Children's Hearings Redesign Board minutes: November 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Tom McNamara, SG (acting Co-Chair) (TM)    
• John Urquhart, COSLA (JU)
• Nicola Dickie, COSLA (Co-Chair) (ND)  
• Lindsey Bryne, SW (LB)    
• Ben Farrugia, SWS (BF)   
• Neil Hunter, SCRA (NH)   
• Elliot Jackson, CHS (EJ)   
• Vivien Thomson, SWS (VT)
• Mel Parkinson, SG (MP)
• Susan Downes, SG (SD)
• Craig Milne, SG (CM) Observer

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

TM welcomed attendees and thanked Neil and SCRA for hosting the meeting that day. TM introduced Nicola Dickie from COSLA as the Board’s new co-chair and Vivien Thomson from SWS, who would provide an update on the Culture Workstream and the wider planning group.

The Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held in September and agreed to their publication on the Children’s Hearings Redesign Board webpage.

Action – Secretariat to publish minutes from the previous meeting on the Children’s Hearings Redesign Board webpage.

Culture Workstream

VT provided some context to the Culture Workstream being established. VT highlighted one of the biggest issues raised by Local Authority Social Workers in responding to the Hearings for Children Report was around the culture in the Children’s hearings system, with it being largely negative. Culture emerged as a significant concern not only from the social workers’ perspective but across all participants in the hearings process including children and their families.

The Culture Workstream has met three times and includes representatives from SWS, CHS, SCRA, SG and CELCIS. The group membership has been kept tight to ensure progress at pace and promote close working / depth of thought. The group have drafted a set of principles which will be presented to the Planning Group, and then the Culture Workstream will reach out to a network of stakeholders for further discussion and consideration. Once these principles are agreed, the group will then consider how to apply them in practice, engaging with key groups and stakeholders, including OHOV and CHIP. This will help to determine what training packages could look like and what the ongoing oversight and monitoring could be.

Key points raised by the Board

• The Board raised needing to support positive, respectful and collaborative conduct and approach of all those involved in hearings.
• The Board emphasised the importance of chairs’ maintaining focus and keeping hearings aligned with the hearing system’s purpose.
• Core organisations were identified as key components, including the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
• ND noted that COSLA are doing work on “Civility in Public Life” and would share information with VT.
• BF stressed that progress was not possible without additional investment, both financial and political.
• LB supported cultural change and emphasised storytelling to convey its necessity. LB also highlighted the long-term impact of behaviour on outcomes for children.
• The Board recognised that culture change must involve all participants, not just social workers.
• BF called for intentional and purposeful action and raised questions about monitoring and accountability.
• NH confirmed the approach was correct and stressed clarity on anticipated outcomes and universal sign-up.
• EJ raised the need to avoid restricting scope and urged securing funding from organisations.

Update on work of the Planning group and Workstreams

VT and SD provided an update on the planning group and each of the workstreams.  Key points for each workstream are noted below.

The Planning and Implementation Group last met on 2 October for a workshop session. The day considered potential risks to the redesign programme and began developing a framework for evaluation of workstream activity.

Work is continuing on scoping out the four future workstreams: Language, Communication and Grounds; Babies and Infants in the hearings system; Processes During the Hearing; and After the Hearing. Workstream groups will be established, and first meetings will be held in early 2026 for the Language and Communication workstream.

Culture Workstream

The status of this workstream is GREEN, the group last met on 19 November 2025. The group is working well and have developed an initial set of children’s hearings system principles which are aimed at the whole system.  The draft principles will be discussed at the next Planning and Implementation Group before being further developed and testing with stakeholders. 

Planning and Preparing for Hearings Workstream

The status of this workstream is AMBER, the group met on 18 September for the fifth time. The October meeting was cancelled due to capacity to carry out work in between meetings but remains on track to deliver initial products for testing early summer 2026.  The group is working well together and making good progress, considering what preparation looks like for each of the participants in the hearing. 

 

The next steps will be to consider how can we tie preparation to culture in the hearings system; gather all our data on time, people, information, practice and environment, consider how to redesign guidance, resources and training which will be built upon this understanding. 

Data and Information Workstream

The status of this workstream is AMBER, the group met on 3 November for the second time. The group have requested for additional consideration to be given to the scoping and membership of this workstream.  At the moment the people sitting on the group are around a 50:50 split between ‘data people’ and ‘policy people’, those with a data or statistical background while happy to be involved require additional direction on the purpose and what is to be achieved.  The workstream lead has had discussions with some Board members but further clarity may be required from the Redesign Board as a whole.   

