The Children's Hearings System is unique to Scotland and was set up to help and support children and young people who face serious problems in their lives. These problems can include, for example, a child or young person committing an offence, the child or young person's parents having difficulty looking after them, or a child or young person failing to attend school.

The Children's Reporter is the person who receives information and decides whether a Children's Hearing is needed. Anyone can give information to the Reporter if they believe that a child or young person may need help or protection. The Reporter will get additional information from agencies that know the child, such as social work, school and the police and then decide if having a Children's Hearing is the best way to help the child or young person..

The legal reasons for which a child or young person can be referred to a Children's Hearing are known as the 'Grounds for Referral'. The Grounds for Referral include:

The child/young person

• is beyond the control of their parent or carer
• is falling into bad associations or is exposed to moral danger
• is likely to suffer unnecessarily or seriously be impaired in their health or development due to lack of parental care
• is a child/young person against whom a Schedule 1 offence has been committed
• is or is likely to become a member of the same household as  a child/young person against whom a Schedule 1 offence has been committed
• is or is likely to become a member of the same household as a  person who has committed a Schedule 1 offence
• is or is likely to become a member of the same household as a person who has committed the offence of incest or sexual intercourse with a child/young person by a step-parent or person in a position of trust
• has failed to attend school without reasonable excuse
• has committed an offence
• has misused alcohol or any drug or solvents

A Children's Hearing is a legal tribunal arranged to consider and make decisions about children and young people who are having problems in their lives and who may need legal intervention to help them. Children's Hearings are held in private and only those people who have a legal right to be there or are allowed to be there by the chairperson of the hearing will be present.

A Children's Hearing is made up of three panel members  who make decisions as to the best action to take in the interests of the child or young person.

The welfare of the child or young person is the paramount consideration in any decisions that are made. The child or young person is always given the chance to participate and to have their views heard or represented.

To contact the Reporter click here (hyperlink to contacts page)