‘What matters are qualities you can bring to the room’ says chief

No-one knows more about the qualities Children’s Panel members should have than those young people who have put their trust in the hearings system at challenging times in their lives.

That’s why young people with lived experience were the first to be consulted by Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) as it drew up plans to roll out its recruitment campaign to attract volunteer Panel members.

CHS national convener and chief executive, Elliot Jackson, said :“They were crystal clear and told us that it doesn’t matter what your background, your profession, or your age is.

“What matters are the qualities that you can bring to the room, such as compassion and empathy, being a good listener, someone you can trust.”

The campaign aims to attract a diverse group of volunteers, to ensure Panel members have the right qualities and truly reflect their communities.

Members are appointed for an initial three-year period, with the possibility of extending this through reappointment.

The purpose of CHS is to equip its volunteers to engage positively with infants, children, young people and families, ensuring children are loved, cared for, respected – and feel part of decisions taken to improve their lives.

Those who train and gain experience as a Panel member will become equipped with a huge range

Recruitment drivechs chief executive Elliot Jackson of transferable skills, including: dealing with complex issues and communicating these with empathy and compassion when working with children, young people and families; principles and practices within the children’s hearings system, including law and procedure; chairing hearings; decision-making and protecting rights.

Other skills they will acquire include: leadership, teamwork and analytical thinking. Elliot continued: “The Children’s Panel is a really essential service in Scotland, and couldn’t operate without volunteer Panel members.

“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we were lucky to have truly committed volunteers who made sure we could continue to support children and families in need of care and protection. They embraced different ways of volunteering, including online hearings, and I am really proud of everything they were able to achieve in what has been a really tough year. If you want to make a difference in your local community, I ask you to consider applying to volunteer as a Panel member. You would be joining a vibrant community at an important time.”

To find out more about getting involved with the Children’s Panel, visit: https:// chscotland.gov.uk/