Bairns' Hoose Pathfinder Phase – Research Report

Glossary and Abbreviations

ACRA – Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019

Bairns’ Hoose partnership - Each partnership must commit to collaboration across all three statutory partners (NHS, local authorities, Police Scotland) with demonstrable links with third sector, education and justice partners (Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scottish Courts Tribunal Services (SCTS)).

Bairns’ Hoose Affiliate - A local Scottish partnership funded by the Scottish Government through “The Development Fund” in 2024/25 and the “Bairns’ Hoose Affiliate Fund” in 2025/26. Affiliate status was offered to partnerships that were not selected as Pathfinders, providing lighter touch support and funding in developing towards implementing Bairns’ Hoose.

Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder – A local Scottish partnership funded by the Scottish Government through the “Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder Fund” to test implementation of the Bairns’ Hoose approach.

Bairns’ Hoose Standards – A list of eleven Standards setting out what Bairns’ Hoose should mean in practice for children and young people and their families, and the professionals involved in supporting them.

CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Child Protection Committees – Local multi-agency partnerships across Scotland, which develop, implement and improve child protection strategy.

COPFS – Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

CYP – Children and Young People. In this report, CYP refers to those under the age of 18.

Evidence by Commissioner – A hearing which enables vulnerable witnesses, including children, to pre-record all or part of their evidence ahead of trial. Taking Evidence by Commissioner is a special measure under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 and is intended to support vulnerable witnesses giving evidence in criminal proceedings to give their best evidence and to reduce the risk of re-traumatisation. As of 30 March 2026, a presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence applies for children (under 18 in the High Court and under 16 in the sheriff courts) giving evidence in cases which involve certain offences where these are heard in front of a jury.

GIRFEC – Getting it right for every child. This is Scotland’s national commitment to provide all children, young people and their families with the right support at the right time. GIRFEC is both an approach and framework used by services across Scotland to improve and uphold the wellbeing of children and their families.

SCIM – Scottish Child Interview Model. A model of joint investigative interviewing practice developed by social work and police with the aim of minimising harm and re-traumatisation of children and young people in the process (whilst also promoting quality evidence collection). The model was developed based on international best practice and rollout began in 2021. As outlined in Standard 6 of the Bairns’ Hoose Standards, any interview of a child victim or witness that is conducted in a Bairns’ Hoose should use SCIM.

SCRA – Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration

SCTS – Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

StART– Standards Self-Assessment and Readiness Tool. A tool developed for Pathfinders to complete and assess their progress against the Bairns’ Hoose Standards. Pathfinders submitted StART1 in February 2024 and StART2 to gather evidence on further progress in August/September 2025.

Trusted person – A professional chosen by a child to support them through their Bairns’ Hoose journey e.g. children may bring a trusted person into their interview.