During Care Experienced Week, Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) reaffirms its dedication to safeguarding the rights of all care experienced infants, children and young people.

CHS knows that care experienced children and young people may face barriers to engaging with and participating in the Children’s Hearings System. So, we’re seeking to change this.

What is care experience?

A person is care experienced if they have lived in care at any point in their life. You can experience care while living with a parent or family member, or while living outside the family.

You might, for example, have been cared for by your aunt, uncle or grandparents in the past. Or you may have experienced care in a different family.

In 2020, Scotland made a promise that by 2030, care experienced children and young people will be able to grow up safe, loved and respected, and be supported to stay with their families where that’s possible.

How do we support care experienced children and young people?

Care experienced children and young people tell us that words they read and hear during hearings can be stigmatising. Those include terms like 'looked after child', 'unit', 'placement' and 'respite'.

We’re introducing clearer language in the hearing room which better reflects the lived experience of children and young people. You can read our Language Leaders guide, created by CHS in partnership with Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA), the Language Leaders programme and Our Hearings, Our Voice.

Young people can recommend words to 'bin' from hearings. Those could be words which make children feel upset or stigmatised, or jargon which may not make sense to everyone. By using clearer language that reflects each child’s strengths, we can make sure that every child feels listened to.

Keeping siblings connected

Sibling relationships are among the most important relationships in a child’s life. They are especially important for children who don’t live together.

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 introduced new rights for siblings separated in care. This, in turn, established responsibilities for Panel Members. The Act guarantees that brothers and sisters are allowed to participate in decisions during hearings impacting themselves and their siblings.

The hearings system must do everything possible to make sure that brothers and sisters can stay in contact when they are living apart. 

What is Care Experienced Week?

Care Experienced Week 2024 takes place between Saturday 19 and Saturday 26 October 2024. During Care Experienced Week and across our digital and social media, we will explore how CHS commits to protecting the rights of all care experienced children and young people every day.

You can find support for brothers and sisters with care experience at Stand Up for Siblings. To learn more about support for care experienced people of all ages, please visit Who Cares? Scotland or SCRA.