should be shared and how should it be shared.
6.7 SCRA comments that:
"… information should be meaningful and always reproduced in the relevant and appropriate context. ..."
While one CPAC comments that:
"… positive outcomes should be publicised in a general way but not politicised. …"
Other respondents are concerned that information should not be published in the form of league tables because 'success' in this context is difficult to measure.
6.8 Respondents are willing for information to be shared with the community if it fulfils the following criteria:
- Is anonymous
- Examines outcomes and not just numbers processed through the system
- There is one report for professionals and one for the general public
- That SCRA should provide the data and not individual Panels
Proposal Twenty three: Keeping the public and communities informed and helping them understand the role of the Children's Hearing system
6.11 There is strong support for this proposal, with 83% of respondents in favour and only 8% opposing.
6.12 Support for the proposal came from a wide cross section of respondents and there was a consensus that what the Hearing system does needs to be more effectively communicated to the general public. According to the ADSW:
"… it is important that the public have greater knowledge and understanding of the Children's Hearing system to promote confidence in the system and how it works."
6.13 The main concerns about the proposal can be best summarised by the response provided by Glasgow City Council, who maintain that there is a:
"… need to be clear as to the kind of information provided, to whom should the information be presented and who should prepare the information."
6.14 A large majority of the children and young people who participated in the Children in Scotland events felt there was not enough information on the Children's Hearings system and agreed with the proposal to disseminate information about Hearings in each local area. The information that children and young people wanted was split into two distinct categories, these were:
- General information about what the Children's Hearings system is and what happens, for all children and young people.
- Specific information about the proceedings, for children and young people who are going through the system.
6.15 Suggestions and recommendations for additional measures made by respondents largely focus on the following issues:
- That information should be marketed so that the community understands the aims, work, successes and failures of the Children's Hearings system.
- Responsibility for publicising the work of the Hearings should be the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the SCRA.
- Information should focus on the full range of cases so that people are aware that the system does not just focus on 'problem' children.
Key Findings
- There is strong support for the principle of providing more information about the Children's Hearings system in particular to dispel the 'myth' that the system represents a 'soft option'.
- While the vast majority of respondents support the principle about making more information available to local communities there are concerns that any information that is provided should emphasis positive outcomes and not just 'problem' behaviour.
- There are concerns to ensure that information is provided in such a way as to preserve the privacy and confidentiality of individuals.
- A substantial number of respondents state in their submissions that they feel there is a need for a national strategy and publicity campaign designed to raise the profile of the Hearings system and increase awareness of the role in plays in addressing the needs of children and young people.
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