Bairns' Hoose - Scottish Barnahus: vision, principles and approach

Access to Bairns’ Hoose services

The National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 (updated 2023) describes the responsibilities and expectations for all involved in protecting children in Scotland. The guidance defines a child as someone under the age of 18 years.

The primary decision-making forum which, along with discussion with the child and their family, will identify the need for a child/young person to access support from a Bairns’ Hoose is the Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD). When convening an IRD is not appropriate, a referral to a Bairns’ Hoose can be made through another relevant multi-agency decision-making forum.

Any child under the age of 18 may be considered based on their specific individual needs.

Child Protection Inter-Agency Referral Discussion

Where information is received by police, health or social work that a child may have been abused or neglected and/or is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, an Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD) must be convened without undue delay. As an established mechanism enabling a multi-agency approach to children, an ACR IRD may also be convened in relation to a child under the age of criminal responsibility whose behaviour may have caused, or risked causing, serious harm or abuse.

Whilst there is no statutory or uniform criteria defining significant harm, the revised  National guidance for child protection in Scotland 2021 (updated 2023) states that “Significant harm refers to serious interruption, change or damage to a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual or behavioural health and development.”

Age of Criminal Responsibility (ACR) IRD

Another route for children to access Bairns’ Hoose support, is through the “ACR IRD” process. The ACR IRD will decide whether an ACR investigative interview is to be arranged. An ACR investigative interview may take place if a child is under 12 years old and may have caused, serious physical harm or sexual harm to another person.

The purpose of this interview is to gain a better understanding of the circumstances around this behaviour and, where appropriate, ensure that positive interventions can be made to minimise the risk of further harmful behaviour.

Having considered the full circumstances including any risk to others, the ACR IRD will decide whether the ACR investigative interview may take place in a Bairns’ Hoose and whether the child can receive other support from the Bairns’ Hoose such as access to therapeutic recovery services. The interviews should be conducted by specially trained police officers and social workers. Where the child may themselves have been the victim or witness of abuse or violence, they may also participate in a child protection joint investigative interview.

Where an ACR interview is not required, a child may still access a Bairns’ Hoose on a needs basis as part of the Child’s Plan, based on professional judgement and local context which is agreed during the IRD process.

Inclusive access

Children over the age of criminal responsibility who may have caused harm should not be precluded from being able to access the specialist support that the Bairns’ Hoose model might offer, where their needs and individual circumstances suggest this is appropriate and where it has been determined by an IRD, or another relevant multi-agency decision-making forum. This is in clear recognition that these children are equally likely to have been harmed by others and may need the range of interventions and the approach offered by Bairns’ Hoose. Very strong evidence from longitudinal studies in Scotland clearly recognise that children who have caused harm have almost certainly been subject to harm themselves and care is always taken to ensuring this is recognised in our work in this area. IRD's are best placed to assess and determine the circumstances, needs and pathways for these children.

The rights, safety and best interests of all children involved are central to multi-agency decision-making and coordination, in relation to any Bairns’ Hoose services. Our phased approach to Bairns’ Hoose testing and implementation gives us the opportunity to consider the learning from partnerships on how the principles of Bairns’ Hoose can meet the needs of any child who may be referred to Bairns’ Hoose services based on their individual needs.

In exceptional circumstances, it may be appropriate to allow access to a Bairns’ Hoose for a person who is over 18 and vulnerable due to their complex needs. These decisions will be made locally through relevant multi-agency decision-making forums, based on an assessment of the needs of the vulnerable person.