All children and young people have the right to be protected and kept safe from harm, and we all have a responsibility in trying to make sure this happens.
The Scottish Government established seven improvement objectives. Children should be:
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safe
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included
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active
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achieving
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nurtured
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respected and responsible
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healthy
Children's development can be affected or they can be vulnerable in one or more of these areas in their lives.
In Falkirk, the Children's Commission is the overarching strategic body bringing all agencies together to develop integrated services for children. We are developing a three-tiered system for children that recognises:
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universal provision (support and appropriate involvement)
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early intervention
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targeted specialist provision
Children are 'in need' when they require more than universal provision.
Who is a child?
The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, defines a child as someone who is:
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under 16 years of age
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still attending school
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under 18 years of age and is under supervision
Who is a child in need?
The statutory definition of a child 'in need' from Section 93(4)(a) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 is:
'A child being "in need" is to his being in need of care and attention because:
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he is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development unless they are provided for him, under or by virtue of this part, services by a local authority
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his health or development is likely significantly to be impaired, or further impaired, unless such services are so provided
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he is disabled
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he is affected adversely by the disability of any other person in his family'
This can therefore include the following children and young people:
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those with a disability or affected by a disability
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those who have a care responsibility
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those affected by HIV/Aids
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those suffering from, or affected by, chronic illnesses and life threatening condition
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those living in poverty
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those living in families with complex or multiple problems including drugs, alcohol, domestic abuse and mental illness
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those who misuse substances/alcohol
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those on child protection register, or in need of protection
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those from travelling communities
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those from asylum and refugee families
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those who are looked after or looked after and accommodated
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those who are leaving or have left care
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those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness or who live in poor quality housing
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those who have been adopted (or in the adoption process)
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those who have emotional, behavioural or mental health problems
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those who are in conflict with the law because of offending
Please note that this is not a definitive list.
If you have concerns about a child or young person's welfare, please contact a member of the Children and Families team at the local social work office |covering the child's address.
For information on child protection please refer to the Child Protection section|.