Children's hearings face reform

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Plans to "modernise and reinforce" the children's hearing system have been announced by the Scottish Government.

A new body, the Scottish Children's Hearings Tribunal, will oversee Scotland's 32 children's panels.

It will carry out administration, recruitment and training, currently provided by local authorities.

Children's Minister Adam Ingram said the changes should lead to more consistent standards and better support for vulnerable young people.

Mr Ingram said the system aimed to offer help to young people going through difficult times at the earliest opportunity.

Young people referred to a panel deserve to be heard by those trained and supported to the very highest standard Adam Ingram Children's Minister

"I'm clear that Scotland's children's hearing system in which local volunteers make decisions to improve the lives of local young people remains the best way of offering support," he said.

"But children and families today are facing significantly different challenges and circumstances from when it was created."

The planned changes, to be contained in a bill published in the autumn, follow a national consultation on the system.

The minister added: "We have listened to views in the consultation and responded positively and constructively to meet the issues raised.

"We are bringing forward plans to modernise and reinforce the system to ensure more consistent decision-making across Scotland and to improve support for professionals and volunteers who deliver it.

"Young people referred to a panel deserve to be heard by those trained and supported to the very highest standard."

Children can be referred to the hearing system because they have been the victims of abuse or neglect, or because they have been accused of a crime.

The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration will continue to make decisions on whether children should be referred to the hearings.