Whole Family Support Through General Practice: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Conclusion

7. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children’s rights?

Positive

8. If you have identified a positive impact on children’s rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights in Scotland.

The service is person centred and led by the families with a focus on the best interests of the children in those families. The service is being provided in GP practices and therefore less stigmatising for those seeking support, helping children to feel safe and supporting their health. The service will be open to all who are registered with participating GP practices. (Article 2 – Non-discrimination, Article 3 - Best interests of the Child, Article 24 – Health and health services)

A new role of the Family Wellbeing worker has been created for this service and work is already underway to make sure that good links with other services and wider Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT) are made. This includes GPs, Community Link Workers and Welfare Advice workers supporting children to be involved in their care and to share their views, as well as supporting their health and development. The HSCP’s model also includes a range of local services which work to empower/involve children and families. (Article 5 – Parental guidance and a child’s evolving capabilities, Article 6 – Life, survival and development, Article 12 – Respect for views of the child, Article 18 – parental responsibilities and Article 23 – Children with a disability).

As staff will be working with children and their families, they will receive appropriate training to support children’s rights in regard to Article 19 - Protection from violence, abuse and neglect. The project will help as it will support parents/caregivers to understand and to meet their own and their children’s health needs.

This multi-disciplinary approach will allow a holistic service for children and their families where they are encouraged to express their views and wishes in relation to their health and healthcare needs which, in turn, by improving their health, will support them to achieve their goals (Article 13 – Freedom of expression and Article 31 – Leisure, play and culture).

The welfare advice service will support families to maximise their income and note any benefits they may be entitled to. This will support children out of poverty and all the benefits, noted above, which come with that (Article 26 – Social security and Article 27 – Adequate standard of living and state assistance.

9. If a negative impact has been identified please describe it below. Is there a risk this could potentially amount to an incompatibility?

N/A

Mitigation Record

What options have been considered to modify the proposal in order to mitigate a negative impact or potential incompatibility?

Please summarise mitigation actions taken below

Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

No negative impact identified = N/A

Action Taken/ To Be Taken

N/A

Date action to be taken or was taken

N/A

10. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators, will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland?

Safe: Yes

Healthy: Yes

Achieving: Yes

Nurtured: Yes

Active: Yes

Respected: Yes

Responsible: Yes

Included: Yes

If yes, please provide an explanation below:

The Whole Family Support through General Practice will support families in a holistic, person-centred way. Supporting children and families to have better health outcomes will contribute to helping them out of poverty and to have more opportunities to be included in society will increase their wellbeing.

As the service will have the family at the heart of the work, children will likely feel respected as they will be listened to and able to communicate what they want to achieve.

With a focus on families living in poverty, helping children tackle the root causes of poverty will allow children to feel Safe, Healthy, support them to Achieve in life, feel Nurtured, Active and Included.

11. How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights?

Evaluation of the project was built into the funding. Glasgow HSCP have awarded the evaluation contract to Glasgow University after a commissioning process. The HSCP will engage with children where appropriate and take in to account their views and any impacts this project may have.

The project will continually be monitored and evaluated throughout the process. The findings will be shared with all partners in the project including children and families who have engaged with the service.

The CRWIA will be published on gov.scot so will be available to those wishing to read it. Additionally, in so far as it possible it has been written in accessible language so those wishing to read it can understand it’s content and the potential impact the project will have.