Reporter to the Children’s Panel

You would help to find the best way to protect and care for vulnerable children so they have safe and happy lives.

The Children’s Hearings System is the care and justice system for Scotland’s children and young people.

The system is designed to help children and young people who need care and protection, who have problems at home, in school, or in the community, or who get in trouble with the police. 

As a Children’s Reporter you would be based in a local community. People who are concerned about the welfare of a child or young person in that community, such as police officers, social workers, teachers and doctors, would refer a child to you for investigation.

You would:

• Review and investigate the referral

• Discuss the circumstances with the person or team who made the referral

• Speak to other people who know the child, like teachers or social workers, and ask them to write reports

• Decide whether the child needs special protection and help

• Assess evidence

• Decide whether to refer to a Children’s Hearing and write statements of grounds

• Appear in court if necessary

If you decide that they do need special help you would refer the child to a Children’s Hearing. The Hearing has three Panel Members, who are trained volunteers from the local community. They will listen to the circumstances and hear the views of the child and their family and then decide on the best option. For example, the Panel may decide that the child should stay at home with support from other agencies such as social work, or should be looked after by foster carers or live in a residential unit or secure accommodation. 

The Children's Reporter and Children’s Hearing want to make sure the child is protected and that they get the help and support to have a positive and happy life as they get older and become an adult.

You would be responsible for ensuring that each Hearing works well, complies with the law, and that the right people and agencies are told about its decision so they can take the right action. You will be required to attend court to establish the case if the family do not accept the circumstances, and also if there are appeals against the decision of the Children’s Hearing.

Most of the cases referred to the Children’s Reporter are child protection cases. You will need sensitivity, flexibility and the ability to work well with a wide variety of professionals and people from different backgrounds.

You would work for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, which along with other agencies, is responsible for running the Children’s Hearings System.

• Recruitment for the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration