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Panel Member
Children's Hearings Scotland
Part-time
Scotland
Hybrid
to
Application closing date:
Sep 30, 2024
About the organisation
- Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) recruits, trains and supports around 2,500 volunteers across Scotland. You may have heard of us being referred to as the Children’s Panel too.
We have a range of volunteer roles including Panel Members who are tribunal decision makers and Panel Practice Advisers who support Quality Assurance. Panel Members may also act as Panel Engagement Leads or Learning Champions who support their local Panel Members.
About the vacancy
- Three Panel Members take part in each children's hearing, which can be held in person or virtually.
The role of a Panel Member is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people. They are there to ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision taken – because every decision, no matter how big or small, has an impact.
Panel Members are appointed for a three-year period.
Key Responsibilities
- Three Panel Members are present at each children’s hearings and will be the decision makers.
The infant, child or young person is the key participant at any hearing, closely followed by carers and/or family members.
A Children’s Reporter (from the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration) will be at the hearing too to make sure the hearing follows a fair process. The Children’s Reporter does not have influence on the Panel Members’ final decisions.
The Panel Members spend a hearing listening to everyone, considering information, and asking further questions if they are needed.
The Panel Members will make sure that the attending young person is at the heart of their hearing and that decisions are made in the best interest of that young person.
Legally, Panel Members must give full reasons for their decision and share these openly at the hearing.
Key Competencies
- - Enthusiastic and committed to securing the rights of children and young people
- Able to lead and be part of teams; a strong communicator
- Able to demonstrate a strong commitment to and understanding of the ethos, values and principles of the children's hearings system.
Desired Qualifications
- 18 years old or older
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