GIRFEC Implementation of Named Person in West Lothian West Lothian Parent Council Representatives’ Forum March 2016

Background UN Convention on the rights of the child For Scotland’s children 2000 Curriculum for Excellence 2004 Children’s Charter 2004 Better Health, Better Care 2007 Early Years Framework 2008 Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

What is GIRFEC? Getting It Right For Every Child - National approach to improving outcomes for all children - child at the centre of thinking, planning and action Recognition of individual situations Working consistently / supportively with all of Scotland’s young people and families - best outcomes

Acting quickly if need help – crisis intervention to early intervention Partnership working Taking care of our children’s wellbeing helps us ensure the most positive outcomes for them later in life

In West Lothian we have a well established system called Continuum of Support

Wellbeing The wellbeing of children and young people is at the heart of Getting It Right For Every Child. The approach uses eight areas of wellbeing identified as being paramount to progress of children and young people These eight areas are set in the context of the ‘four capacities’, which are at the heart of the Curriculum for Excellence Curriculum for Excellence

The four capacities aim to enable every child and young person to be a: successful learner confident individual responsible citizen effective contributor

The Wellbeing Indicators These are considered to be the basic requirements for all young people to grow and develop and reach their full potential.

Safe Healthy Active Nurtured Achieving Respected Responsible Included

Sir Harry Burns “Supporting parents, and providing services which increase stability in their lives, means children are more likely to perform better at school, become more resilient in their response to challenge, and develop into healthy adults” Sir Harry Burns, formerly Scotland's Chief Medical Officer

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 August 2016 Named Person / Lead Professional Wellbeing Concern Child’s Plan Working with other agencies – Education outreach support, SW, Police and Health

The Named Person Knows the child - professional capacity Contact for children / families Contact for others who have concerns Coordinator of support Person with an overview of a child’s wellbeing

Who will be a Named Person? Birth until 5 / school entry – Health Visitor Primary school – Head Teacher Secondary school – House Head as delegated by HT School leavers to age 18 – Local Authority will make NP service provision and data kept by Skills Development Scotland will be accessed Anomaly groups – NP service provision

The five practitioner questions 1.What is getting in the way of this young person’s wellbeing? 2.Do I have all the information I need to help this young person? 3.What can I do now to help this young person? 4.What can education do to help this young person? 5.What additional help, if any, may be needed from others?

Could a Named Person have made a difference? “The essence of GIRFEC, is that an integrated approach should be taken towards the wellbeing of children. It includes a proposal that every child should have a “named person”, to act as a conduit for any concerns about the child’s wellbeing and to address them, either by helping parents access additional support or, if the child is deemed to be at risk, by getting other agencies or social services involved. Every time another child dies at the hands of their carers, the cry goes up: “Never again”. Imagine if that promise – made and broken so many times – could one day be delivered on.”

Parental Views Are parents aware? Do we need to publicise positives aspects of Named Person implementation? How else can we make parents aware? Press Parent Councils Reassurance – this happens already

Resources for Parents / Pupils “Wellbeing for Young Scots” website Scottish Government website National Parent Forum of Scotland – response to draft Guidance Your school!