Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019: child interview rights practitioners application guidance
Expressions of interest are being invited for children’s solicitors to support children in investigative interviews by the police when instances involving serious harmful behaviours and circumstances have happened.
Application assessment
How we will consider applications for registration
The applications will need to meet the stipulated criteria. Whether you are interested in working in one local authority, more than one, or in every Scottish local authority area, your application will be considered in the same way.
Once it is established that an applicant meets the eligibility requirements, an evaluation panel will then score applications using evidence provided against the 6 competences.
Scores will be based on evidence submitted in the application template for expressions of interest and will be awarded a mark for each of the criteria between 0 and 4, in accordance with the methodology detailed in the table below:
| Score | Definition | Description |
| 0 | Unacceptable | Nil or inadequate response. Fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement |
| 1 | Poor | Response is partially relevant but generally poor. The response addresses some elements of the requirement but contains insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be fulfilled |
| 2 | Acceptable | Response is relevant and acceptable. The response addresses a broad understanding of the requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas |
| 3 | Good | Response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provides details on how the requirement will be fulfilled. |
| 4 | Excellent | Response is completely relevant and excellent overall. The response is comprehensive, unambiguous and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the requirement and provides details of how the requirement will be met in full |
Once each evaluator has arrived at their own independent scores, a moderation meeting will be held to ensure consistency of approach with regard to quality analysis.
We expect to be able to let everyone who has applied know the evaluation panel’s decisions at the beginning of August. We will contact every individual to let them know whether, and to what extent, they have been successful.
Tailored feedback on your application will be available if requested. Individuals successful through the expressions of interest will be added to the ChIRPs Register for an initial period of three years. An annual review will be carried out to ensure the individual still meets the requirement for inclusion on the Register and wishes to remain on it.
Reserve list
In the event that the number of applications surpass the initial estimated demand for 2021-22, and for the purpose of backfilling any potential gaps over the period, we intend to also retain a reserve list of successful applications made. This list will be proportionate to the coverage and demand anticipated.
Individuals will be asked within the application to indicate their agreement to be included in the reserve list for the Register should they meet the criteria but are not selected for the initial round of registration.
A conditional offer will be sent to successful applicants in August 2021. Formal appointment letters will be issued during the first 2 weeks October 2021 following successful conclusion of the training requirements.
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