Referrals Workstream

The status of this workstream is GREEN, the group last met on 6 November 2025. Discussion at the last meeting focussed on ensuring the fullness of the multi-agency collaborative approach would be achieved and hearing about work commenced impacting referrals. The learning leads are expecting to launch on the new learning hub hosted by SCRA in Autumn.   Enhanced Partnership Model – SP’s undertaking training activity and meetings supporting referral activity, also supporting work with Police Hubs in J Division.  As part of a joint project SCRA & Police Scotland 3 reporters are being appointed to go to police hub in Kilmarnock, Dumbarton & Hamilton to support establishment of a Children’s Hearing Champion model and to support wider learning and referral practices within those hubs for approx. 6 months.

Next steps: Further consideration of how the joint project activity best encompasses the fullness of the multi-agency partnerships at the local and national levels. The next meeting is scheduled for 2 December. 

Future Workstreams

Work is continuing on scoping out the 4 future workstreams Language, Communication and Grounds, Babies and Infants in the hearings system, Processes During the Hearing and After the Hearing.  Workstream groups will be established and first meetings will be held in early 2026 for the Language, Communication.

Key points raised by Board members:

Babies and Infants

• Initial scoping to be carried out within SG before engaging stakeholders.
• NH highlighted an event in December (NSPCC) relevant to this workstream.
• SD suggested bringing stakeholders into the redesign space to outline workstream development.
• BF noted Stage 2 amendments and the importance of considering NSPCC expectations.

Communication, Language and Grounds

• Discussions have already taken place with academics on treatment and control.

Data and Information Workstream

• It was agreed that there was a need for refreshed PID and scoping paper to clarify purpose and approach.
• BF raised the importance of involving reporters, social workers, children and families to enable system effectiveness.

• ND outlined that COSLA are looking to get a representative from the Local Government Digital Office.
• EJ outlined the feedback loop linked to 2011 Act, assess impact of implementation and whether changes are needed.
• NH commented that advice on existing data is needed and structured data transfer involving LA, PS, SCRA systems development and feedback loops.
• BF commented that the narrative information and technology integration opportunities with AI (e.g., “magic notes”) for social work focus.

Action – SD to send ND the PIDs of the current workstreams.

Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

TM invited Board members to share any immediate comments on the Bill during the meeting.

BF raised a question regarding the single panel member hearing issue and asked for some clarity.

TM confirmed that letters sent by EJ and by the Scottish Government to the Committee explained these areas in detail and agreed that the link to this correspondence would be shared.

Action – Secretariat to issue the link to the correspondence on the committee website to Board members. COMPLETE.

Stakeholder engagement

MP provided an overview of the stakeholder engagement plan and invited Board members to share their views.

Board members agreed that the approach outlined was appropriate. However, they noted that committing to three workshops early next year may be challenging. It was agreed that holding one workshop initially would be a pragmatic way forward. Members expressed willingness to participate in a panel and to contribute to the planning process.

The Board highlighted the importance of having a clear ask of stakeholders and a shared understanding of what success will look like following engagement. Further consideration is required regarding the topics and questions for stakeholder engagement, as well as the timing of activities. The dates proposed in the engagement plan may be difficult to accommodate, however TM suggested scheduling the workshop in March, this was well received.

Board members also agreed that all 32 Local Authorities should be represented and included on the stakeholder list.

Action - Secretariat to circulate the engagement plan to Board members for review.

Action – Secretariat to explore the feasibility of scheduling the workshop in March and assess any implications related to the pre-election period.

Draft Vision Statement

MP provided an update on the vision to Board members and asked for agreement on the vision. Board members noted that further consideration is required and it was agreed that there is a need to clearly articulate the differences we aim to make and reflect this in the vision statement. It was also noted that correct logos and image resolutions will need to be sourced.

It was agreed that MP will issue to Board members again via email for further reflections from Board members.

It was agreed that MP will speak with EJ and NH regarding animations and related visual content.

Action - Secretariat to issue the Vision to Board members for further reflections.

Action - Secretariat to speak to EJ and NH to discuss visual content to go along with the vision.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting is the 22 of January in St Andrews House.

AOB

TM raised an item regarding The Promise and their 24–30 route map. The Promise intends to finalise its plan before Christmas, with drafting currently underway. A useful discussion point is scheduled for next week, and they have asked for comments from the Redesign Board by correspondence.

• BF asked whether it would be helpful for other stakeholders to have direct involvement in the work of the Board. Members were invited to share their views.
• TM provided context on how the Board was established with its current membership, noting that it needs to remain distinct from the broader CHIP group.
• NH emphasised the importance of clarity around why members are in the room and their role, highlighting that this is ultimately a matter of judgment and trust in the Board’s ability to progress its work.
• The Board agreed that there is no need to make a decision immediately, but the option of extending an invitation to other stakeholders in the future should remain open.
• LB stressed the importance of understanding the purpose and rationale for engagement and ensuring it is meaningful.

No further items were raised. TM thanked Board members for their contributions and closed the meeting.

Scottish Government

December 2025