Children's hearings and pre-hearing panels - composition changes: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA)

An assessment of the impact on children of introducing flexibility into the requirement for children's hearings to have both male and female panel members.


5. How will the policy/measure give better or further effect to the implementation of the UNCRC in Scotland?

The members of the Children's Panel selected for individual hearings make legal decisions on how to support infants, children, and young people who come to children's hearings. At every children's hearing there are always three volunteer, lay members of the Children's Panel and it is their role to: listen to the child or young person's views, understand their circumstances, and ultimately make legal decisions about how to best protect and care for them.

This measure will ensure that decisions continue to be lawfully made in instances where it is not practicable to select both male and female Children's Panel members. Introducing this flexibility does not negatively impact on the ability of the individual members of the Children's Panel at a children's hearing to make decisions in the best interests of the child.

Contact

Email: childrens.hearings@gov.scot

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