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Annex 2 Advocacy Support for Children and Young People in the Children's Hearings System: Information and consent forms (children and young people/parents and carers)
Information for Children and Young People
What is this all about?
We are doing a project on children and young people's experiences of Children's Hearings. We want to talk to you to find out if you feel able to take part in your Hearings and whether you think that the people there listen to you. We need your help to find this out as we are interested in what YOU think. We will also want to talk to someone who has worked with you to ask them about help with Hearings available for children and young people where you live.
Who are we?
The project is being done by a team of people. Our names are Chris Creegan, Caroline King and Lynsey Russell-Watts.
Chris Caroline Lynsey
What do I have to do?
We would like to meet with you for between half an hour and an hour to talk about your experiences at Children's Hearings. We are interested in whether you feel you were allowed to speak and join in at your Hearing and whether you feel that you were listened to. We would also like to know about anyone who has helped you to join in - before, during or after Hearings - and what they did to help. We would also like to ask you about anything that stopped you from speaking or joining in.
Where will this happen?
We can decide on a good place to meet together: this could be your house, your school, a youth club or somewhere else near where you live.
Why should I talk to you?
You are the most important person at your Hearings, so it is important for us to find out what you thought. This is a chance for you to have your say: we will listen to you. You can help us to find out how things could be changed by telling us what was good and bad about your Hearings and about ways in which people could help young people join in. This will help to make Hearings better for all children and young people who go to them. After the interview, we will give you a voucher to thank you for taking part.
Will you tell anyone what I say?
We might write down what you say and would like to tape record the whole interview so that we don't forget what you say. BUT we will not let other people listen to your tape, see what we've written or tell them what you've said.
No one except the researchers will know your name or where you live. The only time we would tell anyone what you said was if you told us you were in danger. We will need to talk to another adult if this happens, but we would speak to you about it first.
How do I take part?
If you would like to talk to us, you will need to tell us that you agree by filling in the form inside this leaflet. We will also ask your parent or carer to check that it's OK with them: there is another leaflet for them and a form for them to fill in.
Can I change my mind?
Yes, of course. You can change your mind at any time, even during the interview. You just need to tell us. We will not mind.
What happens afterwards?
We will write a report about what all the children and young people who have talked to us have said, but we will not use your name (or anyone else's!). No-one will know who said what. The report will help to work out what could be done to help children join in more with their Hearings. We will send you a report telling you what we have found out from everyone.
Can I talk to you first?
Yes, of course. We would be very happy to talk to you. You can:
Email us:
Chris: chris.creegan@scra.gsx.gov.uk
Lynsey: lynsey.russell-watts@scra.gsx.gov.uk
Caroline: c.king2@savethechildren.org.uk
Phone us:
You can phone our Information Assistant, Danielle Adam on 01786 459558.
Write to us:
Advocacy Project, Information and Research, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, Ochil House, Springkerse Business Park, STIRLING FK7 7XE
Consent Form
Information for Parents and Carers
The Research Project
This is a project carried out by the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, Save the Children and Who Cares? Scotland. It is funded by these organisations and by the Scottish Executive. The project aims to discover what improvements could be made to Hearings in terms of children's participation. Its findings will inform the Scottish Executive's current review of the Hearings System.
The project will explore children and young people's experiences of the support which helps them to contribute to their Children's Hearings. Children and young people will be asked about how far they feel able to give their views at Hearings and about factors which influence this. These factors may be about the difficulties children and young people have participating and the ways in which they people are helped to join in. Interviews will also be carried out with professionals who have worked with the children and young people to assess the nature and availability of advocacy services in the local area.
What would my child have to do?
The project involves interviews with children and young people (aged 5-16) who have recently attended a Hearing. The interviews will last between half an hour and an hour and will take place either at home, at school, or at another agreed location. As well as talking to the researcher, children might draw pictures or play games related to the interview topic.
Children and young people will be asked about their experiences of Hearings including whether they feel that:
- they were able to give their views;
- they were listened to;
- their participation affected the outcome.
We will also explore their experiences of any support they may have received.
Travelling expenses to or from the interview (if it does not take place at home) will be reimbursed. All children and young people who are interviewed will also be given a £10 voucher (for music/books) as a reward.
Confidentiality
Although interviews will be recorded for research purposes, children and young people's names and personal details will not be revealed. What each individual child or young person says will remain confidential. So though quotations from interviews will be used in the final report, the names of children and young people will not be. What individual children and young people say will not be discussed with anyone. However, we will need to contact the appropriate agencies if a child or young person tells us that s/he is in danger.
Feedback
The research findings will be published in a written report. All participating children and young people will be provided with a brief report summarising the findings.
Consent
The project will be explained to children and young people, and they will be asked to sign a form agreeing to join in. However, they will be able to withdraw at any time if they no longer wish to continue. Parents/carers are also asked to give written consent to their child's participation in the study. This can be given by completing the slip inside this leaflet.
If you have any questions, or require further information, please contact:
By letter:
Advocacy Project, Information and Research, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, Ochil House, Springkerse Business Park, STIRLING FK7 7XE
By phone:
Danielle Adam, Information Assistant: 01786 459558
By email:
Chris: chris.creegan@scra.gsx.gov.uk
Lynsey: lynsey.russell-watts@scra.gsx.gov.uk
Caroline: c.king2@savethechildren.org.uk
I have read the leaflet 'Information for Parents and Carers' and agree/do not agree* to my child being interviewed as part of the research study 'Advocacy Support for Children and Young People in the Children's Hearings System'. (*Please delete as appropriate)
Signed .........................................
Name ..........................................
Date ............................................
Child's Name ................................
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