Named person announcement in Scottish Parliament – CELCIS responds
This week in Parilament (Tuesday 7 March) the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, made a statement regarding the Named Person Service and the legal challenges involved in information sharing.
The scheme will appoint a named person – usually a teacher or health visitor – to ensure the wellbeing of every child. The scheme is part of GIRFEC (Getting it right for every child) – Scotland's national approach to improving outcomes and the wellbeing of our children and young people. In this framework, children's services work together to offer the right help, at the right time, from the right people.
Speaking in Parliament, the Deputy First Minister made it clear that information sharing must also remain compatible with the laws on data protection, human rights and confidentiality.
Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director at CELCIS, comments: "We commend this initiative which puts the needs and rights of children at its centre. Today's announcement supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and is an important next step towards a collective goal of making sure young people and families have access to the right kinds of services, at the right time.
"It is only in working together in Scotland that we can support children and young people well, particularly those who have experienced adversity. This collective commitment requires sensitive, considered, and careful communication between professionals about children's wellbeing.
"Our experience of working with local services throughout Scotland is that children and families are not consistently getting the services they need. We are hopeful that the named person service will prevent people's circumstances to not reach crisis point, before they can access services for help. The right services at the right time is an essential ingredient in ensuring children and young people grow up to reach their full potential."
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Notes to Editors
Media enquiries:
Mike Findlay, CELCIS Communications Manager
T: 0141 444 8512
E: mike.findlay@strath.ac.uk
CELCIS, based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, is committed to making positive and lasting improvements in the wellbeing of Scotland's children living in and on the edges of care. Taking a multi-agency, collaborative approach towards making lasting change, CELCIS works alongside leaders, managers and practitioners to break down barriers and forge new paths in order to change thinking and ways of working with everyone whose work touches the lives of vulnerable children and families.