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| The Children's Hearings system: The Children's Panel |
| A Brief Note for Employers |
| Background |
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 Since 1971 children’s hearings
have been making decisions about children who need care or protection.
The system relies on supportive partnership between employees who
volunteer to join the panel and their employers. This is underlined
in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The Children’s Panel is
recognised as a statutory tribunal under the Tribunal and Enquiries
Act 1992.
How are panel members selected? Panel members are recruited from local volunteers, both male and female, between the ages of 20 and 60. This happens annually in most areas, less often in a few others. Appointments are made towards the end of the calendar year following a thorough selection process by the local Children’s Panel Advisory Committee (CPAC). The CPAC makes recommendations to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Secretary of State makes the appointments after considering the recommendations. Panel members can be appointed to the area in which they live or work and their appointments are for up to three years initially. They start active panel duties from the May of the following year after having completed an extensive training programme. Most of this programme is undertaken in the evenings or at weekends. Advantages to employers Panel members are trained in a range of useful skills,
which will improve their personal development and may in turn benefit employers. These
include decision-making, communications and leadership. They will learn to question the
views of those who have produced reports, to work effectively within a closely-knit team,
and to interpret large quantities of detailed information. |
| How does it work? |
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| A hearing consists of three Panel Members, who meet with the child, his/her parents, social worker and other professionals. The hearing focuses on the best interest of the child. The problem is discussed openly, with everyone involved. The hearing then decides the best way forward, which can range from no further action to residential care. |
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| What’s the time commitment? |
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| Hearings are held locally, mostly during the day. Individual hearings vary in length, but a normal session of three cases will last a morning or afternoon. Panel Members are usually expected to take part in one or two sessions a month. To keep up to date with changing needs and resources, some additional time will be needed for visits to local child care resources. Attendance at evening training events is also necessary and panel members are required to spend some considerable time in preparing for hearings. |
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| Are there expenses? |
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| Panel members can usually claim travel and some other expenses. A loss of earnings allowance, in accordance with Government guidelines, is also payable. |
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| What can I do as an employer? |
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| Panel members do have a statutory right for reasonable time off to attend hearings (Section 50, Employment Rights Act 1996). However, the system can only work with your willing co-operation. Whether you are a general manager of a major company, or a front-line supervisor in a small group, your support is vital. |
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| Panel members need to feel their contribution to the Panel System is valued by managers and work colleagues alike, rather than a liability which is grudgingly conceded. This unique and valued part of the Scottish family justice system can only continue with the sympathetic and continued support of employers throughout Scotland. |
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| Any questions? |
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| The Clerk to the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee, at your local Council Headquarters, will be pleased to answer any questions. Other information leaflets are available, and in some areas the local CPAC can arrange, on request, to brief staff and/or managers about the work of the Panel. |
| The information contained
on this WWW site is Crown Copyright but may be reproduced without formal permission or
charge for personal or in-house use. © 1997 |