25/11/2009

Consultation update

As you will probably be aware the Draft Bill setting out reform of the Children’s Hearings System had a very mixed review. Consequently the Scottish Government announced a rethink of the Bill before its presentation to Parliament.
A number of working groups have been set up to look at various aspects of the system. These working groups are to report back to the Strategic Project Board. The SACP has representatives on these working groups and our Vice Chair, Angela McGroarty, is the SACP representative on the Strategic Project Board itself, helping to ensure panel members voices continue to be heard in any proposed changes.
Part of the remit from the Scottish Government was to canvas the views of panel members –what they liked/didn’t like about the present system, what they would change and so on. Time was tight and therefore some areas may not have yet responded. However, the comments received so far have been collated and can be found on the “Consultations” section of our website. Please continue to contact us via the website (or speak to your Area representative) with any issues or comments on/about the Hearing system.

On other matters, the SACP was well represented at the National School, our stall did a roaring trade and we again succeeded in making the SACP more widely known. In addition, the National School conference speakers and the workshops were excellent and a full report of the proceedings will appear on our website in due course as well as any other conferences attended.

10/07/2009

Draft Children’s Hearings ( Scotland ) Bill.

By now, copies of the draft bill to possibly quite radically alter the way the Children’s Hearings system operates will have fallen through the letterboxes of every panel member in Scotland . The proposed changes indicate a major shakeup of the system which has been in existence for the best part of forty years. It is vitally important that as many panel members as possible put in a response so that our views can be heard. No-one is denying the need for change but many concerns have already been voiced about aspects of the proposals eg the role of the President and the fact there will now be a number of paid posts but with no new money being put in. The SACP will also be putting in a response on behalf of panel members. If you have any views on any aspects of the proposed changes please contact your local SACP representative or contact the SACP directly through our website.

Look forward to hearing from you!

20/03/2009

New conference reports and proceedings available online.

List of representatives update available soon.

30/11/2008

Invitation to panel members:

SACP Meeting

Millenium Hotel, George Square, Glasgow. 10.00 – 13.30

If your area does not currently have a representative and you are in the Glasgow area this Saturday, you are very welcome to come to our meeting. Among current issues for discussion will be the proposed changes to the Children’s Hearings System. Denise Swanson from the Scottish Government will be present.

Please let us know in advance if you intend being there. If you wish to stay for lunch, orders must be in by Wednesday 3rd December. Contact us via the links on our Home page.

News - 18/10/08

Happy to report that the website is becoming known to more and more panel members and others and we are now beginning to get a steady flow of enquiries on anything and everything to do with the hearings system. Please remember we can be contacted at any time on anything to do with the hearings system via our post box. If you are a new panel member and need someone to talk to then just contact us. The SACP is there for the benefit of panel members everywhere.

We are also happy to report that following an amendment to our Constitution ratified at our last AGM in June our Chair, Ann Lee and Vice Chair, Angela McGroarty were able to stand for re-election for a further period of one year. Both were re-elected - Ann by a resounding majority and Angela unopposed. It was felt that with all the potential upheaval surrounding the CHS at the moment the SACP would benefit from keeping any internal upheaval to a minimum.

On the subject of changes to the system you will be aware of the Consultation document currently “out there”. Hope you all put in a response because it is vital that we have as much input into how the system moves forward as we possibly can. The SACP has submitted a response and this will be posted soon along with new conference reports.

Finally, can I remind you that every panel area in the country has the right to have an SACP representative. If your area does not have one then why don’t you consider it?

News – 03/01/08

First of all Happy New Year to everyone. After a very productive year in 2007 for the SACP we are ready for the challenges of the year ahead. As usual we have a number of reports from conferences of interest to panel members covering topics such as “The Punitive Society”, adoption, substance misuse and well as the SACP response to the Getting It Right for Every Child consultation. This year’s National School was focussed on the subject of Looked After and Accommodated Children and by all accounts was both interesting and thought provoking. A report from the conference will be posted on the website in the very near future. Please remember that if YOU have a conference in mind to attend, the SACP may well be able to pick up your expenses providing you are willing to submit a report to us for posting on our site.

The SACP is there to serve the interests of panel members throughout Scotland . Any issue of concern can be raised either by contacting your area representative or by e-mailing us using the post box feature on our website. This can also be used to post comments (positive or negative) on any topic related to the Children’s Hearing’s system directly or about the SACP in particular.

In December, the SACP was proud to celebrate it’s 30th anniversary with a lunch in the Millenium Hotel, Glasgow . Past and present representatives of the SACP turned out in force as well as some invited guests including Hugh McNaughtan, Glasgow Authority Chair, Gerard McEneany, Chair of the Children’s Panel Chairman’s Group, Boyd McAdam, Head of the GIRFEC team for the Scottish Government and Alison Wright from the Scottish Reporter’s Children’s Administration. It was a jovial and enjoyable lunch!

Finally, please remember that every panel area in Scotland has the right to have a representative attend SACP meetings and thus feedback to their area on any issues of interest or concern to panel members. If your area does not have a representative, why not consider taking on the post yourself? Check in to the website for regular updates.

Photos - 03/01/08

Photos from the Millennium Hotel Glasgow -30th anniversary of the SACP. Please click on the image you wish to enlarge:

"The assembled multitude...."

Past and present reps reminiscing!

L to R: Former SACP Rep Babs Paterson, present Chair, Ann Lee, Boyd
McAdam Head of the GIRFEC team and Alison Wright from SCRA