The Scottish Government Response To 'A Scotland for Children: A Consultation on a Children and Young People Bill'

A Focus on Wellbeing

The Scottish Government believes it is essential that services take a holistic approach to a child's wellbeing. The consultation proposed making clear this approach by providing a definition of wellbeing that should underpin all Bill provisions.

What You Said

Emerging from the consultation and engagement activity was an overwhelming sense of support for the proposal that the Bill would define wellbeing and that this definition would underpin all relevant Bill provisions. 84% of consultation respondents agreed with the definition of wellbeing as set out through the consultation. The most common reasons for this agreement were that the definition was holistic and captured a wide range of factors, and that the SHANARRI Wellbeing Indicators were already being used by practitioners, were well recognised, provided a common language and understanding and promoted consistency in approach. 90% of respondents agreed that a wider understanding of a child or young person's wellbeing should underpin our proposals, mainly because it avoided a narrow consideration of children's needs by a single service, and it helped services/agencies to realise their impact on children and their responsibilities to them.

The Scottish Government Response

The Bill will include requirements on local authorities to have regard to the general principle of wellbeing when it exercises functions in relation to a child who it looks after or who is in need. Wellbeing will be defined as: safe; healthy; achieving; nurtured; active; respected; responsible; and included. Ministers will issue guidance on how these wellbeing indicators are to be used to measure a child's wellbeing. This provision will ensure services take a holistic view of each child's wellbeing and their needs.