Yes, I do, convener. I understand the reasons behind the delay, and there are no problems from my perspective.
I thank the committee for its interest in and support for our children’s hearings system, and I welcome the chance to take stock and to update members on our progress as well as on the priority work for the next period.
The main structural and procedural changes were introduced in June 2013, so the reforms are not quite four years old. There was also a phased approach to transitioning over from the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, so we now have around two full years to reflect on the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 reforms. The main themes of the 2011 act reform were rights proofing, the clarifying of roles and responsibilities and improving children’s rights and participation.
Children’s hearings are independent tribunals that make life-changing and legally binding decisions. We need hearings that are confident, purposeful and child centred. There is work to be done, but the system is in good shape overall, having been enhanced by our reforms, and it is set to be further strengthened through the leadership of our key partners. The 2011 act’s structural and procedural changes have been secured.
We have a distinctly Scottish system that is globally admired. The Parliament has only lately tested it and reaffirmed its fundamental tenets. We have refined the system to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and we have thousands of fantastic volunteers who, simply because they care and they can, are willing to give much to children who are in need or at risk.
I am hugely grateful to our partners, especially panel members and other volunteers, for rising to the challenge of getting it right for children who might need compulsory supervision. We have system leaders across diverse professions who are collaborative, reflective and principled. They remain alert to additional chances to do better yet, and we have a programme to add further value for children from a position of real strength. We need to see that reflected at the local level across Scotland, and that is a major theme in the next phase of our work.
We have clear priorities for the next two years, to address the remaining challenges. There are issues to do with confidence, participation, advocacy and the demonstration of effectiveness, but we have an ambitious shared programme to tackle them.
We need to unite around delivering better experiences and better results for children and young people. The modernisation process and the scrutiny of practice have highlighted the priorities on which we must all focus to better meet the needs of our children and young people, whom we are all here to serve.