Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill: summary - easy read

Children's Hearing System

The children's hearings system is the care and justice system for children. Some children do not have all their needs met. They can face risks in their lives. This may have been going on a long time. It can be complicated.

Concerns about a child can be reported to the Children's Reporter. This is a professional who makes the decision about if a child needs to go to a children's hearing or not. The children's hearing is made up of 3 people. They are called the panel members. Panel members make decisions to support children.

If a child goes to a hearing, it will be decided if a compulsory supervision order is needed. This is a legal document which allows people, like a social worker, to help the child. This order can say a child has to do or not do certain things. This may be where they should live, who they can see, and where they can go.

The Bill will mean that

• All children under 18 can have a children's hearing. This includes children at risk of abuse or harm due to the behaviour of other people and all children who are charged by the police.
• If a hearing makes an order this could ban the child from going to certain places or communicating with certain people.
• The order could include an electronic tag on the child if:

Their welfare is at risk, or they are likely to cause physical or psychological harm to another person.

• If an order is ending, the children's hearing can ask the local authority to give the child help until they are 19.
• People who have been harmed will be told by the Children's Reporter of their right to request information about what is happening.