Children's Hearings Advocacy Expert Reference Group

Overview

The Children’s Hearings Advocacy Expert Reference Group (ERG) was established in 2019 to advise Ministers on arrangements to work with us to establish and develop a sustainable model of advocacy to deliver on section 122 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011. Children’s advocacy is about supporting a child to express their own needs and views, helping them to play their part in child-centred discussions and informed decisions on matters which influence their lives. 

Members

The group is chaired by the Scottish Government Programme Manager and membership of the group draws upon experts with a range of knowledge and extensive experience of delivering independent advocacy services, and specifically in delivering services and improvement for children and young people.  Representatives from organisations include: 

• Advocacy Service Aberdeen
• Advocacy Western Isles
• Angus Independent Advocacy
• Barnardo’s Scotland
• Borders Independent Advocacy Service
• CAPS Independent Advocacy
• Central Advocacy Partners
• Centre for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) 
• Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ)
• Children 1st
• Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS)
• Clan Childlaw
• East Ayrshire Advocacy Service
• Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross
• Law Society of Scotland
• Partners in Advocacy
• Scottish Child Law Centre
• Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA)
• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA)
• Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Social Work Scotland
• Who Cares? Scotland

Read the minutes from meetings of the communications and engagement sub-group, training and continuing professional development sub-group and the legislation and regulations sub-group.

Publications

Children's Hearings Advocacy Expert Reference Group: terms of reference