GIRFEC Guidance Final Draft Released

Date: 6th January 2016
Category: General measures of implementation

The final draft statutory guidance for the GIRFEC provisions in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 was released on 1 December.

Through the guidance, the Scottish Government aims to help local authorities and children's services in order to support children and families in a consistent way.

Statutory guidance has been produced to explain the legal duties in Parts 4, 5 and 18 (section 96) of the Act. These parts are about the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) national approach to improving outcomes through public services that support the wellbeing of children and young people. The guidance is in draft form but will be finalised and published before these parts of the Act come into force in August 2016.

The statutory guidance is aimed at organisations - and their staff - that are legally responsible for putting in place and operating various parts of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act. These are likely to include:

- strategic leaders and senior operational managers in health boards and local authorities
- Scottish Prison Service
- Bodies listed in schedules 2 and 3 of the Act
- Proprietors and managers of independent and grant-aided schools and secure accommodation services

This guidance will also be of interest to:

- Scrutiny bodies
- Education and training organisation
- Regulatory bodies
- Third sector organisations acting on behalf of a service provider.

Children, young people and parents may wish to refer to this guidance to understand their entitlement and rights under Parts 4 and 5 of the Act, but further specific information will be developed to support their understanding of the Act.

• Read the draft statutory guidance here.