Men needed for the local Children’s Panel!
Thursday, September 7 2006
The Children’s Panel in the Scottish Borders is now recruiting new members to make decisions on the futures of children in difficulty. By law, each Children’s Hearing must have both men and women on the Panel. For this year only, the local Panel needs to recruit men as we currently have enough female Panel members.
The Children’s Panel Hearing system is unique. In Scotland, if children commit a minor offence or are in need of care and protection, they are not usually dealt with by the Courts. Instead they come before a Children’s Hearing. The Panel is comprised of three lay people, both men and women, who are charged with making decisions based on the welfare and well-being of the child.
Across Scotland there are around 2500 Panel members. Panels need to be comprised of roughly equal numbers of men and women. Locally we have 48 members, of which only 16 are male, hence the need to focus on applications from men only this year.
No special qualifications are needed. Panel members are carefully prepared for the work through initial training and undertake further in-service training during their membership. They need to be able to talk, without talking down; listen and really hear; read between the lines and really understand.
Graeme Coulthard has been a Panel member for four years. He explained, “For me, one of the most important factors in being a panel member has been the high level of commitment that is required – attending training sessions, which are ongoing, preparing and attending Hearings. Although being a panel member can be a challenging experience, it has provided me with the opportunity to contribute to the wellbeing of children ‘at risk’. It is important that the decision that you reach is in the best interests of the child. Whilst this can appear a daunting task, by working as part of a team in conjunction with professionals, a satisfactory outcome can be reached. Adults of all ages, with a variety of life experiences, can contribute in different ways as effective Panel members.”
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Panel member, come along to one of our open evenings. The sessions begin at 7pm in the following locations:
- Tuesday 12 September, Abbey Row Community Centre, Kelso.
- Thursday 21 September, Ettrick Riverside, Selkirk.
If you can’t attend one of the sessions, or are interested in receiving an application pack, contact Fiona Henderson, Assistant Clerk to the Panel, at Council HQ on 01835 826502 or online.
You can find out more about the Children’s Hearing system and the national Children’s Panel Recruitment Campaign on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.infoscotland.com/childrenshearings
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