By Boyd McAdam, National Convener, Children’s Hearings Scotland

FOR many of us life is not perfect. We have our ups and downs and challenges but generally we are doing alright.

For thousands of children and young people across Scotland that is not the case. Hunger, fear of abuse or having to cope with family issues such a substance misuse or domestic violence are a daily occurrence. Many of these children cannot rely on their parents or carers to support, encourage and nurture them.

Social work, third sector organisations, wider family and the community seek to provide support to help improve these children and young people’s lives. But, sometimes, additional action is required to keep them safe and protected. The aim is for this to happen, where possible, within the family setting and this is supported by decisions taken at the children’s hearing. Occasionally, it may involve placement away from home on a temporary basis, such as fostering or with longer-term planning for a different future through permanence or adoption.

More than 14,000 children and young people attended children’s hearings in the last year to have decisions taken about their future. In Scotland, since 1971, these tough and often very complex decisions have been taken by panel members.

In just one year, panel members contribute 360,000 hours to the Children’s Hearings system. You may be surprised to learn that panel members are not paid; they are volunteers and members drawn from local communities.

They play an important part in ensuring that Scotland’s most vulnerable children and young people feel safe and supported. We train our new and existing panel members to ensure that they continue to make the best possible decisions for children and young people. Our panel practice advisors quality assure practice and offer feedback to panel members.

We also look to provide support for our volunteer community which we deliver nationally and through our 400 volunteer area support team members.

Every year, we run a recruitment campaign which aims to attract new panel members. Through the area support teams we arrange information evenings and interviews to help potential applicants understand what is involved. This year’s campaign features the strapline Be A Force For Good to convey the important role panel members have within their local community both in terms of supporting children and young people and being a force for social good. It uses a halo effect and some strongly-worded scenarios which we know will divide opinion. However, our aim is to draw people in, stimulate a sense of urgency and make people act.

We need people from all walks of life who have the ability to take complex and often life-changing decisions. Children and young people are telling us that they want to see more young panel members at their hearings and we need a diverse range of backgrounds, ages, genders and ethnicities, drawn from local communities. These people can bring a varied set of life skills and experiences to the Children’s Panel, enhancing what we already have.

Being a volunteer panel member does require commitment, time and resilience. It means making decisions that affect the course of a child or young person’s life in a way that protects the rights of children and young people. It’s putting the child or young person at the centre of their hearing. Listening to their views and valuing their opinion, assessing professional advice and explaining decisions with the aim of transforming young people’s lives.

The role of a panel member can be challenging. But it’s important and we are told by our community of volunteers that it’s incredibly rewarding.