Raising the age of referral to the Children’s Reporter – CELCIS Consultation Response
Year: 2020
Topic: Child sexual exploitation (CSE), Child trafficking, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Emotional abuse, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Neglect, Parental alcohol and/or drug use, Parental mental health, Physical abuse, Secure care, Sexual abuse, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people
Author: Paul Sullivan, Kate MacKinnon, Rosie Moore, Elaine Adams
Topic: Child sexual exploitation (CSE), Child trafficking, Children's hearings system, Corporate parenting, Emotional abuse, Foster care, Health and Wellbeing, Kinship care, Legislation, Local authority, Looked after at home, Neglect, Parental alcohol and/or drug use, Parental mental health, Physical abuse, Secure care, Sexual abuse, Throughcare and aftercare, Voices of young people
Author: Paul Sullivan, Kate MacKinnon, Rosie Moore, Elaine Adams
CELCIS welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation ‘Raising the Age of Referral to The Principal Reporter’.
Currently, a child turning 16 who is not already subject to a compulsory supervision order (CSO) or an open referral to the Reporter cannot be referred to the Children’s Hearings System. This means that some 16 and 17 year olds not previously known to statutory agencies may require compulsory levels of care and protection, but are not eligible to be referred to the Reporter. Given this, raising the age of referral is a necessary step to protect the rights of all children in Scotland.