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Listen
Foreword
No matter where they live or whatever their needs, children and families need to know where they can seek help, what help is available, that the help is appropriate to their needs and will be delivered to the highest possible standard.
Getting it right for every child is the programme for change that will revolutionise services for children. It gives clear authority and responsibility to agencies and professionals to work with children, families, local communities and each other, in a way that brings practicality and reality to the vision for Scotland's children.
The draft Bill in this consultation document is intended to support the Getting it right for every child programme to change children's services.
Services for children in Scotland are changing so that:
- Children and young people get the help they need when they need it and are central to the process of finding solutions.
- Everyone working with children and young people uses a consistent and equitable approach and works more effectively together to improve outcomes for children and young people.
- Everyone is clear of their personal responsibility to do the right thing for each child and how they contribute to the collective responsibility to do the right thing for each child.
- Parents and children benefit from a collaborative approach which results in fewer meetings, requires them to give their information only once, and jointly develop with professionals one plan that will meet all of their needs.
- Agencies and professionals are freed up to get on and respond to children and take appropriate, proportionate and timely action with the minimum of paperwork, bureaucracy and duplication.
Scottish Ministers are committed to reforming the delivery of children's services to place a greater focus on improving outcomes for children and to create a Scotland in which every child matters, where every child, regardless of their family background, has the best possible start in life.
I hope that the proposals put forward in this draft Bill will be carefully considered by all who work with children or their families to ensure the children of Scotland get the help they need, when they need it. Details of how to respond to the draft Bill proposals are set out in Chapter 8 and I hope good use will be made of this opportunity.
Hugh Henry
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