PINS Theme: GIRFEC
Getting it right for every child is often referred to as GIRFEC
At the heart of GIRFEC is the commitment to ensuring that every child and young person is safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included. The commitment underpinning GIRFEC is that no matter where they live or whatever their needs every child and young person can rely on there being a network of support around them to ensure they get the right help at the right time.
GIRFEC will impact significantly on how voluntary and statutory service providers provide services.
NEW - Children’s hearings system event for children and young people
The Scottish Government wants to hear what children and young people – who have been through the hearings system – think about current reforms. Events on Dundee 14th March/Aviemore 21st March/Glasgow 28th March. More HERE
GIRFEC video introduction
A 3 minute intro to GIFEC from the Scottish Government is now on YouTube HERE
Improving advocacy for children and young people: principles and minimum standards
A national discussion paper proposes a set of principles and minimum standards to be applied whenever advocacy support is being given to a child or young person. Read more HERE
I want to be treated the same as my brothers
Views about Quality of Life from children and young people who are disabled or have long-term conditions. More HERE
Child Protection resources reviewed
The Scottish Government have conducted a review of both the MARS (a national resource for professionals working in the field of child protection) and the SCCPN (developing and disseminating research knowledge and evidence) with a view to informing development and sustainability. Both resources are currently based at the University of Stirling and there are plans to merge the two into one central resource. More HERE
Alternatives to Secure Care and Custody: Guidance for Local Authorities, Community Planning Partnerships and Service Providers
Scotland is internationally renowned for its welfare based response to children and young people who offend, but stands alone as the only western European country to routinely deal with 16 and 17 year olds in the adult criminal justice system and imprison this age group at a higher rate than elsewhere in Europe. This guidance is intended to provide an overview of ‘good practice’ in relation to alternatives to secure care and custody. Download the PDF HERE
Child Poverty Strategy in Scotland
Children and young people growing up in poverty are more vulnerable than their peers to a wide range of negative outcomes. This represents a huge injustice and waste of human potential. The vision presented is for a Scotland where no children are disadvantaged by poverty. More HERE
News from the Scottish Government’s Getting it Right team.
You can now connect with the Scottish Government team and other practitioners and managers across Scotland through a new ‘Getting it right for every child and young person’ community of practice. Take a look at Communities of Practice for Public Service: HERE and if you'd like to join the Getting it Right community, either ask to join through the main site or simply send a request to gettingitrightforeverychild@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Coaching Opportunities
One of the ways we have of strengthening the implementation of Getting it right for every child is through supporting our staff, many of whom often work with complex cases and stressful, emotional family dynamics. Coaching Opportunities (free of cost) are now available for staff in Edinburgh in the voluntary sector, as well as partners in CEC Health and Police. Contact Marilyn Nicholl, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council Tel: 0131 555 9100
Pre-Birth to Three: Positive Outcomes for Scotland's Children and Families
This is the new national guidance for all early years staff in Scotland. As well as the key document other resources and publications – print and video – are available. Go HERE
Early Years Framework: Progress So Far
This document provides an update on progress made on the Early Years Framework, two years on from publication of the original document. Go HERE
GIRFEC young person’s leaflet
“The vital importance of getting it right for every child and young person” is a leaflet explaining the GIRFEC framework for children and young people. Go HERE
The importance of preventative spending in the early years
A report from The Scottish Parliament calls for a shift from reactive to preventative spending. The report states: “The Committee makes clear its strong support for the concept of preventative spending, particularly on the early years, and its belief that more effective use of preventative spending has the potential to deliver great social and financial benefits to Scotland”. Go HERE
GIRFEC Practice Briefings
The briefings provide a wealth of useful detail on various aspects of the programme including named person, lead professional, identifying concerns, using the My World Triangle, Resilience Matrix, Child’s plan and Children’s Hearings. Go HERE
GIRFEC in City of Edinburgh
This local authority has developed a web based resource for professionals working in the city. Resources include a practitioner’s toolkit. Go HERE
Guide to Implementing GIRFEC
In June Adam Ingram MSP, Minister for Children and Early Years, launched the Guide to Implementing GIRFEC. The Guide draws on examples of best practice and experience to date, and sets out what has worked well in pathfinder and learning partnership areas where the Getting it right approach has already been rolled out. For more on the Guide to Implementing GIRFEC go HERE
There are also short summary papers for practitioners, operational managers and strategic managers.
- For the practitioners summary go HERE
- For the operational managers summary go HERE
- For the strategic managers summary go HERE
Learning from GIRFEC implementation in the Highlands. Briefings are emerging about leaning from the ‘Highland Pathfinder’.
Briefings include:
GIRFEC and outcomes for children and young people
Themed briefings from Getting it Right for Every Child pathfinder projects are emerging. The latest focuses on the impact that the Getting it right approach has had in improving children's well-being and in improving their experience of children's services available HERE
