Children

 

Why have we chosen this as a priority area of focus?

We want to focus on children and their families to enable healthier and happier future generations.

A promise has been made to Scotland’s children and young people. In order to #KeepThePromise by 2030, we must be able to demonstrate that our focus is ‘what matters to children, young people and families’ and that we have made changes within our health and care system to reflect this. We must nurture and protect the relationships that are important to them. We must actively support families to remain together wherever it is safe to do so. Most importantly, we must listen to children, young people and families, respect their views and involve them in every decision that affects them.

Most children and young people get the help and support they need from their families, peers and wider communities but there may be times when extra help is needed. Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) makes sure that the right support is available, delivered by the right person, at the time that it is needed. GIRFEC is built upon children’s rights and ensures that children and young people work together with the people that can support them. At home, in school and in the wider community children should be Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included. These are known as the SHANARRI Wellbeing Indicators and they help us to work together to understand what support is needed.

What do we want to see 10 years from now?

  • Young people enter adulthood with the capabilities and support to maximise mental health and wellbeing.
  • All children facing adverse childhood events (ACEs) in their lives are supported by a joined up multi-agency approach from us and our partners.
  • The inequalities gap between Care Experienced and non-Care Experienced young people is reduced.
  • The outcomes for those children living in areas of deprivation are similar to those living in areas of affluence (beyond clinical outcomes).
  • Families living in poverty are supported to thrive.
  • The voices of young people are embedded in decision-making processes that affect them.

 

How will we know if we have achieved that?

  • All children will be resilient, confident and have self-belief and, on the way to achieve that, we will give them an appropriate level of support with key investment of time.
  • Children are at the very centre of all that we do and plan and implement – evidenced and informed by their voice and participation.
  • Families are supported and able to give their children the best start in life.
  • Families are reunified where possible and parents are supported to be the best parents that they can be.
  • Our services are all child-friendly and understand the impact they have on children and families.
  • We can show improvements in children’s readiness to learn and readiness for school.
  • Our neurodevelopmental pathway for all children involves whole family support, early identification and support, and is formulation based (not reliant on a diagnosis).

 

Links 

Children's Services Plans