Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is Scotland’s long standing, national commitment to provide all children, young people and their families with the right support at the right time, so that every child and young person can reach their full potential.
GIRFEC is both an approach and framework used by services across Scotland to improve and uphold the wellbeing of children and their families.
Actions
We:
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promote eight wellbeing indicators (SHANARRI) to understand a child or young person’s wellbeing at a given time
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base GIRFEC principles and values on children's rights
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support practitioners to consider ways to improve the wellbeing for a child or young person and their family through the National Practice Model
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improve the support for children, young people and their families through a clear point of contact: sometimes referred to as a named person
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produce national GIRFEC resources for everyone interested in the policy and its delivery
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provide information sharing guidance, including what can be shared with or by a practitioner acting as a named person or in connection with a child’s plan
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provide a consistent approach to how support is planned, delivered and co-ordinated by promoting the use of a child’s plan, coordinated by a lead professional
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committed to improving how we support families through investment in the Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF) programme
Background
GIRFEC timeline
2023: publication of GIRFEC Child’s Plan guidance.
2022: The Statutory Guidance for the Assessment of Wellbeing was subject to a public consultation which closed in February 2022. Publication of finalised refreshed policy and practice materials.
2021: Co-production working groups made up of representatives across the GIRFEC workforce including the public sector, health boards, third sector and national organisations, created drafts of the seven practice guidance documents including the National Practice Model and Information Sharing.
2019: in September, the Deputy First Minister made a commitment to the Scottish Parliament to seek to repeal Parts 4 and 5 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and to develop refreshed GIRFEC guidance.
2012: a Guide to GIRFEC updated and published.
2010: messages from pathfinders and learning partners published, which told us that GIRFEC:
- provided greater clarity about who families could go to when they needed help;
- reduced time in meetings for professionals and parents, children and young people;
- agencies and third sector partners were able to focus resources on those children who needed most support;
- support provided earlier ; and
- fewer children required compulsory state intervention.
2009: publication of the Evaluation of Highland Pathfinder work.
2008: a guide to GIRFEC published. This was designed to support the workforce and to raise awareness with children, young people and families.
2006: GIRFEC Implementation Plan published; the approach was used and tested by pathfinders across Scotland.
2005: public consultation on the reform of children’s services.
2001: For Scotland’s Children report published. This outlined the system improvements required in information sharing, assessment, resource allocation and review processes.
Contact
Email: girfec@gov.scot
Telephone: 0300 244 4000 - Central Enquiry Unit
Post:
GIRFEC Team
Scottish Government
Children and Families Directorate
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Twitter: @girfec