A Guide to Getting it right for every child

Introduction

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Every child and young person in Scotland is on a journey through life: experiencing rapid development and change as they make the transition from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.

As they progress, some may have temporary difficulties, some may live with challenges that distract them on their journey and some may experience more complex issues. No matter where they live or whatever their needs, children and families should know where they can find help, what support might be available and whether that help is right for them.

We all want our children and young people to be fully supported as they grow and develop to be:

Healthy … experiencing the highest standards of physical and mental health, and supported to make healthy safe choices

Achieving … receiving support and guidance in their learning - boosting their skills, confidence and self-esteem

Nurtured … having a nurturing and stimulating place to live and grow

Active … offered opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities - helping them to build a fulfilling and happy future

Respected … to be given a voice and involved in the decisions that affect their well-being

Responsible … taking an active role within their schools and communities

Included ... receiving help and guidance to overcome social, educational, physical and economic inequalities; accepted as full members of the communities in which they live and learn

And above all, to be safe … protected from abuse, neglect or harm.

We want our children and young people to be successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

Getting it right for every child - giving all children and young people the best start in life.

This guide provides an overview of the Getting it right for every child approach and developments so far. It provides information on emerging national thinking, building from the work of pathfinders and existing good practice and the learning from the 2008 road show events. It shows how the Getting it right for every child practice model and tools can be used locally to complement practitioners' own materials and processes to improve practice and ultimately secure better outcomes for children and young people.

The document contains various hyperlinks to the Scottish Government website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/gettingitright where more detailed information can be found. Please refer to the website to keep up to date with any subsequent versions of the tools and model described here and to access any additional resources.

This guide is relevant to all those involved or working with children and young people, including practitioners working in adult services with parents and carers. Everyone working with children, young people and families needs to be aware of the Getting it right for every child approach and how it can have a positive impact on outcomes for all children and young people.

The guide is in sections to make it easier to incorporate new thinking and practice as it develops. It can be updated over time as Getting it right for every child implementation progresses and key pages may be amended and re-issued in agreement with partners. The guide sections are version controlled and new or updated sections will be promoted via the Scottish Government website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/gettingitright/publications.

The practice model and tools in this guide help effect change across culture, systems and practice and are designed to help children and young people achieve their full potential.

Key Web Links:

Getting it right for every child ( GIRFEC):
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/gettingitright

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ( COSLA):
www.cosla.gov.uk

Association of Directors of Education in Scotland ( ADES):
www.adescotland.org.uk

Association of Directors of Social Work ( ADSW):
www.adsw.org.uk

Police:
www.scottish.police.uk

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration ( SCRA):
www.scra.gov.uk

Highland's Children:
http://www.forhighlandschildren.org/

Highland Pathfinder:
http://www.forhighlandschildren.org/htm/girfec/girfec.php

GIRFEC Learning Community:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/gettingitright/LearningCommunity

NHSScotland:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/health

Scotland's Health on the Web:
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk