Moray Children’s Panel – An introduction to Children’s Hearings video transcript
Screen shows ‘Children’s Hearings’ title. Music playing.
Lady seen sitting infront of play ground
“Concern for general child welfare has existed since the end of the Second World War but the face of juvenile justice in Scotland completely changed following the recommendations of the Kilbrandon Committee in 1964. This marked the beginning of an enlightened development in the field of juvenile justice and provided the basis for today’s Childrens Hearing System, which is unique to Scotland.”
Screens hows youths playing in playground.
“Giving the responsibility of making decisions to ordinary people who are interested in Children and their welfare is still seen as a way of involving communities themselves in finding solutions to problems occurring in their midst.”
Screen shows postman, then a person walking off bus, a man walking into a fire station and a man working in a control room.
“The Childrens Panel is made up of people from communities across Scotland. People like you can fulfil the important role of a panel member; attending Children’s Hearings and contributing to the decisions on the future of todays youngsters.”
Screen shows ambulance crew with stretcher, a security guard in a store.
“Although some panel members are unemployed, self employed or retired, the majority are in employment, therefore their participation is made possible by the cooperation of their employers and colleagues.”
Screen shows a man standing infront of a ‘Reception Sign’ Screen reads “Raymond Cooke, Process Operator”
“My reason for joining the Panel was I’ve been involved with Youth Clubs and boys football clubs for many years now and I was approached by a Panel Member, would I have thought of joining the panel but at that time I couldn’t give commitment to it. In the last three years, I did find some time, and now, I obviously joined it years ago, and its probably one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
Screen shows lady standing infront of supermarket in works uniform. Screen reads “Jackie Baxter, Sales Assistant.” Jackie speaks:
“If there is one person that has been helped by us sitting at the other side of the table then its all for the good.”
Screen reads ‘Hugh McNaughtan, Taxi Driver’. Hugh speaks:
“I suppose in a way I get something that I feel that other than just driving a taxi, I’m doing something that’s useful and is contributing something and possibly helping future generations if we can get it, if we can get the children’s lives right now then future generations will be better.”
Screen shows a gentleman on top deck of an open top bus. Screen reads ‘Paul Bryson, Bus Driver’. Paul speaks:
“I find it very interesting and rewarding, I think the welfare of the child is paramount at all times and if I can just add a little bit of spare time and improving a child’s life, then I’ll do that.”
Screen shows man standing in shop, screen reads ‘Taja Singh, Security Officer’. Taja speaks:
“Just talk to the kids like your one of them, you know, and let them know that the panel is there to help them, its not there to sort of do anything against them. The satisfaction is… everything… its just the feeling inside you get.”
Lady sits infront of computer, screen reads ‘Margaret Furley, Clerical Assistant.’ Margaret speaks:
“Its just an incredible experience, the whole thing, the training, the getting to know other people, the hearings, the outcomes, its just an incredible, rewarding experience.”
Man sits infront of window. Screen reads ‘Andrew Coutts, Community Involvement Manager’
“We believe that our staff members develop their existing talents in a different way, in a different environment, and they come back here more confident to use these talents within the working environment.”
Man sits infront of window. Screen reads ‘Gary Potter, Policy Department’:
“I’ve completely developed my skills as a person, even like talking one-to-one or in group meetings or listening to people, I mean, that’s one of the things I do now, that I never did before I joined the panel, and that’s the basis of the Panel is listening to what the children say. It’s the Chidren’s Hearing.”
Andrew Coutts speaks:
“I would suggest that companies should do it – put something back into the community in which they operate and benefit by having more rounded employees.”
A man stands infront of a fire engine, screen reads ‘Ken Harrold, Convenor, Lothian & Borders Fire Board’. Ken speaks:
“Its not beyond the wit of the organisation to organise things in such a way that we can facilitate this very important task.”
Another man stands infront of a fire engine, screen reads ‘Graeme Birtley, Firefighter’. Graeme speaks:
“I’ve always had an interest in the Children’s Hearing system, and I felt, well, maybe I could be part of that and obviously if I do a hearing, then maybe anything I’ve said may come of use to a child. You know what I meen, its just a feel good factor.”
Camera focuses on a glass window with ‘Hearing Rooms’ written on it. Narrator speaks:
“Children’s Hearings take place in various locations across the country. They are conducted in private, and every effort is made to make the environment as informal as possible. The number of people present is restricted to the absolute minimum to make the experience the least intimidating for the child and family and to encourage full and frank discussion.”
Simulation Hearings
Screen shows a teenage girls sitting at table, with a lady sitting next to her. Girl speaks:
“She tells me I should be at school, but I’d just rather see my dad than go to school, because she doesn’t let me see my dad.”
Mother speaks:
“That’s not true, he comes to the house”
Daughter speaks:
“Aye, for five minutes or so.”
Mother speaks:
“Its OK if he’s sober, but you know what he’s like when he’s been at the pub first. I don’t like him being in the house when he’s drunk, we had that for years.”
Narrator speaks:
“Children come to hearings because they are in need, have offended or have been offended against. Here we see Gavin, aged 14, who’s coming to a hearing for the first time. It is alleged that he has committed some offences.”
Panel member (lady) speaks:
“Right, you have been asked to attend a Children’s Hearing, and the reason for that is that in terms of Section 52(2.1) of the Children’s Scotland Act 1955 that you have committed an offence. On support of the above statement, it is stated that, on the first of December last year, while acting along with another boy, Gavin McLeod stole a charity tin from within the Garden Centre, Grassyard Street, Newtown. This being an offence of theft. Do you agree with that Gavin?”
Boy, speaks:
“Yeah”
Narrator speaks:
“Sometimes a hearing may ask a Child’s parents or their representatives to leave the room so that they may obtain the Child’s views. When they return, the hearing must tell them the substance of what the child has said in their absence.
