ABOUT THIS COURSE:
This course will assist candidates who are working with children and families who are involved in the hearing system
with a basic understanding of the Children’s Hearing System, from referral to the reporter through the hearing process
to the making of a CSO. It provides the opportunity for practitioners to understand how they can contribute to the
investigation process of the Reporter and the level of contribution required. Further, it will assist many practitioners to
support children and young people who are preparing to come to a children’s hearing.
Children’s Hearings – Understanding what goes on
In keeping with our Better Hearings Action Plan, SCRA will now offer an alternative to hearing observations. This will
involve a 2-hour mock hearing workshop, during which there will be information input from a Reporter about the
journey through the hearing system, a case study and a mock hearing exercise. The workshop will improve the
consistency of experience for visitors to SCRA and provide an environment for questions to be asked, whilst also
serving to protect the privacy of children who come to children’s hearing by reducing the number of observers they
encounter.
SCRA have grouped the 3 training events (Mock Hearing, Robust Referrals and Recommendations) together into
an Induction Day programme for partnership staff, delivered for a quarterly basis.
The Mock Hearing resource is suitable for all who have not experienced a children’s hearing and would like to
understand how they operate including student social workers, health visitors and newly qualified teachers.
Robust referrals section should support participants understanding of appropriate referrals to SCRA, including legal
criteria, factors to consider, what to include in a referral and what SCRA do on receipt of a referral.
Recommendations resource is for social work report writing staff only and will support practitioners to consider the
audience when report-writing, what your report is used for, making a robust recommendation, changing a
recommendation and advocating for your recommendation within a hearing.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES:
As we no longer offer hearing observations to our partners, the mock hearing will provide an insight into the
experiences of a child or young person and their family at a hearing and offers the opportunity for practitioners to
understand what is expected of them when they attend.
The course aims:
• To provide a basic understanding of the role of the Reporter and the Children’s Hearing System;
• To equip professionals to feel confident in fulfilling their role when interacting with the referral process and the
hearing system;
• To provide a safe environment to learn about the hearing system;
• To provide a simulation of a children’s hearing, through the mock hearing experience
• To support participants understanding of appropriate referrals to SCRA
• To support social work support writing staff to make a robust recommendation
Any staff wishing to attend these or future modules should contact the SCRA office on 0131 244 8701 or Gabrielle Aitchison at Gabrielle.Aitchison@scra.gov.uk to book a place.
