Children's services planning: guidance

Appendix D: Definition of Terms Used

For the purposes of Part 3, the term “child” or “children” refers to persons who have not yet attained the age of 18 years.^[39]

The terms “young people” and “young person”^[40] are not used in Part 3, but in the context of this guidance they are used to refer to older children (e.g. 12 – 17 years old) 

The term “children’s service” means any service in the local authority area provided wholly or mainly to, or for the benefit of, children by (a) the local authority, (b) the relevant health board, (c) any “other service provider”, and (d) Scottish Ministers (in exercising their functions under the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989). 

A “children’s service” is one which is available to all children (up to their 18^th birthday), or available to children and young people with needs of a particular type (such as looked after children or children with a disability). Examples of children’s services might include schools, providers, health visitors, youth groups, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and community wellbeing services for children with additional support needs and/or complex health needs, services to support children through domestic abuse and other adverse childhood experiences, children and families social work, community paediatrics, services for young carers, youth justice services and adoption/permanence services.

The term “related service” means any service in a local authority area provided by (a) the local authority, (b) the relevant health board, (c) an “other service provider”, and (d) Scottish Ministers (in exercising their functions under the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989), which, although it does not fall into the definition of a “children’s service”, is still capable of having a significant effect on the wellbeing of children and young people. Examples of related services might include leisure services, housing, drug and alcohol services, etc. (Further guidance on how to identify “children’s services” and “related services” can be found under the chapter “Requirement to prepare Children’s Services Plans”.)

For the purposes of children’s services planning, the term “relevant health board” means – if the area of the local authority is the same as that of a health board, that health board; or if not, the health board in whose geographical area a local authority is situated. 

The term “other service provider” means: 

the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland;

the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service;

the Principal Reporter;

the National Convener of Children's Hearings Scotland;

the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service; and

an integration joint board established by order under section 9 of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.^[41]