MSPs back principles of new bill
Instead, a new national body, Children’s Hearings Scotland, would be led by a national convener.
Hearings would still take place in local communities.
The new national convener would delegate functions to local areas but the committee heard concerns during the course of an inquiry about the lack of detail about the role of area support teams.
A report stated: “The committee urges the Scottish Government to provide further guidance on this matter to provide reassurance to these stakeholder groups.”
North-east Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes said that while the bill has good intentions there are still many issues that need to be resolved.
“It is vital that the welfare of children in the system is not compromised in any way by the changes made and that the reforms make it more effective for 21st century challenges,” she added.
Meanwhile, a campaign group set up in memory of tragic Dundee toddler Brandon Muir is currently lobbying Holyrood’s public petitions committee to persuade the government to introduce a new law to allow family members to care for children who may be at risk.
The organisation, known as RealJustice4Brandon, claims the introduction of a so-called safeguarding law would enable the “fast, safe and least traumatic” removal of a child into a safe zone within the family.
Source: Press and Journal Scotland