Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC): practice guidance 2 – role of the named person

5. Who should be the named person?

The named person is primarily provided by health and education services and is usually someone who is known to the child, young person and family and who is well placed to develop a supportive relationship with them. At times the named person may be involved in multi-agency working to support a child or young person's wellbeing.

Information should be provided that makes it clear to the child, young person and family who their named person is and how they can contact them in the event they need any support or guidance. It is the responsibility of the named person to make contact with the child, young person and their family to offer the support and assistance necessary to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

There is no obligation on children, young people and families to accept the offer of advice or support from a named person. A decision by a child, young person or their family not to accept advice, help or additional support offered is not, in itself, cause for concern. This decision should not affect the provision of services children, young people and their families are entitled to, for example, health visiting. In most cases, the person identified as the named person will be involved with the child, young person or family as another part of their role.

From birth to beginning primary education, the named person for all children is usually their Health Visitor or Family Nurse. Health Visitors responsibilities include the named person role and function. NHS health boards, in conjunction with their Children's Services Planning Partnership, should have clear ways of informing parents (see glossary), carers and families about their child's named person and the support available to them.

During primary schooling, the named person role is usually fulfilled by a principal teacher, depute or head teacher (or other promoted teacher), depending on the size of the school. The local authority, in conjunction with their Children's Services Planning Partnership, should have clear ways of informing children, young people and families of the transition from their Health Visitor to their new named person, across their child's primary education, regardless of whether they have engaged with the named person previously.

When attending secondary school, the named person role is usually fulfilled, as in the primary school, by a principal teacher, depute or head teacher (or other promoted teacher). During the child's transition to secondary school, the local authority continues to have a role in ensuring children, young people and families are aware of their new named person who should be the consistent point of contact throughout their young person's secondary education, regardless of whether they have previously engaged with the named person.

Some families may have access to more than one named person, e.g. health visitor, primary school and secondary school, due to the ages of their children. These named persons should work closely to assess, plan and deliver support to meet the needs of the child, young person and family, if support is required.

Should a child, young person or family require support from a named person outwith school term-time, contact should be made with their local authority. Local authorities should make contact details available for sources of support outwith term time.

Young people transitioning from school education before the age of 18 should continue to be offered a named person. The local authority for the school the young person was attending is responsible for identifying the new named person as a specific point of contact for the young person. This could be a promoted teacher with whom the young person already has a relationship, or another adult within the local authority. The named person should make contact with the young person to offer support where this is required.

If a young person leaves school before the age of 18; their family should also be informed who the named person is and how they can contact them in the event they need any support or guidance.

For children and young people of school age, but not on a school roll, for example those who are home-educated (e.g. some children and young people from Gypsy/Traveller families), the local authority should identify a suitable named person, such as a local authority officer and inform the child or young person and family of the service and support available.

For children and young people who attend independent or grant-aided schools, the named person provision should follow the same principle as for primary and secondary education noted above. The named person should be someone in a promoted post. The Scottish Council for Independent Schools provide more detailed guidance for their members.

For children and young people in secure accommodation and some residential special schools, the Head of the Unit or manager of the residential school should be the named person. Where the Scottish Prison Service is the service provider, a young person's named person should be the Unit Manager who has responsibility for the care and support of the young person in legal custody. If a child or young person leaves secure accommodation, named person provision should then be provided by their education provider.

Access to support from a named person should remain in place until a young person reaches the age of 18 (or older if still at school). For those young people who are provided with an Aftercare service under section 29 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or a Continuing Care service under section 26A of that Act, access to support will continue under local arrangements for these services.

It is important to highlight that during pregnancy, while midwives do not have a named person role, they do embed GIRFEC and its values and principles into practice when supporting expecting parents and giving their unborn child the best start in life.

Where there is a family nurse supporting a young mother they should take on the role of the named person until the child is two years old, at which point the role should be assumed by the Health Visitor.