What are Children’s Panels?
Children’s panels or hearings are meetings that are held to provide support and help to children who may be experiencing difficulties in their lives.
The meeting is organised by the Children’s Reporter who ensures that the meeting follows the established rules and procedures.
Who will be at the hearing?
The hearing allows for “relevant” people to be involved. This will include the child and parent or carer, the reporter, social work representative and anyone who may have a useful contribution to the discussion. There will be three panel members, who will listen to everyone’s contribution and who will deal with the case.
The child and either parent or carer can bring someone reliable who knows the child to the hearing, for example, a relative, teacher or youth worker. A lawyer can represent the child or family. Hearings should be kept to a minimum of participants.
What will happen?
The chairperson will identify everyone in attendance and introduce you to the three panel members. The chairperson will then explain the reasons for the hearing and ask if you accept these. If all or part of the reasons are accepted, the hearing will open a full and frank discussion.
If a child does not understand the grounds for the hearing the case must be returned to the Sheriff Court for a ruling. If a child or their family does not accept some or all of the grounds for referral, the case can also be remitted to the Sheriff Court for a decision.
The hearing may decide that a supervision order is required to provide help, guidance and support for a child. This could require a child to live away from home for a time, whilst further information is gathered to help the panel come to a decision, or it could require a child to be supervised by a social worker. The hearing can also decide that compulsory supervision is not required and the case will be discharged.
Depending on the information available it may be that the hearing is continued to a later date, or that an independent person, or “safeguarder” is appointed to act in a child’s interest.
It is possible to appeal against the decision of a hearing. The reporter or social worker will be able to give you further information on how to make an appeal.
When will it be?
You will be sent forms which provide details of the place and time of the hearing. It will also make clear who must attend.
Further information about children's hearings
Further information on how to apply to become a panel member is available.