Boy speaks:
“Throwing stuff about”
Panel member (lady) speaks:
“And how did you feel about that?”
Boy speaks:
“I thought, maybe, he would hit me oneday.”
Panel member (lady) speaks:
“Did you feel your mum was taking sides?”
Boy speaks:
“Yeah”
Panel member (lady) speaks:
“Was that the trouble?”
Boy nods.
Panel member (male) speaks:
“Cause your mum seems to think you, you might be exaggerating things and things weren’t as bad as you say. Do you think that’s unfair?”
Boy nods and speaks:
“Hmm mm”
Social worker speaks:
“I would agree with Gavin, I would think Gavin’s mum did underplay the situation, I think it has been very very frought as Gavin’s explanation and he’s only talked about perhaps the more extreme incidents”
Screen shows a lady talking. Narrator speaks:
“If the supervision requirement is made by the hearing, this decision is reviewed within set timescales by another hearing. A review may also be requested by a child or by the parents. This is Diane’s review hearing, held at the request of her mother. Diane is just over a year old, she appeared at her first hearing when she was 12 weeks old. Emergency Protection measures had been taken because her mother was unable to care appropriately for her. Diane has since been living with foster carers. She’s not at the hearing today as it was considered to be not in her best interests to be present. Some times, decisions are not easy to make, and the hearing may call upon specialists to help them.”
Safeguarder (male) speaks:
“An occasion.. one of my visits was to the centre where the access takes place and I saw the two together and yes, they interact well, clearly a lot of affection on Sharon’s part towards her wee baby…”
Narrator speaks:
“Where necessary, the hearing may appoint a Safeguarder to consider and advise on the best interest of the child. Safeguarders are required to make written reports to the hearings that have appointed them. Safeguarders have the right to be present at hearings until a decision is made and can appeal the decision on behalf of the child.”
Lady (social worker) speaks:
“The child would not go to another placement unless we had freedom for adoption from the court, and I think what I’d be seeing quite clearly, is at the review situation where we are doing the parallel planning, if we were to work over the next 12 weeks then that would give us a 12 week window where Sharon really has the onus on her to work with us to prove that she is… she has the capabilities of looking after Diane, and at that point, it would be either coming back here and asking your advice about freedom for adoption or looking towards Diane returning home.”
Screen returns to teenage girl at hearing. Narrator speaks:
“But perhaps the most surprising characteristic of all is that hearings’ decisions are made infront of everyone present and communicated to the child infront of family on the spot. Sandra has not been attending school regularly and there are concerns about her behaviour at home.”
Panel member (lady) speaks:
“Ok, Sandra, I would agree with Pat and Asia about making you subject to a supervision requirement because I think it will offer you protection and guidance, the reasons I have are broadly similar to Asia and Pat but I’ll just go through them. Relationship with your mum is deteriorating and at times you are beyond her control. You’ve been struggling to work on a voluntary basis with Kirsty. You’ve not been going to school and there are some concerns about the risks you might be putting yourself at in the Community by being out overnight and staying out late. Ok? And I think the supervision requirement will also aid in formalising the contact you have with your dad. Ok?”
Narrator speaks:
“Once the hearing has made its decision, it’s the responsibility of the local authority to implement it. It’s the social workers in each authority who generally undertake this task and they play an important role in the Children’s Hearing system.”
Screen moves to an playpark outside. Narrator speaks:
“Over the first 25 years, the Children’s Hearing system gained respect and credibility. Initially, Children’s Hearings were concerned mainly with children who had committed offences. However, as incidents of reported child abuse increased, the number of care and protection referrals to Hearings grew steadily. For instance, in 1976, only five thousand children were referred to hearings on care and protection grounds and by the late 1990s, that figure had almost trebled with an average of more than 14,000 children being referred each year. The Children Scotland Act of 1995 was implemented on the 1st of April, 1997. The Act established the key principles that are to be applied when decisions are made about Children and Young People. The Welfare of the Child is to be paramount. The Child’s views should be sought and should be taken into account. No court, or Children’s Hearing is to make an order or supervision requirement unless it is better for the child than no order at all.”
Screen shows 6 adults in a meeting room discussing. Narrator speaks:
“Before they can sit on hearings, panel members must satisfactorily complete pre-service training. The core material is the same throughout Scotland and is delivered locally by a Children’s Panel Training organiser. It comprises group discussions, inputs from specialist speakers, observation of hearings, visits to Children’s Resource Centres and individual study. Panel training is hard work, but it can also be enjoyable. Trainees learn from the knowledge and experience which each brings to the group.”
Screen displays 5 jigsaw pieces joined together. Narrator speaks:
“Training is a bit like doing a jigsaw, learning how pieces of information fit together. There is information on the History & Principles of the system; the Child, Family and Society; the Law and Procedure relating to Children’s Hearings; Communication; and in the roles of people in the system and resources for Children and Young People.”
Screen returns to meeting room with 6 adults discussing. Narrator speaks:
“Training doesn’t stop once Panel Members begin to serve; further training is provided to equip members with the skills and knowledge to Chair hearings. Panel members are expected to be committed to ongoing training throughout their service, this allows members to review their practice and keeps them in touch with changes in legislation, practice and new resources for Children.”
Lady sits infront of a bookcase, ‘Maeve McDonald, Chairman, CPAC’ speaks:
“Every local authority in Scotland has its own Children’s Panel. Panel Members are appointed by Scottish Ministers on the recommendations of a local Children’s Panel Advisory Committee, normally called the CPAC. Members of CPAC will recruit Panel Members, they will place advertisements in the Press, they will then provide information to those people who are interested in the Children’s Hearing System and conduct selection procedures so that suitable people are recommended for appointment.”